OK CURE

Family Battle - Special Report: Going to Prison - A Tulsa WOrld Special Project - Story by Michael Overall, Photos by Mike Simons - "Margo Battle knows what her 9-year-old son is up against."

You Can Make the Difference - An Oklahoma Inmate

June of 1986, I remember coming into the system and within the first hour of arriving at Connor, I had a bunch of cons pull me up and explain the rules. Our rules, not theirs. I learned what it means to give your word and keep it, no matter what. But most important of all, I remember solidarity. We may have had our separate groups, determined by common interests or ethnicity... but we would all pull together into a single voice, a single entity and that entity made the difference in achievement of a common goal when it counted.

Today June 2001, doing time is a far cry from what it was in my beginning. I don't know the people that are coming into the system these days. Did you not ever accomplish anything by your own sheer determination? I've never heard so much sniveling in all my life. All I hear is how hopeless the whole system is how no one person is able to fight it. Okay, the problem is recognized. Do something about it  I am sick of hearing it. One phrase comes to mind each time I hear someone crying about how messed up the system is. "You're either part of the problem or part of the solution."

I wondered when the realization that the problems inherent in a broken system won't be solved with the efforts of one or two. How can we "cure" its ills? Only personal involvement "in mass" will change the way Oklahoma treats the prisoners in its facilities. Believe me. DOC recognized the power of our solidarity years ago, feared it, and worked to break us into small groups and keep us at each other's throats. Their solution was to divide and conquer. Our solidarity, our strength is gone. Thus the current situation we find ourselves in today.

I agree that there is every reason to feel frustrated. Our governor no longer has any business in the parole process. we have a parole board that is dictated to by a governor that uses his pen to get votes. Prosecutors are readily willing to look the other way when their conviction rates are down during a re-election years. DA's are no longer forced by the courts to follow the rules and convict beyond a reasonable doubt. They "bend a rule" here or there, Bob Macy is a prime example, and the courts just uphold the conviction anyway. Face it, the state is the proud owner of a legal system that is designed to keep you from your loved ones.

Only when we come together once more will positive changes be inevitable. We have to be aware of the power of the voting block created by the families of current and past felons in this state and be willing to voice our objection and then vote out those who don't vote for the will of his/her constituents. Believe me. the Senators and Representatives recognize the power and will move carefully when their constituents call by the thousands to voice objections to a particular bill believe to be adverse to those in the system. I believe that the thought of re-election would occur quite soon during the deluge of calls and ultimately vote to retain their seats. That's the beauty of the American system.

How will this happen you ask? Check out OK CURE. This is a national organization dedicated to the reform of the justice and corrections systems in this country. Oklahoma prisoners have a voice in how the system is put together, but the belief that better things are just around the corner or a decision to "see what happens next" just won't bring the changes about. Quit asking for help and become involved and help yourselves.

See how you can contact CURE. FInd out how easy it is to join and be counted as part of the solution. Help yourself. Stand up and change this system for the better. All it takes is a small contribution of time on your part. Got plenty of that, don't you? Yeah I thought so.

Women & Prison - My Experience - Marion White

One of CURE's issues is about treatment instead of incarceration, I really don't think that will happen in the near future, but can we at least work on getting treatment for the offender while in prison. I was incarcerated four years and never received one bit of treatment.

While at MBCC they had the New Beginnings program, but I could never get in because my need was not immediate. I was a trafficker and doing enough time that they said I could take it later. Well later never came.

I was then transferred to the minimum unit where they did offer a TC program, and they did start to put me in it, but then they said a new policy came out and it said that people with trafficking could not get into the program until they were 360 days from discharge. Well that was that, so I could not even get some kind of treatment before I met the parole board. Thank goodness I talked with the parole investigator and he was the one who did my parole summary, he told me to be sure and tell the parole board that due to changing DOC policy I was not eligible to take a treatment program. So I met the parole board and they did parole me, but with a 6 month condition of Halfway House.

After I was released I did enroll in a 12 week outpatient program thru DRI and I did successfully complete it. I just wish I could have had something more intense while I was incarcerated. I am still doing the halfway house thing, still going to meetings, and am making it. But not because of any help I received while incarcerated. I think this is an issue that mainly hurts the female population, because since being out and have spoke with several men who said it was not a problem to seek and receive treatment. Again just another way the women are shafted.

I would like to comment on the help I have received since my release, too. I am involved with a program called OKC Compassion, it is ran by the Penn Ave Nazarene Church. If it would not have been for Pastor Bond and his program I would not have made it. For one it satisfied the parole condition I have for half-way house, he has also helped keep me involved with the community which wasn't high on my priority list when I came home. For any offender who does not have a home to come home to, or its not in there best interest to go home, I strongly recommend they contact OKC compassion. It will make a difference on how you make it on the outside. I don't know if this is the kind of stuff you need but it was an opinion I think is important. I have lots of things to write about. I will pick another topic next time.

Sexually Assaulted in Jail or Prison?

The National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union wishes to bring lawsuits on behalf of persons who have been sexually assaulted while in prison or jail, either by other prisoners or by staff.  We are interested in hearing from both former prisoners and persons who are still incarcerated.

Please write to the address below and provide as many details as possible, including when and where the assault took place, whether you reported the assault, and what action, if any, was taken by prison, jail, or law enforcement authorities.

Legal representation, if provided, will be free of charge.
PR Project, Craig Cowie, Attorney, ACLU National Prison Project,
733 15th St. N.W.,  Suite 620 Washington, DC 20005
Prisoners should send their letters by legal mail.

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