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"Will I ever be free? Not in my heart. My heart has turned to stone because of this system. I have 40 Indian faces tattooed on me with the words "Trail of Tears". I did them not only for the Indians, but for my tears, too."
Jeff "Injun" Rowan
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July 5th 2000
Hi, Ms Lee.
How's our wonder woman doing? Just writing to send my love and thanks for all you're doing for us behind the fence.
You are getting to the people. I saw [*unidentifiable member of staff*] for the first time, I am not even sure why. *They* said, "I know you." I said, *Sir*, I've never seen you before in my life! *They* said, "Yeah, you have a webpage on the internet." I said, "Who, me?" *They* said, "Yes, 'Make the Walls Transparent."
Then we talked alot about you and what a great deed you're doing for us. *They* said *They* wished alot more people were like you! And so do I!
*They* said *They* tried to pull my page, but nothing came up. So, I told *Them* "just watch it everyday, and hear the prisoners across the state cry for help!
You have reached out and touched someone! You're Great!
Now the update at Hamilton Annex. What a mess!
They had to open 2 more dorms here by June 30th in order to get Federal funding. It's a joke. They pulled people out of each dorm and put maybe 12 to 15 men in buildings on each side of each dorm, just so they could say those two buildings are occupied. That means they have three new shifts of officers to watch 24 to 30 men per dorm. Is the state screwing the Feds or what? Now they'll get extra money from your taxes to pay for the extra officers and buildings. Our government at work! What a waste of tax money. That money could feed hungry kids or help a battered wife.
They've cut way back on our medication, too. Alot of inmates have to deal with pain and other problems because the state wants to use the money somewhere less necessary to inmates' lives.
Now we only have one doctor to take care of 1150 inmates here at the annex, 400 at the work camp, and another 1000 across the street at the main unit of Hamilton. Needless to say, you never get to see a real doctor.I filed to Tallahassee against this doctor [Dr. Le, who has been transferred to New River] over a month ago and still haven't heard anything. They took my passes and meds from me and told me there's nothing wrong with my back and legs.
But, I've been to several doctors over the past 29 years and can prove they are wrong. Oh well, what can I do? I'll put up with the pain until I hear something on my appeal.
They have never done anything about the heat in the T-dorms. Right now, it's 9:00 PM. I'm sitting on my bunk in my boxers and I'm covered with sweat. I showered earlier and need to again! This heat is unreal. It's like being locked in a car with the windows rolled up and the motor off!
Well, we made it through July 4th without a riot. Thank God! It was quiet this year, but the summer is still young and getting hotter.
With the new guards they have now, I pray a riot never comes. The officers don't stand a chance. We probably have more women guards than a woman's prison. There are some good and then you have the gung-ho ones. Those will be the ones that get the good ones hurt. Why would anyone want to work here?
I don't think I'll stay in Florida after my release. I've had enough of the hospitality!
Well, Ms Lee, I'll sign off for now. I can't wait to hear from you again. And from any pen-pals.
Here's a good one. Tucker just poured his own pee in his ear for his earache, instead of trying to go see the one doctor who you can never see. This is the God's truth.
Tell me it's not bad in here!
Take care and we love you,
Jeff "Injun" Rowan
670473 G-3121
Hamilton "Correctional" Institution Annex
11419 S.W. County Road #249
Jasper, Florida 32052
The Hamilton Update: Harassment and Other Stuff
3-18-00
...I've been all over this system and to tell you the truth, what you've seen and heard is only a fraction of what's been happening for a long time. I was at Charlotte "C"I when those seven officers beat that boy to death. I knew they would get away with it. There were several at Charlotte who died or were beaten down by the same officers who got away with that one murder. I've seen cops set up inmates to be killed or to get busted for drugs, and pay an inmate to take the rap.
This world that I'm in now is a true nightmare. And the same nightmare has to be lived every day. In here the strong get stronger and the weak slowly die.
There is no such rule in here to look out for your fellowman. It's sad, very sad that I have to live against the way I was raised. I've always helped the needy, but in here they teach you not to trust anyone and how to better yourself with an officer by cutting the next man's throat.
Not all officers are bad: Some are only trying to support their families. But the rest treat you like the scum of the earth. And the good ones either leave or are afraid of the bad ones. I'm not scum!
I'm a damn good man who would cut off his own hand to save the life of another. I'm 3/4 Cherokee Indian and 1/4 Irish. I was raised right. In your world I ran heavy equipment building roads and airports for 16 hard years. Then I got into plumbing and worked 7 days a week for 4 years. Nothing has ever been handed to me on a silver platter. I like it that way.
But in my world, I'm a piece of meat with a number. They don't let you get close friends with anyone. So, it's always very lonely. Now, Larry Tucker I call a true friend, and he's a man with a heart of gold. But, I know one day we'll be separated by this system and it saddens me. I'm in a camp of 1100 men and still, in my heart, I'm all alone.
Jeff Rowan
"Injun"
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