Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

JJS811 · #1 01-30-2010, 09:36 AM

A man who murdered a Houston police officer was among five inmates who tried to escape a maximum security prison in Livingston after a church service Friday night.
Three of the inmates were shot by Polunsky prison tower guards and remain hospitalized.
Juan Quintero - convicted in the 2006 death of officer Rodney Johnson - was not shot in the escape attempt, but he and all the others sustained lacerations from the razor wire atop a fence they scaled, said Jason Clark, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman.
Quintero's capital murder conviction in 2008 drew shock from Johnson's wife Joslyn Johnson, also a police officer, because jurors did not sentence Quintero to death but gave him life in prison.
Quintero, who shot the officer from the back seat of a patrol car, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Quintero and one of the other inmates were treated for their cuts and sent back to the Polunsky unit.
The men left a worship service around 9 p.m., scaled an interior fence and were trying to scale a perimeter fence when guards opened fire.
All five of the inmates face charges of attempted escape, and their security classification is likely to change, affecting their housing privileges, Clark said.
Death row inmates are housed at Polunsky, but the inmates trying to break out were from the prison's general population.
The other inmates are Albin Zelaya-Zelaya, serving a life sentence from Harris County for burglary with intent to commit a felony; Michael Dueitt, serving a life sentence out of Calhoun County for capital murder; Donald Gower, serving a life sentence for capital murder in Lampass County and Terry McDonald, serving a life sentence for murder in El Paso County.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6843324.html

Another article:

LIVINGSTON, TX (KTRK) -- Five inmates at a prison in Livingston reportedly tried to escape Friday night and three of them were shot by prison guards.

It happened at around 9pm Friday night at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Polunsky Unit. Prison officials tell us the five general population offenders were returning to their housing area from a church service when they tried to make a run for it. They got over an interior fence and were attempting to scale a fence along the prison perimeter.

Prison personnel began firing at the inmates, hitting three of them. All five inmates were captured inside the perimeter.

The TDCJ released the names of the five inmates: Michael Dueitt, 27, serving a life sentence for capital murder; Juan Quintero,36, serving a life without parole sentence for capital murder; Donald Gower, 41, serving a life without parole sentence for capital murder; Terry McDonald, 29, serving a life sentence for murder; and Albin Zelaya-Zelaya, 29, serving a life sentence for burglary with intent to commit a felony.

Dueitt, Zelaya-Zelaya, and McDonald suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to area hospitals for non-life threatening injuries. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

Quintero and Gower were treated for multiple lacerations and are back at the unit.
All five offenders could face felony attempted escape charges.
The Polunsky Unit is still locked down at this time.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=7247717

mollymop · #2 01-30-2010, 09:38 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/30/...ex.html?hpt=T2

I also found this article about polunsky on CNN

mammastalkin · #3 01-30-2010, 11:02 AM

I knew a lock down was coming but for a different reason. Why is there a need to lock down DR? They are already locked down. Just an excuse to give them even worst meals than they usually have and no commissary.

Joy · #4 01-30-2010, 11:57 AM

It's proceedure to lockdown the whole prison when something like this happens.

The sad thing is, instead of punishing GP, they will punish DR and make things harder on them...... just cause they can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammastalkin

I knew a lock down was coming but for a different reason. Why is there a need to lock down DR? They are already locked down. Just an excuse to give them even worst meals than they usually have and no commissary.

**lisainengland** · #5 01-30-2010, 12:26 PM

I have 2 pen pals on d/r in Polunsky and I know how hard it is for them when they are on lockdown. This is awful

JJS811 · #6 01-30-2010, 04:46 PM

I don't have a link for this, sorry:

3 shot in escape attempt

3 people are hospitalized with gunshot wounds following an escape attempt
at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Polunsky Unit in Livingston.

The escape attempt, involving 5 inmates, occurred just after 9 p.m. on
Friday. Guards fired several shots from a surveillance tower, striking 3
of the 5 would-be escapees. The other 2 were taken into custody.

TDC has not released the condition of the 3 inmates who were shot, but 2
Life Flight air ambulances were called in, and then grounded because of
weather. The inmates are at a Livingston hospital.

The entire prison complex, which includes death row, Administrative
Segregation, and general population was on lockdown as of 11:30 p.m.
Friday.

(source: Montgomery County Police Reporter)

Joolz · #7 01-30-2010, 08:02 PM

Im not sure on prison procedure - but surely dr inmates shouldnt be punished for this

kmlchitown · #8 01-30-2010, 09:57 PM

DR is on lock down i have a friend over there at the momnet visiting her Husband and she was to visit my love on tonight but there is no visit , however there is talk that maybe they will be allowed to visit on Monday but that was going from someone answering the phone calls today so how knows this is Texas after all. But i do hope our boys don't suffer to long .

Much Respects
Karen

mammastalkin · #9 01-31-2010, 06:27 AM

I hope they get their visits by tomorrow. I hadn't even thought of the people trying to visit. But yeah, they will stop visits until they lift the lock down. Such a shame.

**pj663** · #10 01-31-2010, 10:28 PM

So will the mail be affected by this lockdown? Considering that D/R is already on lockdown in my opinion plus this happen in general population.

JJS811 · #11 01-31-2010, 11:52 PM

I can't see the mail being effected any more than usual to be honest PJ. DR mail is read incoming and out going now, which slows things up, so I can't see what else they can do apart from sit on it longer, to make the inmates suffer even more.

**pj663** · #12 02-01-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJS811

I can't see the mail being effected any more than usual to be honest PJ. DR mail is read incoming and out going now, which slows things up, so I can't see what else they can do apart from sit on it longer, to make the inmates suffer even more.

Thank you for your response JJS811 I have a pp on the Texas DR and he didnt get the best news last week therefore I sent him a card in hopes that it will make him feel a little better and bring a smile to his face. Thanks again.

JJS811 · #13 02-01-2010, 09:15 AM

If you would like us to send him cards of encouragement, please feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to help. Bad news on Polunsky is always 1000 times worse, and maybe we could help a little?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj663

Thank you for your response JJS811 I have a pp on the Texas DR and he didnt get the best news last week therefore I sent him a card in hopes that it will make him feel a little better and bring a smile to his face. Thanks again.

**pj663** · #14 02-01-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJS811

If you would like us to send him cards of encouragement, please feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to help. Bad news on Polunsky is always 1000 times worse, and maybe we could help a little?

Thank you so much for offering as you can see pp with someone on death row is so new to me!! This was his first direct appeal and I know he will have a chance with federal appeals so we just have to keep the faith that things will turn for the best. He's fairly new on death row not that it makes a diffrent because I've seen some on death row for more the 10 years others less then that so you never know. But thank you so much for your kindness

You guys are wonderful!! I have many questions but Mammastalkin has been wonderful in helping me

I'm sure I'll have more as time goes. Thanks again

JJS811 · #15 02-01-2010, 10:14 AM

Ask away, there will always be someone around to help and Mamma is a wonderful source of knowledge and information. I hope your friendship blossoms and lasts many years. Our DR PP are mainly wonderful and life enriching people - Blessings.

JJS811 · #16 02-02-2010, 12:34 PM

This is a copy of a post from a reliable source, I am confident in re-posting.

JUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THAT AS OF TODAY, POLUNSKY UNIT IS STILL ON LOCKDOWN DUE TO THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE, THIS PAST FRIDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT WHILE THE INMATES CAN STILL WRITE, THEY CANNOT GO TO COMMISARY WHILE ON LOCKDOWN, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY CANNOT PURCHASE STAMPS.

IF YOU ARE EXPECTING A LETTER, AND DO NOT RECEIVE ONE, THEN THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY THE CASE!

**pj663** · #17 02-02-2010, 12:36 PM

Hello jjs811 my understanding is that they are able to purchase stamps bi-weekly? Is it certain days that they can purchase say for instance on a friday?

mammastalkin · #18 02-02-2010, 12:39 PM

The mail is worse right now. My friend wrote that at mail call the mail bag had about 100 pieces in it --including magazines and newspapers. J-pay are taking the full 48 hrs regardless of what time you sent them. Don't worry if you don't hear back right away.

JJS811 · #19 02-02-2010, 12:40 PM

I believe that is right. However whenever there is a lockdown, they are banned from commissary, so cannot get stamps. DR inmates are also only allowed a small number each time they do purchase, so are likely to be used up quite quickly. I copied the above post, as I know there will be people with loved ones on Polunsky desperate for news, and will be worried if they don't hear anything.

JJS811 · #20 02-02-2010, 12:41 PM

Exactly Mamma, that is why I posted the above, to try to allay worries people may have not hearing from loved ones. Lockdowns suck for all concerned, the inmates have a harder time than usual, and the loved ones out here worry and can't get news easily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammastalkin

The mail is worse right now. My friend wrote that at mail call the mail bag had about 100 pieces in it --including magazines and newspapers. J-pay are taking the full 48 hrs regardless of what time you sent them. Don't worry if you don't hear back right away.

**pj663** · #21 02-02-2010, 12:44 PM

Mamma your right I heard from one of my pp yesterday and he mention how it took him three days to get my j-pay also I notice his letter was dated the 24th but mailed out on the 28th.

JJS811 · #22 02-03-2010, 03:13 PM

Visits to Polunsky unit resume Thursday February 4th. Good news for the inmates and their families and loved ones.

**lisainengland** · #23 02-06-2010, 05:46 AM

I got a letter from my pen pal yesterday but it was posted on the 28th. I have written back but I wont expect a reply too soon

Faith & God · #24 02-06-2010, 04:36 PM

they will have visit's this weekend, but due to some virus going around some pod are still lockdown.i called today to make sure Jpod was up and they are ☺☺☺☻☻☻

JJS811 · #25 02-07-2010, 05:18 AM

I am using JPay to get letters there, so my friend knows all is well, but mail back is slow at the moment.