Raw Goods

Tehachapi

{dramatis personae:
J. - former inmate
1. fiery declamations
2. quiet encouragement
3. blithely optimistic
4. cautious determination
5. sedate, serious
6. irreverent, but down-to-earth}

ALL ON STAGE: GO.


J- [I was just released.
Talk to me, I'll listen.
All I ask is that you always keep it real with me.
Deal?]

1. My Baby is momentarily residing in your facility
2. my man used to be there but now is in corcoran
3. my dad just got sent to tehachapi last week.
4. my honey just got transfered there from orange county jail.
5. My babe was moved mid week to 4 A gym
6. my man is in tehachapi also but he is in the shu until july he just got transferred there from folsom
1. My fiance has been in reception for 4weeks now
2. I have one son in prison and one in the army
3. My husband has been there since April.
4. my 1st love is up in tehachapi
5. my boyfriend is on Level 3
6. My Brother was just sent to Tehachapi

1. I can now join the club of the harrassed at CCI

I mean from potty watch to strip searches -
we were found INNOCENT each time -
to terminations for NO reason
to just plan ole nit-picking

why are they doing this?

6. They just keep trying to make it harder and harder.

4. This is my first time dealing with this.
I have no idea how to get info or where to call.
WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN?

2. Well, Don't Panic....thursday Night A Fight Broke Out With About 400 Inmates Involved.... I Wish I Could Tell You More. Hang In There.

6. I went to visit yesterday and the whole prison was on lockdown.
There was a CO outside who had a chair with a sign
saying no visiting today due to a power outage.

5. I don't know who to believe.
I hate when they think we are stupid.
It's run by the state so who knows what they have in store.

6. I tried to call the regular line and they hung up on me again.

1. it took me a hour and a half to get through
this may sound crazy
I was trying from three different phones!

6. Oh my god I started calling at 7:28 am
i was on hold for 30 min
they picked up and hung up on me

3. I was using two phones my work and cell
I finally got a ring at 7:55
I was on hold until 8:18 when they answered

5. The recording said
that as of 12/16/06
all hispanic inmates
located in Level 4A 1-5
are on lockdown.

2. Merry Christmas, everyone.

J. [That's how they do it.
Whatever race does something,
that's who gets put on lockdown.
They come into our cells
searching for weapons,
this time because an inmate
was stabbed.]

1. I don't know what's up.
I do know you're not alone.
Anyone else having problems?

6. They accused my husband and I of excessive contact.
This time they used the fact that I used profanity to get me suspended.

3. This past weekend my visit with my husband was TERMINATED,
I was humiliated and told to strip because
THEY assumed I was transporting DRUGS.

6. The visiting check-in point is just as bad,
sometimes they will say the computers are down and
TERMINATE EVERYONE'S visit, just because they are LAZY!!!

5. We were going to visit and have my 86 year old mother with us.
Her health is that of an 86 year old
maybe a bit better than average but
she still stresses over whether or not she will see him again.

J. [eleven years, unseen tears,
hidden fears, disloyal peers]

2. Okay, Here is the deal:
The CDOC does NOT own the solar system.
It sucks, but remember: it is part of "the life" we live.

6. My husband just called me last night
and said they found a case of Tuberculosis on Level 2.
They have quarantined one dorm and might start quarentining more.
I'm supposed to have my family visit this weekend
but that might not happen now.
Has anyone heard anything about this?

3. I spent New Year's with my husband and kids
and that's all I could ask for!

4. God, *I* need some kind of stress relief.

5. My hubby called last night to tell me
that the guy they thought had TB died and it wasn't TB.

He doesn't tell me too much, i practically have to threaten him!

J. [block phones, relationships blown,
kids grown, date unknown...]

5. My husband called yesterday.
We talked for a few minutes, and then
they hung up on us.
I havent heard back from him yet.

1. Who knows with the CDOC, they're crazy!

6. I have sent him at least 20 letters
and then I received a letter from him
wondering why he hasn't heard from me.

2. I started actually copying my letters
so if he does NOT get it I re-send it.
I mean you learn to come up
with all sorts of tricks.....

3. He sent me a really sad letter
he thought i wasn't writing him
had forgot about him...

4. I don't what to leave him hanging...
I put my life on the line for him,
but I'm confused - he wants me to marry him.

5. You should wait to get married in mainline.
The counselors won't take the time to do the paperwork.
They are so tied up trying to get guys moved out of reception to mainline,
so marriages are the last thing on their mind.

4. He has yet to see a counselor, is this the norm?
Will there be drug counseling available to him?

J. [Tehachapi was probably
the worst prison I've been to,
mainly because they offer no trades or any form of higher education.
There is no NA or AA programs. There are a lot of lifers that are required
to take certain things if they are ever to be paroled, but if you are one of
those individuals who can't afford
to pay for correspondence courses,
then you're just out of luck.]

3. Tehachapi is a cute little town.
There's plenty of places to stay
and things to do if you need to kill time.

5. My son and I always go a day ahead when we visit
and stay at the Best Western Mountain Inn..
.they have a really nice heated pool.

1. There's also a Kmart if you need to pick up some last minute whatever...

4. Can anyone tell me? Am I reading this stuff correctly?
I'm reading through the rules for clothing on the visitor form.
I am planning to fly down to visit next weekend.
Do facial piercings set off the metal detectors?

6. Only fake jewelry will set it off,
but not the surgical steel.

[prison attire, barbed wire,
chain-linked fences with live wire]

3. Just bring extra clothes in the car in case.
You can wear jeans, just not blue jeans.
Black or white are okay.
Sandals, flip flops are ok.

2. But most of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your first visit.

J. [I had a celly who I've known for a very long time,
since we were kids: our families have known each other
for over twenty-five years. So it helps to have someone
you can have some degree of trust with.
Hold your head up high, and stay strong.]

4. The hardest part of the whole process is getting the appointment.
1. Once you get there at the door they ask you,
ALL: "Appointment or non-appointment?"
2. They give you the slip accordingly;
3. you fill it out and drop it in the box and have a seat.
5. In a few minutes they call you up:
6. you give them your id,
1 .then you have to take off your jacket, shoes and
2. anything in your pockets and put it in a box.
3. You walk through the detector and
4. they hand you your box and the slip on the other side.
5. You put your shoes and stuff back on and go to this other person
6. where they stamp your hand -
1. - just like Chuckie Cheese's -
2. and you sit down
3. and wait...
ALL. ...and WAIT...
5. for them to call you for the bus.
6. Once you're on the bus and get off on level 3,
1. you go in that building,
2. hand the officer the slip and your id (again) -
3. he will show you where to go...
5. you walk down a walkway
6. go into yet another building
1. and hand them yet again your slip and id.
5. You have a seat,
6. and they will call you when they bring him out.

2. Good luck! It's not hard.

3. Tehachapi is not so bad,
when you consider what other places are like.
I never had any problems with COs.
They have WONDERFUL patios
where you can sit out and enjoy the sunshine.
There is a grass area,
where you can sit and talk or even walk.
I took our kids and they enjoyed it -
there was somewhere for them to run around and
be kids.

J. [maced and disgraced
because of race -
I was young when I went in.
I left an eight month-old little boy.
He's now thirteen.
- unlawful case,
locked in a small place]

4. Any cheap hotels close by? What are the prices?

5. Motel 6 is pretty cool.. its been out "spot" for awhile,
reason being, we used to go stay with a few people
and split the $40 a night in 3 or 2,
so it would help us financially.

2. Enjoy your visit!

3. Tehachapi was in the mountains and a really cute town.
I like how the train tracks run through the mountain side in the tunnels.

1. I have been going there EVERY weekend
non-stop for ten months
and it has gotten worse
but i refuse to let them BREAK me.

6. Last heard was they had been on lockdown since Superbowl Sunday.

3. I should have never said they are always nice to me.
my husband has been down for 6 years.
He was supposed to come home 2 weeks ago but
he was one of the ones stabbed in the riot on the 9th.
I was never notified by his counselor
he was in the hospital dying
(and I am not being dramatic)
I am sure if I wasn't there for him
they would have let him die on the floor of his dorm.
I don't wish this on anyone.

J. [tear gas, constantly harrassed by the brass...]

5. I wish i could say it gets better but it doesn't.

J. [...billy clubs, men devoid of love...]

5. The security guards are worse than the inmates.
Ten guards handcuffed him and jumped him.
They also poured hot water and oil on him

2. It is time to call the inmate family council.
I can't call her because my hunny is on level 3,
but it would be nice to complain to someone.

6. She was talking to my kids -
they were complaining how boring it is,
how they are not even allowed to run around
when they finally open the doors to go outside.
The next week when we came, there were
all kinds of new games and balls to play with.

3. Just hold your heads high -
my heart goes out to everyone
We are here to help.

4. I didn't even make it through the metal detector.
I wore a non-under wire bra and have two piercings,
one on my tongue and the monroe piercing.
They told me that something was settings it off in the chest area-
has anyone ever had this happen?

5. You should know things have changed.
No blue, brown, or grey of any kind.
A lot of people were not aware and
got turned away this past weekend.

6. It sucks cause most of my wardrobe consists of very bright colors:
i hate pink and i have black, but its so blah.
i have to dig through my wardrobe to find something to wear;
it's like they really do want us to look like nuns.

4. I need to go shopping just to see him -
looks like i'll make a tarjay trip

5. I can wear the same exact thing each time i visit
each time they will find something wrong with it
make me change as if i didnt just wear this outfit last visit.

1. No, it is the new lieutenant up in visiting.
He is trying to make them go by the book
all the co's are confused because they haven't followed it for so long.

2. I have notice that if you make small talk
ask them how their day is and just be nice
they treat you a lot better.

[anger swells
convicts rebel
in this living hell]

6. This is where he'll be until he gets out in July, I can't wait!

2. You're not alone!

5. Don't be scared for you husband, though,
or you will drive your self totally wacko!

6. I can deal with it!

2. I can help ya out!

[lockdowns, mini 14 rounds -
You quickly learn who's who
when it comes to those inmates
that are trying to educate themselves -
hit the ground, reality profound]

4. I got there kind of late
but at least i saw him
he did surprise me though,
he got my name tattoed
on his neck
i was shocked
it's pretty big and so noticeable.
it's a little bit below the ear.
can he get in trouble for getting a tattoo in there?

J. [Just "Do You," it's the only way to survive prison life -
lonely days, family members passing away,
sane, you gotta stay sane, stay sane, you gotta stay sane...]

6. How do you guys deal with this..I miss him so much...

4. 16 more months LEFT! That is what truely keeps me going
and the fact that I am head over heels for my hubby....
and honestly what prison is cool?? NONE...

2. Keep your head up, though,
you are smart and educated!

1. It is NOT getting any better, no matter how many 602s you file.
The buses are OLD and have NO HEATER what so ever,
or they barely make it up the hill.
That place is HELL...The 202 is the Highway to hell.

6. I am just venting, but man,
do I really want to tell those Sgt, Lts, and Co's where to stick it...
But on the other hand that is what THEY want,
for us to give up on our men/brothers/uncles/friends/fathers...
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!

5. When our men are home,
those lazy, bored, petty morons, will still BE THERE!
We're in this together, 'til the wheels fall off!

4. Ok ladies, I'm getting up at 3am to drive to Tehachapi!
I'm so excited. I know the ride will be long but well worth it!
Have a good day everyone and keep those heads up!
Don't sweat the time - it's gonna go fast, you watch and see!

posted by judy j @ 3:23 PM