Sending Chris Money

I received this email string from Jake, his great support at the White Rose Catholic Worker house in Chicago, and from Bob, his prison legal advocate. For those of you who don't know, prisoners have something called a commissary fund which allows them to buy small items like stamps, toiletries, shoes -- all at a generous mark-up for the for-profit business that runs the prison. Its nice to know that once you are in jail they punish you and your family in unlimited small ways designed to further isolate and mentally and emotionally breakdown the prisoner. So much for rehabilitation!

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Quick update from Bob regards to Chris. Bob called me this morning after having spoke with Chris. Chris is now receiving vegan meals and eating three times daily. He has still not received mail but has sent mail out a few days ago. He no longer has any money on his books. It is looking like Chris could be at Irwin County Jail for a while in transit, so it seems best to put money on his account and send mail there. Chris was asking for $60 and I'm going to do that today.

Chris also requested the White Rose to manage his money. You can send money to "White Rose Catholic Worker" and we will make sure he has enough for the length of his stay.

White Rose Catholic Worker
2127 W. Devon
Chicago IL 60659
773-856-031

He has a doctors appointment tomorrow and will most likely be put on meds after that. Probably not what he has been on, according to Bob's conversations with the jail, but he will receive some medication. Thanks all.


-peace-
Jake

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Dear Dave and Marti –

I was getting ready to e-mail you, but Jake was quicker. Chris phoned me at home around 8:45 last evening. I had only enough money on my phone account so that we could talk for around 8 minutes. So I did not get to ask him all of the questions I had. I did take written notes during the conversation.

Before I wrote you this morning I wanted to talk to Jake regarding the money issue – because Chris asked me last night to phone Jake and ask him to put $60 in his account at the jail so that he could buy more stamps. As you can see below, Jake will be doing that ASAP. I asked Chris if he has been able to get mail. His response was that he has not been able to receive mail on a regular basis – but that he had received mail on four different days. I asked Chris if the jail personnel had not let him send out mail. He said that the reason he had not been sending out mail was that he did not have stamps. He said that he was able to go to the commissary last Friday and buy stamps. He has been busy writing letters since then. He put 14 letters in the mail yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

Regarding the food situation, Chris said to “be sure to tell my mother” that he received his first vegan platter yesterday and that he ate all three meals yesterday. He hopes that the vegan meals will continue on a regular basis. He also said that he is still not receiving any medications. He believes he will be put on some medication after his appointment with a doctor tomorrow (Friday). We had time to briefly discuss his “In transit” status. He said that other men in the dorm tell him that “in transit” could still mean that he stays at Irwin County several more weeks. I believe that is the conversation that triggered his phone call to me. Chris now believes there is a good chance that he will be there a while longer and was not able to get in touch with Jake directly regarding the money.

I wish I had more information to pass on, and especially more positive information regarding a speedy move to a federal prison in Illinois. But Chris did sound in good spirits with a strong voice and promised to phone again soon. I will be adding more money to my prison phone account today.

All for now,

Bob