Straight Low Magazine 2009 Volume 10 Number 2
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Volume 10 — Number 2, 2009 FEATURING e REENTRY e YOP e EDUCATION e CLUBS MORE Louisiana’s Official Prison Magazine STATEMENT OF PUBLICATION n response to a 1975 federal district court order barring further transfers to the state penitentiary at Louisiana’s IAngola due to severe overcrowding - and despite fierce political and community opposition, Dixon Correctional Institute was established in Jackson on the site of the Official Prison Magazine Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. On April 1, 1976, 400 prisoners were transported to DCI for the New Millennium from Angola and the era of satellite state prison camps was launched. Today, DCI is just one of ten such facilities and is rated to house 1,695 inmates with an operational capacity of 1,586 maximum, medium, and minimum custody inmates. In 1993, Dixon surpassed rigorous accreditation standards of the nationally recognized American Correctional Association with a 98% approval rating. Dixon has been routinely reevaluated by ACA inspectors. In 2008, ACA awarded DCI a 99.1% rating. Straight Low Magazine, the official inmate publication for DCI, was originally named DCI News & Views. Mrs. Rose Travis, then-Director of Inmate Programs at DCI, after becoming acclimated with daily prison jargon, renamed the publication to better reflect the aim of the DCI administration and inmate population. ADMINISTRATION “Tell the truth at all costs!” Mrs. Travis instructed her Bobby Jindal Governor inmate staff and Straight Low Magazine was born. James M. Le Blanc Secretary, DPS&C In 2001, Mrs. Travis died. In her memory each cover of Sheryl Ranatza Deputy Secretary, DPS&C Straight Low Magazine will bear a silhouette of a single Thomas Bickham Undersecretary, DPS&C rose. Whalen Gibbs Assistant Secretary, DPS&C The term Straight Low is a derivative of the ‘free- Jeff Travis Chief of Operations, DPS&C worlder’s’ slang terms: ‘Skinny’, ‘Low-Down’, ‘Poop’, ‘Real Steve Rader Warden Scoop’ and ‘Straight Talk’. It is also the prisoners’ terminology for information believed to be true and Janet S. Lorena Deputy Warden factual. James R. Stevens Assistant Warden Since its rebirth in 1977, every inmate editor and staff Gary Shotwell Assistant Warden member has been committed to the task of disseminating Kenneth Booty Assistant Warden fact from fiction; truth from lie; stark reality from Bruce Coston Assistant Warden, Unit I unsubstantiated rumour. Steven L. Thomas Assistant Warden, Unit II James M. Le Blanc was appointed as Warden of DCI in 1995. Under his direction, Straight Low Magazine uniquely became an uncensored prison publication. In 1999, Straight Low Magazine was formally certified by Secretary of State Fox McKeithen as Louisiana’s Official Prison Magazine for the New Millennium. Straight Low Magazine is published and printed periodically by inmates and staff at DCI. Material submitted for publication may be edited for Board of Directors Steve Rader Publisher clarity, accuracy, and/or space limitations. Frequently, Janet S. Lorena Executive Director submissions are received from ‘free world’ readers and Bruce Coston Security Coordinator subscribers who desire to share their insight. These contributions and the individual’s efforts are welcomed DCI Inmate Staff and appreciated. Editorial and commentary opinions Jan Joseph Porretto Editor expressed are that of the editor and/or author only. Michael O’Neal Staff Material appearing without a by-line is the sole Matthew Pineda Staff responsibility of the editor. All material appearing in Kendrick Volter Volunteer Straight Low Magazine does not necessarily reflect the opinions of employees of the Louisiana Department of Printed by slm. All Rights Reserved, Copyright Straight Low Magazine Public Safety & Corrections and/or inmate population. Dixon Correctional Institute Material submitted for publication which cannot be P.O. Box 788 readily identified as authentic will bear the disclaimer, Jackson, Louisiana 70748 “Submitted for Publication by.” Articles and profiles of inmates and their personal experiences have been All correspondence should be addressed to: Six issue subscription rates: verifiably authenticated to prevent misrepresentation. Jan Joseph Porretto #98965 $20-U.S., $30-Canadian, $40-Foreign Straight Low Magazine grants permission to reproduce Editor, Straight Low Magazine Send cash, check, or money order to: all non-copyrighted material and photographs providing Dixon Correctional Institute - Dorm I Straight Low Subscription credit is given to the individual author and Straight Low P.O. Box 788 Dixon Correctional Institute Magazine. Jackson, Louisiana 70748 P.O. Box 788 Jackson, Louisiana 70748 20092009 VVVolumeolume 10,10, NNooo 1 1 Louisiana’s Official Prison Magazine for the New Millenium page 3 COVER STORY ........................... 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneer and former LSU star Michael Clayton shares past and present life history in the Youth Leadership Forum. RESOURCE FAIR ........................ 3 Northrop Grumman Corporation, a ship yard with several multi-billion dollar page 24 contracts with the U. S. government, draws plenty of interest from offenders seeking employment opportunites when they discharge. WHEELCHAIR WASH ................ 24 Dixon Jaycees provided a valuable service to DCI’s disabled offenders. This guy decided not to take advantage of the valet service and tries to hitch a ride back to his dorm. UNDER CONSTRUCTION ........... 33 After several weeks of building forms, running pipes, and setting expansion joints, DCI maintenance crews spent a full day pumping, pouring, and smoothing concrete for the new Veterinary Clinic and Infirmary addition. page 33 page 7 CONTENTSCONTENTS First Word .......................................................... 1 RELIGION What is a Disciple? ........................................... 35 REENTRY God’s Cell Phone .............................................. 36 Resource Fair ..................................................... 3 Living Life in the Spirit ..................................... 37 ID Required ........................................................ 6 In Remembrance of Lynn ................................. 39 YOP DCI Cemetery ................................................... 40 Visions Create Leaders ....................................... 7 Prison Religion in the News .............................. 41 DCI Demographics ........................................... 12 Transforming Faith .......................................... 41 You Know Me! .................................................. 13 Incarceration – and Inspiration ........................ 43 YOP Graduations.............................................. 14 HEALTH EDUCATION Health Watch ................................................... 45 Hanging with the Winners ................................ 15 Hot Weather ..................................................... 45 Educational Graduates ..................................... 16 HIV Rate Highest in the South.......................... 45 Educational Programs ...................................... 18 Nicotine Study .................................................. 46 Flu Facts .......................................................... 47 CLUBS Vets are the Difference ..................................... 19 SPORTS VETS Inc. Game Night ...................................... 21 Flag Football Champions .................................. 49 VETS Donate Fans ........................................... 22 35+ Basketball Champs.................................... 49 Jaycees Impact YOP Forum .............................. 23 Softball ............................................................ 50 Jaycee Wheelchair Wash .................................. 24 PRISONERS WITH PENS Toastmasters Training...................................... 25 Out of My Element ........................................... 51 PRISON SPECTRUM What in the World?!.......................................... 52 Crime Victim’s Week ......................................... 27 Crime & Punishment ........................................ 53 Children Suffer ................................................ 27 Where Have All the Boys Gone? ........................ 54 Hidden Victims ................................................. 28 Significant Minutiae ......................................... 57 Rapid Fire ........................................................ 31 Other Perspectives... ........................................ 58 Read to Me Daddy ............................................ 32 PRISON BRIEFS Under Construction.......................................... 33 Louisiana ......................................................... 59 Burning Cash ................................................... 34 National ........................................................... 60 The Risk Review Panel ...................................... 62 DCI LAW 2009 Legislative Acts ........................................ 63 Poetry............................................................... 67 Classified ......................................................... 71 Puzzles ............................................................. 73 Mail Call........................................................... 74 slm –Volume 10 – Number 2 – 2009 FIRSTFIRSTFIRSTFIRSTFIRSTFIRSTFIRST WORDWORDWORDWORDWORDWORDWORD ince March 1993, I have had the First Word with each published edition of Straight Low Magazine. By my Scount, this makes the 52nd time three