My celly (the term of art used to describe the person you share your cell with) left this morning. He was my celly for 3 weeks. When he was assigned to my cell the Move Sargent (the term of art to describe the Sargent in charge of cell assignments) told me it would only be for a week or less. In prison they try not to assign you a celly of a different race. For many inmates living with a different race is a huge problem. It has never been a problem for me. I have had all ages and races as a celly.

This celly was an interesting man. He was 50 years old and when he came to prison the first time he was 21. He did not play well with others and so that trip to prison he spent most of his 6 years in a solitary lock down cell.

After his second trip to prison he decided to stop doing felonies and only do misdemeanors. Misdemeanors get you county jail time and you’re in and out faster.

He told me when he was 18 he got a job and stayed employed until he first went to prison. That was the only time in his life he had a job. The rest of the time he was a ticket scalper and made up the difference he wanted with petty theft. His second trip to prison was a home burglary.

The mother of his daughter stayed with him for a few years before she couldn’t take it anymore. During this time he was the housekeeper and  babysitter for his daughter and step-son. The woman would work all day and he would stay around the house. After she got home he would go out and scalp tickets at a concert or sporting event then come home. This arraignment worked will until he started doing drugs.

When he was high on drugs he couldn’t take care of the kids and the housework. She told him to stop the drugs or move out. He moved out. He had very little contact with his daughter and step-son after that.

He found other women to live with who were fine with supporting him if he did the housework. He made all the money he needed scalping tickets and selling drugs. He didn’t like to sell drugs. It was too much responsibility keeping track of the money and how much he was using. He would usually use all he had in his possession so he had to hustle hard scalping tickets to pay for what he was supposed to sell.

He filed his taxes every year. His sister let him use two of her kids as her own so he could get huge tax returns. Every year he would have a false W-2 form and get a $5000 or $6000 refund. He would split the money with his sister.

His daughter and step-son are now in prison. Both are convicted of violent crimes. The children’s mother also went to prison. The day she was released on parole she overdosed on Heroin and died.

I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He gave me a blank look before telling me that in the projects all you every wanted to do is commit crime. Nobody ever asked him what kind of work he wanted to do. There were no dreams of the future. I asked him what his dad did for a living. He never knew the identity of his dad. His step-dad was a thief. He was shot and killed robbing a Safeway. There were other men in his life that influenced him. Some lived with his mom they all stole and hustled. There were men from big brother who took him places. He told me they all tried to sexually molest him, but he was too smart for them. He extorted them for $20 and promised not to tell.

Just one of many of the same stories heard over and over in prison.

Till next time,

Todd

One of the most difficult parts of being in prison is finding someone to engage in conversation. On the street there was always someone to engage in a lively discussion of politics. Today we are in the middle of the government shut down and the debt ceiling needs to be raised to avoid default on federal obligations. It should be easy to find people who can present ideas on what needs to be done. Here nobody knows and more importantly nobody cares. They care only about their immediate needs and wants. They live in the moment. They live for something that pleases them.

We just started getting FOX news a couple of months ago. I think it is interesting that the current government is being run by liberal democrats but the only news station they give us has a conservative republican slant. Surely they thought this through, but then maybe I’m giving them too much credit, it could also be that it is even more sinister than I imagine. The current Colorado government equates evil criminals as conservative republications. As if that is not bad enough they dropped our Turner movie channel and gave us cartoon network. Today when I walked out into the day room there were 20 men; men in their 30’s and 40’s, all sitting around the TV watching cartoons. What a sad statement.

There are 100 men in my unit and there are only 2 who get the newspaper. Both of them get it for the TV guide. They give the coupons to the officers.

About 1/3 of the inmate population does not have a high school diploma or a GED. The current level needed to pass the GED is an 8^th grade achievement. Many of the men function at 5^th grade or below. Very few speak English well. Very few non-English speaking inmates speak Spanish well. This all means they cannot effectively communicate. Often when I hear a confrontation between a CO (correctional officer) and an inmate it is due to the fact that the inmate cannot effectively communicate their needs. They are used to being aggressive and acting out because they don’t have a vocabulary to express themselves. They also don’t have the grammar skills to speak effectively even if they had the words.

The GED is offered in both English and Spanish. Those that are here from Mexico are often offered the chance to take the GED in Spanish. Unfortunately they are as illiterate in Spanish as they are in English. The lack of speaking English well is not just by those from Mexico. Many USA citizens of all ethnic backgrounds don’t speak English well at all. I can’t tell you how often I have heard them speak of faux dollars, faux cards, faux soups and many other things. It was only later that I learned they were not saying faux, but a destruction of the word “four”.

Most of the men are busy trying to learn how to be better criminals. They recite their crimes to others and look for critiques on how they can improve. They also look for new opportunities to get rich without working. As much time and effort as they spend on this they could get a legitimate degree and have a decent career.

So there is no one to talk to about current events, the Holy Spirit or how to get out of prison and lead a Godly life. It would be nice to have a REAL Christian to talk to. Not a Jail house Christian.

Till next time

Todd

why are you here?

One of the taboos of prison life is asking another inmate what they did. It is against the unwritten rules to ask about the offense that brought another man to prison, but not to tell others about your crime. This gives a person with a so called hinky crime to create their own version of reality. This is very common because there are many crimes that inmates consider to be awful. Crimes of a sexual nature are not well thought of, nor are crimes against children. Inmates with these crimes usually tell stories about drugs and drug crimes. Alcohol and drug crimes are normally not thought of as real crimes. Violent crimes are real crimes and these stories are generally slanted in a way that shows the inmate was a victim of some type. The real victim did something, or didn’t do something, that is spun as a huge wrong against the inmate. The only real way for the inmate to seek justice for all the wrong was to commit the action which society deeds a crime.

I have heard so many of these stories it is sickening. It is never the inmates fault. Sadly I must say that when I first went to jail I felt the same way. Proverbs 26:12 explains this horrible action. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool that for him”. I felt I really didn’t do anything wrong. I was a trustee of trusts and I could do anything I choose to do, pick any investment, borrow the money personally without crossing any line. Looking back on all of the events that I did, all of the crime I committed makes me very sad. From where I stand today it seems unreal that I could have made those choices. I know I did and I know I didn’t have a problem with it at the time. It is even crazier to know that I thought I was a Christian and would go to church with the woman I was living with and whom I ultimately married.

She had no idea of what was going on with my personal finances, or really even my personal life. I lied to her as much as I lied to anyone. I am truly sorry for the pain I caused her and the others involved.

The question that I have asked myself and others have asked me is how I could have done these horrible acts of theft and deception. Honestly I am not sure where or when I can say it began. It is something that happened slowly over a period of 20 plus years. Every time I chose to tell a harmless white lie or borrow something that I should not have or take something I felt I deserved or earned it became a little easier. Little by little my views and tolerance for doing “wrong” things increased. In other words my morals eroded away. My thoughts changed from a world of right and wrong, black and white to a world of gray. I could rationalize and justify almost anything. After all I was a lawyer and good at what I did. Years later when I read Proverbs 16:18, pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, it has a special meaning for me.

Ultimately I was faced with a bitter divorce. She wanted more money than we had a whole lot more. She and her lawyer wouldn’t budge. I tried to explain this fact to her and her lawyer and told them the only way I could get that kind of money was to steal it, they didn’t care. Everyone close to me wanted the divorce to be over and encouraged me to finish it as soon as possible. I was trustee of the trusts; I could just borrow the money.

Temptation is a horrible thing. When you are tempted to eat a second or third piece of chocolate cake it is one thing but when you are tempted to take money it is looked at differently. I had faced a lot of temptation over the years and as I gradually succumbed to small things each time it seemed the next temptation was a little bigger and took just a little more out of my soul when I gave in. It took about a week for me to give in and give her the money. After the first couple of withdraws it suddenly dawned on me how much trouble I really was in. instead of stopping I dove in and took more living a crazy lifestyle.

When I was arrested I knew it was over, but I still didn’t believe I had really done anything that wasn’t fixable. They put me in a cell all by myself, locked down for 21 hours a day. The cell was stark, but there was a bible. I began to read and pray. They never turned off the lights so I could read until I fell asleep.

Over the course of 3 months the Lord worked on me. My cousin sent me the book “Experiencing God.” It was a marvelous guide. I finally reached the point where I realized what horrible things I had done and I talked to my lawyer about pleading guilty. I did not want a trial. I wanted to confess to those I had harmed. He arranged a deal for sentencing that could range from probation to 40 years. I felt confident I would only get a couple of years at most. Everything seemed to point that direction, at least to me. I knew it would really be in the Lord’s hands so I was comfortable with that knowledge. When I was sentenced to an ultimate sentence of 32 years I was surprised, but not shocked. When I got back to my cell I opened my bible to Hebrews 12:5-6 and realized how much the Lord had accepted me as a son. My next stop was Jeremiah 31:18; “You have chastised me and I was chastised…restore me and I will return, for you are the Lord my God.”

I know God has something in mind for me. He has been very kind to me over my years in prison. His hand has been around me protecting me from harm and granting me amazing things that are not a part of most inmates’ prison experiences. There have been some very difficult situations, but I have relied on the Lord and he has resolved them.

Since giving my life to Christ I have learned a lot from the bible. In Philippians 3:7-8 Paul says all things that he thought were gain he now counts as loss for Christ. (And so do I) Paul teaches that forgiveness is a gift from God. You don’t receive it by your works and deeds but because of the grace of God and your faith in the Lord. I know I have been forgiven for all eternity because of Christ’s loving act. I am required to forgive everyone who wrongs me because Christ forgave me. This may seem strange and difficult but the Holy Spirit makes it not only possible, but not difficult.

trouble with the chosen people...

I enjoy reading Charisma magazine. They print very uplifting spiritual articles that fill a void in my life. However, the October 2013 issue was an exception. Most of the issue was dedicated towards Israel. There was a huge article by Jack Hayford on why Israel needs the support of Christians. Another article told of the 100’s of millions of dollars collected each year by several U.S. non-profit organizations.

It seems the world is against the Jewish nation and the Jewish people and we must take action. Jack Hayford's article outlines eight reasons we need to stand with Israel. The reasons are all sound and based in scripture, but the reaction should be prayer, not money. God’s chosen people have fallen out of favor numerous times with God for their lack of faith. Every time it happens God punishes them. Sometimes he takes away their land.

The Old Testament is full of examples of how God took care of invading nations. All Israel had to do was follow Gods directions. When they did it worked out very well for them. II Chronicles 20:1-30 tells of one example. The most important verse is 15, the battle is not yours, but God’s.

It seems very strange to me that all of the Christian leader’s names in the various articles of this issue cannot see that Israel is God’s chosen people and God will help them and punish them as He sees fit. His ways are not our ways. If we interfere with Israel we are asking for our own demise. God takes care of them. How do these Christian leaders know that God is not punishing them for all of the things they have been doing? Are these pastors trying to outguess God? Do they think God is not powerful enough to handle the situation? I believe we should pray for Gods will to happen to the Jewish nation. If a believer feels the need to go to Israel and personally minister to them that would be great. However, interfering in the affairs of state should be left up to God and how he chooses to use the powers and principalities of the world to deal with his people.

October 6 2013

Currently there is a loud public outcry to reform the Colorado Corrections System. While this is not new or understood it has risen to a new level with the murder of the Director of Corrections. Ironically he understood the need for change and was working on them. Somehow he missed the problems with the parole system, or maybe he hadn’t gotten to it yet, and that error cost him his life. To be fair he was a good director. He was a professional in the corrections field who was experienced and progressive in his ideas. He inherited a mess from the two prior directors who were appointed as political favors and knew nothing about running a corrections system.

One of the biggest problems with the Colorado prison sentences is the way they are issued. In Colorado when a person is sentenced for a crime, they receive three separate and distinct sentences. The first they receive is a prison sentence, then a parole sentence, then a restitution sentence. It is no wonder Colorado spends so much money on the Department of Corrections. It takes time and money to administer and supervise all of these programs as well as staff them.

It turns out that nobody was actually looking at all of these sentences and many were not being held long enough to serve their entire sentence. DOC is not handling the parole portion of the sentences well either. It looks like most of the full time parole officers are moonlighting at other jobs and they are not giving the parole office the time that is required to do the job correctly.

The institution portion of the sentence is where the victims and the court get financial compensation from the convict. Every sentence carries a restitution sentence. The thought behind the restitution sentence is good. It allows the victim to be compensated for the loss suffered. Normally this would be done in a civil trial but to make it easier for the victim it is all done at once. However, because it is a part of the criminal sentence it affects the convict much differently than a civil judgment.

Many times the victims are in the court room for the sentencing. They hear the prison time, parole time and the restitution amount. Many times they expect to get the restitution within a short amount of time. However, the convict is going to prison and will not be able to work and pay the restitution.

In prison every inmate must work or go to school. They receive sixty cents for a full day of work and thirty cents for a half day of work or school. From this amount 20% is deducted to pay restitution. This is 12 cents or 6 cents a day. As a side note it would be interesting to know how much it costs the administration to calculate, withhold and transfer this pittance back to the court.

If an inmate’s family sends him money to purchase a TV, radio, tennis shoes, or anything else, 20% is also withheld from that. This seems unusual because a gift is generally not subject to withholdings. It also shifts the burden of payment to the family. What this means financially to parents, spouse, and siblings of the inmate is that they will need to send in 20% more than the cost of the already overpriced items. (As an example a 15” flat screen color TV is almost $300. You can buy one like it at Target or Kmart for about $120)

When the inmate finally finishes his prison sentence and goes on to the parole sentence the restitution becomes another reason for failure. Most inmates are unskilled workers. Their pay is not much above minimum wage. In addition to all of the taxes and withholdings they must pay 20% of their earnings to restitution. If they have child support payments this will also come out of their pay. Very few unskilled workers can pay rent, utilities and food after having restitution and child support deducted. Faced with yet another failure they do something to ensure their return to prison.

Finally when a convict has put in all the mandatory prison time and is released their restitution is still there. It never goes away until it is paid. The idea that a convict can start over when prison is over is not correct. The convict continues to be punished both financially and by society. This makes returning to prison seem like the best option. At least in prison there are no bills to pay and life is easier with 3 square meals a day, a roof over their heads and medical care all for free.

And yet people wonder why the recidivism rate is so high…

 

biography of Wiley Todd Linville- author of this blog

Adventures begin in many different ways. This adventure begins with words on paper. I seem to have a lot to say, so much that my beautiful wife suggested me writing a blog. Since my wife is not only beautiful but insightful and smart, I am undertaking this adventure.

For those that care, and there may be a few, I am writing this from my prison cell and mailing it home. My wife types it out and posts it on the blog. I have no contact with the internet. This will work out just fine as long as I write legibly.

A little background will be helpful for those who choose to read this blog. I was born in Denver and raised in Colorado Springs. I earned my BA from UNC in Special Education and Elementary Education. My M.Ed. came from University of Missouri, St. Louis. I began a Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University and finished it Baptist College of America. I also have a J.D. from University of Denver and a Th.D. from Southern Indiana Baptist College.

I have had many jobs over the years including milking cows, auto mechanic, special education teacher, counselor, lawyer, and real estate title insurance agent. I’ve owned several businesses that were fairly successful and a few that weren’t.

All of this education and experience give me a very different outlook on prison. None of the other inmates can begin to relate to me, nor can I relate to them. I listen and observe inmates and staff and try not to open my mouth except to ask an occasional question or two. Hitchhiking on conversations has provided me with views of life I did not know existed. My prison experience has turned into an amazing research project with lots of data. It has also generated many more questions than it has answers.

You may be wondering what brought me to prison. I am guilty of theft and forgery. I was going through a divorce and my ex-wife wanted more money than I had. I stole money from clients to pay her. After I took the first money I decided I was in trouble so it really wouldn’t matter if I took more. It was crazy thinking, it was wrong thinking. I did not go to trial. I admitted my guilt and took my chances with the judge on an agreement that it would be no more than 40 years. He sentenced me to 32 years.

This may sound like a lot of time for a first offence, and it is. However this time has provided me an opportunity to do many things I may not have accomplished had I not gone to prison. The most important accomplishment is becoming a practicing Christian. Not a Christian in words, but in deeds and full of faith.

I have been provided the time and opportunity to read many pieces of classic literature. How many people can say they have read the entire History of the Decline and fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon or all of Tolstoy’s books including his religious works? I have read most of the famous authors as well as the little known authors. Reading is a good way to pass the time. It has also opened my eyes to the possibility of writing my own novels.

As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.