New to Texas prison system

[LoyalMom]

My 29 year old son is in prison in Beaumont, Texas. He is a 4-year Navy veteran and "had" to plead guilty for defending himself with a pocketknife in a fight when two men jumped him. Admittedly so, he was drunk at the time or this situation would have never occurred. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. So he is charged with assault with a deadly weapon. His very high priced attorney told him to plead quilty so he would get a lesser sentence and we were hoping for a long probation period, not two years in prison. He was first in Dallas County jail, moved to Huntsville and most recently to Beaumont, Texas. We are a middle class family and nothing like this has ever happened to us nor anyone else we know. This is becoming a living nightmare for all of us. He is experiencing some of the most horrible, terrible, disgusting things one could imagine and he is so NOT prepared for this kind of behavior. In Beaumont, the first unit he was put in was so bad, gang wise, that when his wife (they have two small children too) came to visit last Saturday, he begged her to talk to someone to get him out of that unit. She met with the asst. warden and he did get moved, thank God! The following week, there was a riot in the very unit he was transferred out of and this young 20 year old who was also new to that unit got nearly beaten to death. My son said the 20 year old was so scared that he hadn't even taken a shower in over a week. I searched on the internet and couldn't find any news about the riot. I can only assume these types of things aren't made known to the outside world? Anyway, this is just a horrible experience for us all and on top of that, I just found out there are no air conditioners there - in this Texas heat. He has also said some of the jailers are very corrupt and allow certain inmates "special priveleges". So, I guess you could say I am venting my frustration and anger over this whole situation. He did tell me that there were quite a few men in there who really didn't deserve to be there and got "screwed around" by their attorneys and the judge and the whole legal system. I am slowly learning more about how corrupt the Texas prison system is and am appalled by the behavior of the guards towards the inmates. Not to mention the behavior of the gangs in there. Thanks for letting me sound off. Loyal Mom

[1bird2]

BLESS YOUR HEART!...First, WELCOME to the family...so sorry you needed to find us...but we are thankful that you did. I am sorry that you had to discover the REALITY of the system....but it seems the only way to really KNOW how things ARE, is to become entangled in the web. I know more than I ever dreamed possible...so now I fight for reform.
I'm so sorry that your son is where he is....especially in a self-defense situation. My son is in the Fed system...and the stories from inside are like some fictional horror movie...(mine just got moved to a lower security facility...much calmer now). The violence and corruption runs deep....so we pray...and trust God for His provision and protection. (And we fight for what is right, the best we can).
I am outraged that your son recieved such a sentence....or a sentence at all! for defending himself. Our injustice system blows my mind. I do understand how devistating this entire ordeal is. My son, a non-violent, non-gang, non-racist guy ended up in a straigh up GANG prison at first....I think he was only one in a handful of non-gang guys. A NIGHTMARE....but God did see us through it...and He will see your son through it to. I continually pray that what they see on a daily basis will fade to black...
I hope you come here often....you will get all the love, hope, support,understanding, encouragement, and prayers that you will need to walk this rough road. YOU WILL MAKE IT....YOUR SON WILL MAKE IT....by the grace of God.
I find that it helps me to VOTE, WRITE, FIGHT, VOICE and PRAY.
Love and prayers,
XXOO

[RaRi]

Loyal Mom~
I'm glad you found PTO. Like you many of us have never had any experience with the legal system before our children brought us here. Never in a million years did I think I would be the parent of an inmate! I had no clue about the legal system, always assumed it was fair and just. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time~ don't do it... I grew up hearing that and really thought only bad people went to prison only bad people committed crimes. My son isn't a bad person but he did commit a bad crime~ also drunk at the wrong place and time with the wrong people. I couldn't wrap my head around how could this happen. So many times I have heard how corrupt the system is and I know that to be true now. I've always heard the farther down South the meaner the CO's? When my son first went in ( he was only 19 years old) he told me about everything he saw, I think eventually he realized him telling me upset me and now he's pretty closed mouth about the bad stuff he sees. Thank God your DIL was able to talk to the DW and have your son moved before the riot happened. Come back here and vent, ask questions and most of all absorb the good thoughts and compassion we all have for each other.

[wickit]

WELCOME TO PTO!!
You will find lots of information and support on our site! Please be sure and check our other forums, you will find TX in our regional forums! HUGS!!!

[Renee]

Welcome to PTO! I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this. Here is a link to the TEXAS and specifically the Gist State Jail - Texas Forums. There are plenty of Texas members who may have some answers that you are looking for. I look forward to seeing you in the Texas Forums!

[gj07]

Loyal/Mom: I understand completely what you are saying. This was also new to me and it is my grandson that is now in prison. I have seen people that i thought would end up in prison that have never seen the inside of one and then here is a person that no-one ever dreamed would face this situation. Like you, I also trusted the system completely and now I have so little faith in our justice system.

Most people have no idea until they have faced it themselves. When he spent a year in jail waiting for sentencing, I prayed and believed things would turn out ok. After all I knew the kind of person that he was and I knew God knew it too. I saw no reason that my prayers wouldn't be answered and when they weren't I was very bitter for awhile. I have come to realize over time as I see more and more families like mine that are just experiencing this for the first time, maybe God did have a plan I didn't see. Maybe it is the voices of those that have always belived so strongly in the system, that God needs to spread the word to others. Anyway, I hope you will join us in trying to spread the word. Get involved in all the organizations that are trying to make a difference. Two that I like are FAMM (Families against mandatory minimums) and CURE (Citizens United to rehabilitate Errants). This way you will know what bills are coming up for vote and at least be able to throw in your support. You can do a web search and learn about this or else I will give you more if you are interested.

I know this is not very comforting advice, but as the others have said, do know we care.