prison, Florida, Sharif, ex-felon, Texas

He has been in jail for probably five days now on the charge for a 'domestic incident', but the charges he doesn't understand that were added on are 'obstructing' and 'refusing a search'.

Then he made another mistake: The story as related to me is he called the mother of his children from his cell, asking that she help get him out or say something about the charges being wrong. He tried to explain that he couldn't make the money she needed unless he was able to get to work. She responded by calling the Dallas jail and telling them that he was making threatening phone calls. Sharif now has an 'inhouse' charge of 'aggression' or some such, and was moved to an isolation cell.

So, advocates in the area went to bat for Sharif, trying to raise a bail of $1500 for one charge, $500 for another, etc. The "Cowboy Bonds" people gave her a terrible hassle, and now Ayanna is working with "Lucky Bail". Sharif wants me to let the public know that in the general population cell there were 9 men there for 'domestic incidence'. They have all been there between four months and seven months waiting to see a judge on charges that wouldn't hold them that long if they had been already found guilty.

Dear Kay and Charles:

This is to let you know that I was released a 5:00 today and I want to thank you all very much for everything you did to see me through this. I have been sleeping, so this email was delayed. Didn't realize I was so tired until I left that jail. I'll be emailing you later and tell you more about my experience etc. Dallas County jail needs a lot of attention from the outside world.

Thanks again,

Sharif

Just wanted to update you on my (stressful) situation. Let me start off by saying I understand why so many poor and working class Texas citizens are behind bars or under some sorta justice system bondage. The cops, courts and jails/prisons infer and enforce their own set of laws here. I have never witnessed so many people behind bars for 4, 5, 6, even 9 months (or better) for minor and/or non-violent violations of the "law".

The Lew Sterrett jail in downtown Dallas where I was held, deserves some serious public scrutiny. From the dehumanizing book-in procedures and first appearance policies to the release process (which took all of 13 hours, and my transferring between four filthy holding cells before I got through and was able to walk out of jail at 5am Saturday).

The population cell where I was housed was not fit for human habitation. I 'm told this is the norm throughout the entire Lew Sterrett facility. There were inoperable toilets, showers, telephones, and also the intercoms used by prisoners to contact the guards. The substances they serve as "food" are delivered cold on a regular basis. Breakfast consisted of a donut, something that's suppose to be an egg and a cup of brown liquid that substitutes for coffee. Every lunch is balogna sandwiches. The last meal of the day is served around 4:30pm and I'm without words to describe those things they served us at that hour during my 13 days there.

In Dallas you can be arrested without being advised of the actual facts/probable cause being relied upon to justify the arrest. In most states you receive an arrest affidavit that says at a minimum, "On xx day John Doe did this, that or the other in violation of xxx state statute. Not so in Dallas. I was arrested and all I advised of was the charge's title. "Obstruction" was one of my charges, and my ransom was set at $15,000.00.

Strange, but true, the magistrate Lela D. Mays couldn't even tell me what this obstruction charge stemmed from when I asked her during my 1:58am arraignment hearing. This obstruction charge was dropped on April 15, after it was determined that the charge was bogus and nothing more than a tactic by the police and my girlfriend to try to keep me in jail longer. I'm told by others in jail that this tactic is a practice which the Dallas PD officers employ often; thus ensuring the jails never lack residents, and the tax-payers never receive the true justice their money is supposedly slated for.

I want to thank everybody who has said prayers for me and my loved ones. We have been struggling hard over the past year trying to put back together what 9 years of separation has done to our family unit. I assure you it has been a difficult battle and it's given me just as much joy as it has given me headaches and heartaches.

Please keep us in your prayers. thank you all.

Sharif

SHARIF	HIS EFFORTS	HIS FRUSTRATION
*******	HIS ESSAYS	HIS POETRY
PRISON TIME	UPDATES	*******