The ECHO, Volume 87, Number 2, March 2015 Page: 3
16 p. : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The ECHO
Dear Darby,
This is my first time in prison. I'm
35 years old and have a large sentence.
I read your column in every issue. I
never thought I'd find myself writing
to you but I've come across something
that just bugs me. I've been in for about
two years at a transfer facility and I try
hard not to get in trouble - my prima-
ry focus is staying out of the wax' and
making parole. I have a serious issue
with people that have short sentences
and think they can act any way and
are quick to fight. They are arrogant
and belligerent, and generally they just
don't care. These types are always itch-
ing for a fight. I'm not a sissy or scared
of them, but I am scared of getting into
trouble and losing my chance at parole.
I don't want to be away from my fam-
ily any longer than I need to be. By the
same token, I don't want to be looked
at like I'm weak or have other prison-
ers think they can just run all over me.
Is it like this at ID units? Please give
me some advice and your wise point of
view. Have a good day, Darbster.
Christopher Ryals
Tulia Unit
Dear Chris,
It' unfortunate, but you've experi-
enced the truth ofdealing with those who
have very short sentences -- there 's no
"carrot on a stick" to persuade them to
act right, so they tend to "act a fool" un-
til they're out. Avoid the drama brought
by those with "short-timer syndrome"
by staving away from them. The good
news for you is that it : better on regular
Institutional Division units - the short
timers are usually out of the system be-
fibre they land on a real farm.
Dear Darby,
I live amongst 600 other women and
I have to admit the environment is very
much like high school all over again.
While I was sitting in class at school do-
ing my work, I couldn't help listening to
the other women talk, and I just couldn't
believe what I was hearing! It was so
much nonsense that I could not even fin-
ish my work! They were judging and crit-
icizing other women about their weight
problems and messed up hair-styles, trash
talking about girls who read the Bible like
they are doing something bad, and mak-
ing fun of the girl who sits cross-legged in
her cubicle staring off into space, who isreally just meditating. These grown wom-
en all act like a bunch of high schoolers!
It seems like everything in prison can
be interpreted as something negative, or
made fun of because we may have little
or no understanding of the subject or per-
son. People are always so judgmental and
make assumptions about people rather
than seek out positive avenues of com-
munication. Shed some of your wisdom
on this situation!
Falon Devine,
San Saba Unit
Dear Devine,
Girl, I hate to say it, but guys 'prisons
are just as bad with gossip as whatyou 're
describing on thefemale units. People get
bored, so they talk, and thef/lks around
them make fr easy conversation. Throw
in the fact that some individuals try to
make themselves feel better by verbally
knocking down others and you have a
recipe for some really nasty gossip. It IS
like high school! Ihe best advice I can
give is to keep your head up, doni' fed
into the gossip and stay above the fcy.
Focus on something positive like getting
an education and bettering yourself.Dear Darby,
On several occasions I've noticed
you chastise people who are complain-
ing, but if we stopped complaining, we
wouldn't be able to get your great feed-
back every month in The ECHO!
There are certain types of inmates who
make it hard on all the others - the ones
who are quick to scream obscenities and
act disrespectfully to mostly all of the
staff members and officers. These types
swear up and down they can't stand
the authority figures at all, but at every
chance they get they are talking with the
graysuits. You can't ask an officer a sim-
ple question without these types of of-
fenders running up and butting in or just
standing next to you while you're having
a conversation. An old phrase has it that,
"If you don't like the accommodations,
then stop making the reservations." Help
me out, old thang!
Christopher "Madville" Smith
Goodman Unit
Dear Chris,
I don 't have a problem with com-
plaints, which are valid gripes that can
often be addressed with a grievance.
I DO have a problem with whining,
though, which is unbecoming because
they're not trying to fix a problem
they just want to vent, over and overand over again. Now, concerning the
subject you 're whining, er; complain-
ing about, ifyou don't want someone in
your business, then tell them! This way
you're helping yourself and I don't
have to get involved
Dear Darby
You have three different types of of-
fenders in the prison system. The first
type: the positive kind of inmate who
engages in positive things, such as go-
ing to school and faith-based programs.
Some people may think that those pro-
grams don't work but trust me, they do.
The second type: the lazy offender. They
need and want help but are too lazy to
take the initiative to seek the help for
themselves. Finally, you have the last
type: offenders with the I don't care"
attitude. They spend their time trading
lies with other offenders. An offender
must choose which type they're going to
be. There are two things in life that are
constant: change and more change. The
question is do you really want to change?
Jeffery Robertson
Garza East Unit
Dear Jeff,
You have a point - there definitely
are offenders who are positive and seek
growth. some who are lazy and some
who don't care about anything Those
who are grow th-oriented generally stay
out oftrouble and don't come back after
they get out. The other two types seemto like it here and tend to come back of
ter release. My question to you: what
kind of offender are YOU going to be?
Dear ol' Darby,
I read The ECHO all the time and I
notice they mention the younger genera-
tion in all forms and fashions. They usu-
ally say we're rude, disrespectful, loud,
obnoxious and don't know how to do
time. Well, I personally disagree. I have
met old schools who are just as loud,
disrespectful and obnoxious. A person's
age group doesn't make them any differ-
ent - the person makes the difference.
Respect is earned, no matter what the
person's age. (I have lived on minimum,
medium, and close custody and am cur-
rently ad-seg.)
Justin Allen Wilwurth
Michael Unit
Dear Justin,
I'm sorry to see that you 've pro-
gressed to seg. I hope you can progress
your way back to general population
where it v much easier to do, productive
time. Anvway you've got a point. Just
because someone is an "old school "
doesn't automatically make him a re-
spect fid convict, and being a "new
boot" doesn't necessarily make some-
one a rude, obnoxious offender I dis-
agree with you on the respect issue,
though respect .fr others should be
automatic, not an exception.Adrian Washington, aka Adrian Jackson,
a black male, weighing 225 pounds,
5 feet 11 inches tall, was last seen in
South Austin on the afternoon of May
26, 2012. Washington left his home to
run an errand and never returned. He
was driving a blue Ford Expedition with
Texas license plate number CP1P982.
Circumstances of his disappearance are
suspicious, and foul play is suspected.
If you have any information about this missing person or any other
crimes, please contact Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 1855, Huntsville, TX
77342, and you may be eligible for a cash reward from $50 up to $1,000 if
your information leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects. 43
March 2015
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Texas. Department of Criminal Justice. The ECHO, Volume 87, Number 2, March 2015, newspaper, March 2015; Huntsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth640636/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.