Paper to SUPPLEMENT for the CURRENT’S INCARCERATED Dear Offender, READERSHIP I’Ve Heard That You Don’T Trust the Media

A SPECIAL Paper to SUPPLEMENT FOR THE CURRENT’S INCARCERATED Dear Offender, READERSHIP I’ve heard that you don’t trust the media. I don’t blame you. Crime sells newspapers like summer sells popsicles. Readers love to pore through the gritty details of your mistakes, and they love it even more when they read about how hard you’ve been punished. Reporters thrive off your arrests and trials; the cameras adore prosecutors and police chiefs. It’s no wonder you perceive the news as unbalanced and exploitative. In pursuing their sensa- tional headlines, the media forgets that you are a human being and much more than the sum of your crimes. Allow me to introduce our publication: We’re the San Antonio Current, what’s called in our industry an “alternative newspaper.” We’ve been called a “ragazine” and a “yellow newspaper” by our critics, but we see ourselves as a small staff of independent thinkers who write for other independent thinkers. We publish weekly and we’re available for free on racks all over San Antonio and on the internet at Sacurrent.com, which I know you don’t have access to at the moment. Like all media, we understand that writing about crime can be popular. However, we also realize it’s even more in our interest to treat you with respect and dignity. With one in 20 Texans behind bars or on probation or parole — 152,000 individuals in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2006 — you’re a population to be reckoned with. And if you don’t mind me saying, you’re also a valuable market share. What you hold in your hands, however and whenever it may reach you, is what began as a project generically titled “The Jailhouse Newsletter.” I think “Paper to Pen” is more poetic. It’s our attempt to touch base with you, the inmate, and let you know what’s waiting for you on the outside. Sometimes mailroom coordinators get a bit prude when it comes to the strip clubs who advertise in the back of our publication, so we’ve designed this special section to be mailed separately from the rest of the book. If you’ve only received these four pages, you should know that we’re also pretty good at keeping folks up to date on film, music, and art. So, what’s waiting for you on the outside? To tell you the truth, the numbers are out to get you. According to researchers hired by our lawmakers, once you’re released you have a 30-percent chance of being re-incarcerated within the next three years. If you’re a juvenile offender, you’ve got about a 50-50 chance of getting sent back. Those numbers are down slightly from a few years ago, but they still aren’t great, especially when more than half the time offenders are sent back for technical parole violations. When you’re released you’ll also be facing life in a state where the governor doesn’t want you to know that once you’re off paper you’re eligible to vote, as contributor Scott Henson explains in his legislative wrap-up. The good news is that Texas is at the forefront of a new movement called “restor- Dear Inmate’s ative justice,” which you can read about in my article about a recent conference in Kerrville. There are dozens of organizations willing to help you out, Family Member, including the Texas Inmates Families Association, whose San Antonio chair wrote a step-by-step guide to creating a parole packet. We’ve also included If you’ve got a loved one behind contacts for some of these organizations you can write to for assistance from bars whom you think would benefit inside prison, or call when you’ve found your way back into the free world. from this special section, you can do In short, the Current is waiting for you on the outside, and we’re available one of two things: at no cost in over 800 locations around San Antonio. We’re looking forward to having you back. 1) Follow the mailing directions on the inside back cover of this pub- Sincerely, lication and send it to him or her directly. Dave Maass 2) Contact me at djmaass@ Staff Writer sacurrent.com or leave me a mes- San Antonio Current sage at 210-228-0044 ext. 234. Be 1500 N. St. Mary’s St. sure to give me the inmate’s name San Antonio, TX 78215 and TDCJ number. We’ve set a little money aside for postage. P.S. Feel free to write to us if there’s something you think we ought to know about how you’re being treated by the system. Just make sure you seal the enve- Thank you, and good luck. lope and write “media correspondence” on the outside; under TDCJ policy our correspondence is privileged and confidential. We can’t guarantee a response, Sincerely, but we do read everything we receive in our mailbox. Dave Maass

Cut pages 13-16 on the dotted lines. k kerr c

For mailing instructions, turn to page 67. hu c san antonio current • august 1-7, 2007 13 Paper to

Phones coming to Texas prisons: Rape-elimination bill creates ombuds- “this bill could endanger public safety by What did the Without question, the biggest legislative man: Another new law will allow the triggering early release of convicted felons victory for most inmates was the deci- Department of Criminal Justice to‑appoint who act out in prison.” 80th Texas sion to install phones in Texas prisons, at an ombudsperson to coordinate TDCJ’s You can vote when you’re off paper, but a minimum ratio of one phone for every efforts to eliminate sexual assault in cor- the government won’t tell you: In Texas, Legislature do 30 inmates. Security systems already used rectional facilities. Honestly, there’s not a ex-felons can vote as soon as they are “off in federal and other state prisons will lot of meat on this bone thrown to anti- paper,” or when their parole or prison sen- on prisoner monitor conversations, restrict whom rape advocates. The ombudsperson has tences finally end. But laws on felon voting each inmate can call, and use biometric no staff, no funding, no formal power, differ in every state, and a voting drive last issues? identifiers to enable officials to block calls and may only “monitor” and “coordinate” year found that many ex-offenders don’t by scott henson by offenders with disciplinary problems. activities of others who aren’t under the know when or if they’re allowed to exercise his spring the 80th Texas Legisla- Not only should this feature help inmate ombudsperson’s chain of command, issu- the franchise. The legislature passed HB 770 ture decided to build three new discipline (because access to phones can ing an annual report on TDCJ compliance. by Houston Representative Harold Dutton, prisons that will cost Texas taxpay- be used as a good-behavior incentive), Perhaps it shouldn’t have been called the which would have required TDCJ to notify Ters more than $100 million per it will improve inmates’ communication “rape elimination act,” but rather “rape offenders when they become eligible to year to operate. But what did the lawmakers with the outside world about poor condi- awareness act,” because the best-case vote and send them a voter-registration do to improve conditions inside existing tions, health problems, corruption, mis- result will be that policymakers have more card. Unfortunately, Governor Perry vetoed Texas prisons? Tight finances and shifting conduct, and other prison problems. New information about the problem; the first the bill. attitudes converged this year and changed phones should be installed and running report will come out in January 2009. So prisoners won’t be notified they can priorities in Austin, making possible several by September 2008. That’s a good thing, since in 2004 Texas vote, but if you’re reading this then you long-sought reforms that surprised many In-prison treatment should boost led the country in reported prison rapes already know! Today one in 20 Texas adults observers. parole rates: The Legislature approved (550 total allegations), according to a U.S. are in prison, on probation or on parole — Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston) nearly $200 million in new treatment Department of Justice report. But let’s not that would be a large voting bloc if each of and Representative Jerry Madden (R- funding, including several resources for kid ourselves that an ombudsman will them consistently votes when their supervi- Richardson) led the Legislature through a in-prison treatment programs, especially eliminate rape at TDCJ. sion ends. So register and vote, or do so as dizzying set of corrections-related reforms, for repeat DWI offenders and drug- Good time restoration vetoed: soon as you’re off paper. These new laws including an overhaul of the state’s broken addicted felons for whom treatment is The Legislature passed a bill by Dallas (and vetoes) show that who represents us in probation system and diverting non- a condition of parole. Currently many Representative Terri Hodge, HB 44, that government really does matter. ● violent offenders from prison. Although offenders are ready for parole save com- would have allowed TDCJ to restore good Whitmire chairs the powerful Senate pletion of a mandatory treatment program time taken away from offenders for con- Scott Henson blogs on Texas crimi- Criminal Justice Committee, and Madden but languish many months (sometimes duct violations. Wardens and prison offi- nal-justice politics and practices at is chair of House Corrections, ultimately more than a year) on waiting lists to enter cials wanted the bill as much as prisoners’ Gritsforbreakfast.org. the Lege accomplished less than it could these programs. Eliminating those wait- advocates, because the ability to restore have to reform the Texas Department of ing lists would make parole decisions good time is an excellent tool for influenc- Criminal Justice, in part due to Governor more fair and predictable, reducing prison ing inmate behavior, giving TDCJ a carrot Rick Perry’s veto power. overcrowding and ensuring that prisoners to use along with their well-stocked arse- Let’s run through the legislative high- won’t spend long stretches still incarcer- nal of sticks. But perhaps unsurprisingly, lights for Texas prisoners: ated after their parole is approved. Governor Perry vetoed the bill, claiming

justice” serves to punish and alienate real human impact of this stuff,” said Dr. Restorative offenders from society, “restorative justice” Mark Umbreit, the founding director of is an inclusive theory that aims to repair the University of Minnesota’s Center for Justice, Texas- the harm inflicted on society through Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. offender rehabilitation and victim recon- Many of the techniques embraced style ciliation. Under this paradigm, the victim by the restorative justice movement — By dave maass is at the center of the justice process, including victim-offender mediation, fam- [email protected] offenders are held directly accountable, ily-group conferencing, and community and the community as a whole is urged to peacemaking circles — were developed ho can say when the phrase participate in the healing process, which in post-conflict countries, such as South “Justice, Texas-style” was first is directed at both the victim and the Africa, which pioneered victim-offender uttered? What is certain is that offender. mediation after the end of Apartheid Wsince the state declared inde- In late June, proponents of this new through their “Truth and Reconciliation pendence from Mexico 171 years ago, the approach held the first-ever National Commission.” These techniques were fur- term has become synonymous with swift, Conference on Restorative Justice at ther developed in international contexts, hard retribution, often accompanied by the Schreiner University in Kerrville, of all such as Irish-British and Palestinian-Israeli cinder-block-splitting end of one of Chuck places, and it wasn’t just bleeding-heart conflicts. Minnesota and Wisconsin are Norris’s reverse roundhouse kicks. activists behind it. Organized by the currently hotspots for restorative-justice For the incarcerated, Texas-style justice College of Public Policy at the University initiatives, whether it be prison-based pro- may indeed feel like a kick in the teeth. of Texas at San Antonio and the Source of A small but growing grams or reconciliation projects involving Politicians (and since district attorneys Light Center at San Antonio’s University Liberian refugees. and judges are elected in Texas, we include Presbyterian Church, the conference Texas may indeed be the next vortex for both in that category) sell themselves featured speakers from across the nation contingent in Texas the movement as professors at UTSA and to voters with a tough-on-crime image, and globe, as well as regional policy- St. Mary’s University push for restorative- which often translates into cheap-on- makers such as Travis County District has been pushing justice curricula and local officials add it rehabilitation policies and practices. Attorney Ronnie Earle and Bexar County to their priorities. As a result, in the next The result: Slow case processing, trials Commissioner Tommy Adkisson. for a shift in decade, Texas-style justice may become weighted in favor of the prosecution, “The most clear, distinct, measur- less Chuck Norris and more Nelson harsher sentences, overcrowded jails and able, internationally used and empirically Mandela. ● prisons, a high recidivism rate, and so on, grounded form of this movement is what criminal-justice so forth, so what? After all, why should I call ‘restorative justice dialogue,’ and For more information on restorative jus- law-abiding citizens care about criminals? that involves a process where the fami- priorities. tice, see the list of resources at the end of the In the last few years, a small but grow- lies most affected by the reality of crime special section. ing contingent in Texas has been pushing and conflict — communities, victims, for a shift in criminal-justice priorities. offenders, families — have the opportu- While our current system of “retributive nity to come together to talk about the

14 august 1-7, 2007 • san antonio current Paper to

problem with the officer and you’re com- Interview with plaining about them, you go through certain book review: people and they’ll reassign you to another a prison-rape job, rather than complaining and being A Cry in the exposed all over the unit, which could cause survivor more problems. wilderness by jessica ramos What kept you from immediately telling By dave maass [email protected] someone about your attack? [email protected] I was on this emotional rollercoaster. I n September 2000, Garret Cunningham, had suicidal thoughts; I didn’t want to live Over the last 10 months or so I’ve then an inmate at the Luther Unit in anymore … You know, it takes a lot away developed a bit of a reputation as a writer Navasota serving time for a proba- from you as a person … There were a bunch sympathetic to the plights of the incarcer- Ition violation, says he was raped by a of feelings and emotions that I was having ated. On one hand, it’s a blessing: I score TDCJ officer. He was returning from work in a hard time dealing with. I finally went back interviews with inmates that the main- the prison’s laundry room and was heading to the psychiatric department and told the stream media cannot. On the other hand, for the showers when the guard allegedly psychologist what happened ... He got me a it can be heart-breaking; at least once a knocked Cunningham off balance, pulled job change from the issue room, under [the month I receive a desperate request from down his boxer shorts, and forcefully pen- officer’s] direct supervision, to the laundry, an inmate asking for help writing/publish- etrated him. Afterwards, Cunningham told a which I was still under [the officer’s] indirect ing their autobiography or novel. Most of Congressional committee in 2005, the officer supervision. So, I was still being subject to the time I’m forced to write back that I threatened to have other officers file false pat searches, sexual harassment, comments simply don’t have the time. Sometimes, charges against him and to transfer him to a and stuff on a daily basis … however, I have to bite my tongue, as was more violent unit where he’d likely suffer the You can’t be compensated by the state the case last month. How do you tell an a cry in the wilderness: same treatment at the hands of inmate for anything you’ve endured or receive any author that no one will ever publish a the raw confessions of predators. therapy or rehabilitation. How do you cope? children’s fairy tale written by a convicted Texas seven’s joseph garcia Although child rapist? By Joseph Garcia with Selma Kerren Cunningham com- And so, it was especially gratifying Outskirts Press, 156 pages. plained to prison offi- “I was on this emotional roller- to receive a review copy of A Cry in the cials about the assault Wilderness, a self-published memoir Mail Order: — itself the culmination by Texas inmate Joseph Garcia (TDCJ $12.95 plus $4.10 s/h of months of sexual coaster. I had suicidal thoughts; #999441). Originally convicted of murder Outskirts Press harassment, which he’d in San Antonio in 1996, Garcia became 10940 S. Parker Road #515 also reported — no I didn’t want to live anymore.” one of the Texas Seven who made correc- Parker, CO 80134 charges were brought tions history in 2000 by participating in against the officer until — Garret cunningham a complicated jailbreak from the Connally cess of writing seems to have helped him the next year, when Unit near Kenedy, Texas. The killing of an recover some of it. For the aspiring prison another inmate reported Irving police officer during the ensuing author, the book is a strong example of a sexual assault and produced DNA evi- [I founded a nonprofit organization] crime spree landed Garcia and five others how well a memoir can turn out when dence. Cunningham filed an official com- Pens Friends and Services. It provides the death penalty (the seventh committed an inmate finds a ghostwriter/editor/co- plaint in 2003, but investigators told him it resources for everybody all over the United suicide), and he is currently housed at the author on the outside. Kerren’s voice, was too late. States who is incarcerated … [It’s] a list of Polunsky Unit in Livingston. however, does intrude upon the larger nar- According to the national human-rights legal resources, after-care programs and With the help of California-based writer rative from time to time. Her position and organization Stop Prisoner Rape, one out pen-pal contacts … So, if a prisoner wants a Selma Kerren, Garcia tells the tale of his influence becomes clear both in the intro- of every five male prisoners, and one out of place he can get free books, or Bibles, or cor- troubled youth, adolescence, and young duction and postscript, where she lays every four female prisoners incarcerated in respondence courses, he can write in with a adulthood. The themes of the book will be much of the blame on Garcia’s mother. the U.S. prison system is raped. request for a free booklet. Everything is free. familiar to many inmates: As the child of a The plot concludes with an account of Cunningham’s story is similar to that of How do you feel about our culture’s drug addict, Garcia grew up unable to dis- the murder that landed Garcia in prison, the Texas Youth Commission scandal in that perspective on prison rape, specifically tinguish between love and pain, and crime leaving the story of his prison time and both show that the perpetrators of rape in references made for humor purposes, for became one of the few ways he could the escape for, perhaps, a future install- prison can be corrections officers, the indi- example don’t-drop-the-soap jokes? please his often absent and frequently ment. At 156 pages, the book seems viduals hired to guard and protect inmates. Before I went in, I heard the expression negligent mother. He also describes how he incomplete without the story of the Texas Cunningham talked with the Current via … I really didn’t think a whole lot of it until lost his closest friend — his younger sister Seven, but this omission may mean that telephone from his home in Amarillo about time progressed and things happened, I — who was ripped away from him first by the TDCJ Director’s Review Committee, his experience in the Texas prison system. didn’t find it a joke anymore. I don’t think it’s Child Protective Services, then by cancer. which judges the appropriateness of anything to laugh about … It’s kind of dis- Overall, the strength of the book lies in books ordered by inmates, won’t ban the Your initial encounters with [the officer] gusting when you look at it, the overall view the way Garcia’s voice develops: The story book if you try to order it from behind began with sexual harassment. Did you of society, their perspective of prisoners and is about losing his innocence, but the pro- bars. ● suspect his actions would lead to more vio- how they should be treated. lent behavior? Why do you think that brutality aimed Oh, God no … I never would have imag- at inmates isn’t taken seriously? Do you feel SHAKING YOUR HEAD: Normally, you see bobble- ined anything like that would have happened that people look at it like it comes with the head dolls modeled after sports heroes — the Spurs, the … During pat searches … he always reached territory? Astros, the Cowboys. Now, thanks to the Texas Prison up and, you know, grabbed my groin. The There’s not enough exposure on it … Museum in Huntsville, Texas inmates may too claim a first time he did it I thought it was an acci- There’s a lot of media that won’t touch it … place on Texas’s most tasteless drivers’ dashboards. The dent, but the second time I was like, “Whoa!” I was going to get on Montel Williams, and Texas Prison System bobblehead doll is available at the … I’d already heard a lot of other offenders he refused to touch it. Because I was a male, museum’s gift shop for $15. complain about it also. I was talking to the I guess I didn’t matter. A lot of it is how the psychiatric department … I complained media [portrays prisoners]. You can tell by MR. LIVINGSTON, I PETITION: Texas inmates are not about him for months … They kept telling their body language when a newscaster is the only ones frustrated with TDCJ Executive Director me they can’t do [anything] about it … talking about a prisoner … You catch a little Brad Livingston. In late April, TDCJ employees started Do you think that intervention could glance or a smirk at their coworker. an online petition (Petitionspot.com/petitions/tdcjid) to have prevented your attack if someone After everything you went through, how fire Livingston, formerly TDCJ’s chief financial officer. helped you when you first reached out? are you doing? “Remove the bean counter! We need representation Oh, yeah. I definitely think it could have I’m engaged [and have three kids] … that has worn the uniform!” the anonymous petitioners … A program should be in place where Life is great, and I don’t take anything for exclaim. So far only 38 employees have signed on. [a report is filed] secretively. If you have a granted anymore. ● san antonio current • august 1-7, 2007 15 Paper to

In my son’s pack, the preface is half a page, Letters of Support Planning your typed, and single-spaced. You’ll want to include letters from indi-

maass viduals on the outside pledging to help and e Letter from the Offender support you in your transition to the free SANANTONIOCURRENT parole packet dav A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FOR THE By rosie Campos lopez Every offender should write a letter to his world. Most importantly, incorporate letters with dave maass assigned parole board, which is comprised showing that you’ve been offered a place to CURRENT’S INCARCERATED READERSHIP ou can increase your chances of of one board member and two commission- live and assistance, both moral and financial. parole if you start putting together ers. (You’re assigned a board based on the For example, if a family member is willing to a parole plan — a packet of infor- region where you’re serving your time; find lend you a place to stay, help you with trans- Y mation arguing your case — at out which board will look at your case by portation to work or school tuition, definitely least six months prior to your first eligibil- visiting Tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp or writing to the include that letter. A recommendation from ity date. Parole plans aren’t mandatory, nor Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, P.O. Box a state legislator or other public official may how to mail this do they guarantee you’ll earn parole, but 134501, Austin, TX 78711.) Board members be attached, but it’s unnecessary. As one parole-board members have told me that a I’ve spoken to say this letter is the first thing parole commissioner recently said at a Texas issue to an inmate plan does help inform their decisions. A plan they read. In the letter, discuss your accom- Inmate Families Association meeting: One allows them to efficiently recognize all of your plishments and the support waiting for you strong letter from a family member is worth 1. Use scissors to cut along the dotted lines on pages 13-16. accomplishments and all of the support await- outside. Most importantly, talk about the more than a stack of letters from senators. ing you on the outside. Remember, parole is a remorse you feel. But stick to the crimes you My son’s pack includes letter from his grand- 2. Reverse the cover so that this page is now on the front. Insert pages 13-16 inside. privilege, not a right. were convicted of; you don’t want to open parents, his two brothers, his wife, and me. As the mother of a son who’s been incar- another can of worms. 3. Fold in half along the dotted line below. Using small strips of tape, seal the newspaper where marked. cerated for the past 15 years, I researched Lopez’s eight-tab parole plan for her son. Photographs parole packets on his behalf and met with “Ten Factors” If you’ve got photographs that show the 4. Address it to the offender. Make sure you include the inmate’s TDCJ or SID number. attorneys — only to learn that their fees I’ve identified 10 factors that a parole best parts of your life on the outside, you To track down an inmate, you can use the TDCJ’s search system online: ranged from $5,000 to $15,000, with no guar- board is most likely to consider in parole with a copy of the company’s registration. may include them in the packet. A picture 168.51.178.33/webapp/TDCJ/index2.htm antee of success. At that juncture I realized deliberations. My son compiled a short “fact speaks a thousand words, and often a good that there were many families like mine who sheet” addressing the following issues with Education image will leave a lasting impact in the mind For addresses of TDCJ units: could not afford to go that route. I decided to one paragraph each: 1) his criminal record, You should include your level of educa- of a board member (who has to consider Tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/all.htm do the job myself, and for the last eight years 2) his personality, 3) the adequacy of his tion both before and after you were incarcer- hundreds of offenders each week). My son’s I’ve helped many inmates and their families parole plan, 4) his attitude towards work and ated. The parole board may not take your pack includes 11 pages of color photocopies Bexar County Jail: construct parole packets for a fraction of the ability to earn a living, 5) his family status word for it, so be sure to include copies of of photographs of our family, including his 200 N. Comal, San Antonio, TX cost. and other “constructive associates,” 6) the certificates, diplomas, and transcripts. childhood Boy Scout outings, his brother’s No two parole plans are alike, however. type of residence and community he’ll be wedding, and Polaroids of our family visiting 5. Important: Apply regular mail postage. I speak to an offender’s family to collect the living in, 7) his history of alcohol and drug Awards/Accomplishments him in prison. That’s a lot, of course, but I details of their case and situation, and I dis- abuse, 8) his mental and physical health, You should definitely include the results hope to show the Parole Board what type of FOLD HERE cern what needs to be included in the parole 9) his conduct record in prison, and 10) all and certificates from any treatment pro- family my son came from and will be going

plan, in what order. My son’s parole pack, for other factors specific to his circumstances. grams you enrolled in while incarcerated, back to. ●

HERE example, is split into eight sections, and con- such as anger-management and substance- FOLD tains nearly everything that could possibly Employment abuse therapy. You’ll also want to include any Rosie Campos Lopez has been the San be presented to the parole board. Here are a If you can get an employer to promise certificates you earned through voluntary Antonio Chair for the Texas Inmate Families few elements you may consider for your own you a job in advance of your parole, your education or job-training programs or corre- Association for the past six years. She also (or your loved one’s) parole pack: parole board will be impressed. However, spondence courses — basically, all the posi- helps families put together parole packets for a letter on its own may not be enough. I’ve tive activities you participated in during your their incarcerated loved ones for a small fee. Preface offered my son a job with my own com- incarceration, including religious study. I’ve She may be reached by mail at P.O. Box 27664, In addition to a table of contents, the pany, and so the board doesn’t doubt the included in my son’s packet the first-place San Antonio, TX 78227-6664. parole plan should begin with a short sum- legitimacy of my claim, I’ve attached proof, ribbon won by his prison volleyball team. mary of the information contained within. including photographs of the business along

Center for Restorative Justice & Inmate Advocacy Texas Civil Rights Project Pens Friends and Services, Inc. Useful addresses Peacemaking Texas Inmate Families Association TCRP’s prisoner-rights attorney Scott The organization provides inmates Government The Center encourages mediation This organization provides support to Medlock investigates civil-rights claims and former inmates with a number of TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division between victims and offenders and the the families of inmates and can act as on behalf of Texas inmates. resources including free contacts and Ombudsman Office involvement of the community to restore an intermediary with the criminal jus- 1405 Montopolis Drive Austin, TX educational materials. The ombudmans deals with issues from justice. tice system and state government. 78741 P.O. Box 4076 Amarillo, TX 79116 the public relating to secure facilities University of Minnesota P.O. Box 300220 Austin, TX 78703 Phone: (512) 474-5073 Website: penfriendsservices.com and any specific concerns regarding 1404 Gortner Ave, 105 Peters Hall St. Phone: (512) 371-0900 Email: questions@texascivilrightsproject. offenders confined in TDCJ facilities. Paul, MN 55108 Email: [email protected] org The Prison Show P.O. Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342 Phone: (612) 624-4923 Website: Tifa.org Website: Texascivilrightsproject.org Broadcast on Houston Pacifica Radio Phone: (936) 437-6791 Email: [email protected] San Antonio Phone: (210) 680-3505 KPFT 90.1 FM on Friday’s from 9:00 to Other Email: [email protected] Website: Rjp.umn.edu Email: [email protected] 11:00 PM, Ray Hill’s prison show reaches Offender Preparation & Education Texas prisons in Walker, Brazoria, Network Inc. (OPEN Inc.) Representative Jerry Madden Restorative Justice Initiative Stop Prisoner Rape Galveston, Ft Bend, Liberty, Montgomery A correctional service agency that Madden is the chair of the Texas House The organization focuses on victim SPR is an organization that seeks to and Harris Counties. prepares offenders to adopt a socially Committee on Corrections. impact and offender accountability, as end sexual violence committed against P. O. Box 3624 Houston, TX 77523 responsible and personally rewarding Room CAP GN.7 well as a dialogue between the two. men, women, and youth in all forms of Phone: (713) 523-6969 lifestyle. P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 Marquette University Law School detention. Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 472223 Garland, TX 75047 Phone: (512) 463-0544 P.O. Box 1881 Milwaukee, WI 53201 3325 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 340 Website: Theprisonshow.org Phone: (972) 271-1971 Phone: (414) 288-7924 Los Angeles, CA 90010 Email: [email protected] Senator John Whitmire E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (213) 384-1400 The Prisoner’s Literature Project Website: Openinc.org

Whitmire is the chair of Senate Website: Law.marquette.edu/jw/restor- Email: [email protected] PLP is an all-volunteer project that Committee on Criminal Justice. ative Website: Spr.org sends free books to prisoners all over Prisonersolidarity.org P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 the United States. Prisonersolidarity.org facilitates com- Phone: (512) 463-0115 Restorative Justice Ministry Texas Innocence Network C/o Bound Together Books

munication between prisoners and

Network of North America TIN focuses exclusively on investigat- 1369 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117

Restorative Justice people on “the outside.” It publishes

acurrent.com The organization creates a dialogue ing claims of actual innocence raised by Phone: (510) 332-2120 S

Bridges to Life updated research, news, opinion pieces HERE

among citizens, church and criminal jus- inmates in Texas or elsewhere. Email: [email protected]

This faith-based nonprofit’s mission is and educational material from activists, 78215 TX ntonio, A an S E POSTAG tice leaders, and influences government 100 Law Center Houston, TX 77204 Website: Prisonersliteratureproject.com

to reduce crime by reducing recidivism. writers, prisoners, and the concerned

policy.‑ Telephone: (713) 743-7552

E P.O. Box 19039 Houston, TX 77224 public. PLAC t S ary’s M t. S . N

1232 Avenue J, Suite 360 Huntsville, Email: [email protected] 1500

Phone: (713) 463-7200 P.O. Box 422 The Plains, OH 45780 TX 77340 Website: Texasinnocencenetwork.com CURRENT ANTONIO Website: Bridgestolife.org Email: prisonersolidarity-owner@ SAN Phone: (936) 291-2156 yahoogroups.com Email: [email protected] Website: Prisonersolidarity.org Website: Rjmn.net

san antonio current •august 1-7, 2007 16 august 1-7, 2007 • san antonio current 67 SANANTONIOCURRENT A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FOR THE CURRENT’S INCARCERATED READERSHIP

how to mail this issue to an inmate

1. Use scissors to cut along the dotted lines on pages 13-16.

2. Reverse the cover so that this page is now on the front. Insert pages 13-16 inside.

3. Fold in half along the dotted line below. Using small strips of tape, seal the newspaper where marked.

4. Address it to the offender. Make sure you include the inmate’s TDCJ or SID number. To track down an inmate, you can use the TDCJ’s search system online: 168.51.178.33/webapp/TDCJ/index2.htm

For addresses of TDCJ units: Tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/all.htm

Bexar County Jail: 200 N. Comal, San Antonio, TX

5. Important: Apply regular mail postage.

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