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the staff and the prisoners, often times
the inmates are placed in lockdown for
months at a time. No outside recreation,
no trips to the cafeteria and no getting
out of the cell. The ratio of 23 prisoners
to one guard is a dangerous situation
for everyone inside. This is a 950 bed
facility. The guards are paid $12.25 an
hour. Of the 900 inmates, over 700 are
in maximum security and affiliated with
gangs. The buildings have crumbling
walls covered with mold and ooze
water. Prisoners often have no soap, no
blankets, jackets or even food. Three
quarters of the guards are women. Over
the course of 6 months in 2018, officers
confiscated at least 170 weapons. One
man had his head slammed against
concrete and was reduced to a vegetative
state. Another inmate was stabbed
ten times and died. Henry was severely
beaten and then set on fire. And the
list goes on. Gang violence is high and
the employees tolerate it. Reports are
falsified. In this prison as in many
others, the prisoners live in fear for their
lives. Please pray for us.
< MISSISSIPPI >
I am your member and was recently
in an altercation with an officer about
property regulations. As a result, they
stripped me of everything! My Rosary,
personal belongings, and all was taken
from me. There is so much wickedness
and evil that has come to me since I
began my spiritual walk with God and
found the Catholic Church. I will not
be discouraged. Please give me your
guidance and send another Rosary if
it is possible. < Stephen – FL > The system here is very corrupt. We
had a shakedown (search) of our cells
and the officer assigned to me was
nasty. When I returned to my cell, I
found my sweater and thermals were
in the toilet, my Rosary was snapped
and beads scattered everywhere, my
grandmother’s photo was ripped in
half, and my personal and legal mail
had muddy boot prints on them where
they lay scattered about the room. I
was devastated, defeated, hurt and all
I could do was cry. Can you help me
with another Rosary? Thank you! God
bless you! < Seveyon – FL >
Thank you so much for the box of
Sacramentals you sent to our Chaplain
Ornellas. These were given out to all
six prison yards for Christmas, which
brought much joy and happiness to us
all. Thank you, also, for all you have
done for me in the past 15 years I
have been in prison. You have helped
me through some very difficult times
and helped me change my life. I still
pray from the Fr. Lasance Prayer
Book you sent to me years ago. God
b l e s s y o u a n d all those dear to you!
< Martin - CA >
This card is a token of appreciation
for all you have done for me, for mom
and for my fiancé. I hope you like it. I
did not have any colors to make it nice
for you. But I will send you something
when I get home on February 16. I am
so thankful to have all of you as part of
my family. You all have helped me so
much in my Catholic Faith and in my
walk with God. God bless you all! Please
keep me in your prayers. Your friend
and brother in Christ, < Michael - FL >