Prison Play-List
My first residence in CDC, Folsom State Prison
July 14, 1985
Folsom Prison Warden Joe Campoy, whose appointment by Gov.
George Deukmejian stirred controversy, took sick leave and considered resigning
his $59,500-a-year job because of health problems. In March 1984, the state
Senate narrowly confirmed Campoy's appointment amid charges that he tolerated
sexual harassment of female guards. Campoy had been under continued pressure
from critics in the Legislature who noted that Folsom had been hit by a rash of
violence including 134 stabbings as of June 1985. Several guards at Folsom also
have come under investigation for allegedly falsifying reports and conspiring
to commit perjury. This place took me back to medieval times. Granite, filth,
and violence everywhere. It’s hard to believe a place like this can still exist
in the USA. Viloence, Viloence, and more Violence.
The Good-O’l boy system. Campoy began his career as a Folsom
guard 39 years ago. Cheryl Campoy is now a spokeswoman for the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. “It’s a Family Affair”
Next Stop DVI Tracy, CA
Quote from SacB: “DVI was called "Gladiator
School" by the inmates. Prisoners there honed their fighting skills, and learned
the business of drug dealing. They also learned how to maim or murder with
handmade weapons.”
I won't even comment on this period of my life;
with the exception of saying the last part of my term was a turnaround in both
custody and an inner awakening. I know there are those of you out there that
are saying, "OK, here it comes; another convict found God'. You are wrong!
I had a streak of luck at the end of my term. Seems I had learned an invaluable
trade while I was at DVI and they needed this skill because of the new prison
expansion program of the 1990s. I was transferred to California Men's Colony,
which at the time was the only facility with the
machinery for the expansion.
TIME FOR TRUE WINDS OF CHANGE
Winds of Change (Scorpions):
The Infamous CMC
After being at CMC for 6 months a change happened. I was
sitting with this guy on the yard and he was telling me his thoughts on life
and Karma. What he was saying made perfect sense to me so I decided then and
there to change my life. First I started to help other inmates with education.
I started putting others before myself. Then I stopped hating. I buried all of
my hate in one clean sweep. To my surprise, good things started happening to
me. My life continued to get better and better.(No! My name is not Earl.) I
actually met a wonderful woman and got married while I was still incarcerated.
Then tragedy hit, with only a few years left on my
sentence my wife developed a fast moving cancer and died before I could get
out. I was devastated. But, I stayed strong, stuck to my new found beliefs,
kept moving in the right direction, and kept doing the right things.
After many
years I was a free man at last. "What am I going to do at 40+ years
old..."
Here I Go Again (Whitesnake)
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