William C.’s Story
- Gender: Male
- State: Indiana
Excerpt of Letter
9-28-21
William C.
#EndTheExceptionInsideOut
Attn. Maddy
1915 Fulton Street
Unit 563
Brooklyn, N.Y,11233
Dear Maddy,
Thank you for your inspiring endeavors. Yes, I would very much like to join the campaign. As stated above, I am presently incarcerated here at [redacted]. However, my EPRD (Release date) is December 13, 2022 and that is but 14 months away. I will be paroled to Indianapolis, Indiana, which is the city I grew up in.
I am open to working in any capacity/position you need me. I am an I.U grad where I graduated summa cum laude’ with a 4.0 G.P.A. I earned two Bachelor’s Degrees in biology and chemistry. My minors were music (piano) and language (American Sign language for the deaf). I am not deaf myself, but both my parents were and I’ve signed since birth. I sign so perfectly and fluidly with all the idioms, etc., that most deaf people find it very hard to believe I’m a hearing person.
Yes, I would like to answer the questions you asked as best I can.
- Here, at [redacted], I do not currently have a job. Awhile back, however, I was the head clerk in the kitchen. My job functions were typing call out [illegible], menus, ordering of foods and supplies, assigning kitchen jobs and pay scales. I worked LONG hours, often at 16 to 18 hours per day, and I worked 7 days a week. My pay was $1.25/day. Yes, just one dollar and twenty-five cents a day. Sadly, this was the TOP pay for not only the kitchen, but for the entire prison. Sad. Yes, I felt it was slave labor…part of the Prison Industrial Complex. :(
- I would want someone who hasn’t been incarcerated to know that prison slavery truly is the “norm” in prisons. Most inmates aren’t even given the chance to quit their job or refuse to take one offered because they get written up on conduct reports and lose accrued credit time which makes them STAY in prison longer. Ex. If you lose 30 or 60 or 90 days credit time, your release date is extended by that same number of days. Yet, most prison jobs are HARD to get. This is because an inmate earns zero dollars without a job. SO, unless an inmate has a loving and capable family to send him money, he goes without. Period. This means he can’t buy commissary (coffee, food, etc.) or even hygiene (soap, razors, shampoo, etc) So, even though the “pay scale” borders on true slavery, inmates readily take the jobs, anyway. The pay scales of “per day” pay range from 65¢, 75¢, 85¢, 1.05 and 1.25.
- When I read the Abolition Amendment it made me feel like we, as inmates, are being subjected to a form of Double Jeopardy. The Court sentenced each of us to a specific term of imprisonment as our specific punishment. By the Department of Correction subjecting each of us to involuntary servitude/slavery, we, as inmates, are all being sentenced TWICE to specific punishments. This screams of Double Jeopardy. Reading the Abolition Amendment brought back memories of my college days: marching on city hall, letter writing, picketing, sitins, attending court rulings, etc. I was very involved in the movements at the time including “The Bloomington Gay Alliance.” BGA was a very active platform for gays at 14.
- Yes, I would very much like to be an active member of the campaign. Once I am released (12-13-’22) I would/ could be a knowledgeable spokesperson and organizer. While here at [redacted] I would be a writer. And would put my all into it. Also, once I am released (Dec. 13,2022) I could draw interest through music. I am a very accomplished pianist and have been the leader in several groups: “Dave Baker’s Jazz Ensemble” “I.U Singing Hoosiers” and have been a TOP church pianist (pentecostal) at church and for over 20 years on the radio nationwide on the radio broadcast “Harvestime”, and I’ve done weekly “tent meetings”.
- There is no regular prison radio show, sadly.
Maddy, by all means, please accept this letter as my application to be an active member of the campaign. Looking forward to hearing from you in this regard. Also, as previously stated I am a “pro” at signing for the deaf and could actively be used to communicate the campaigns endeavors to the deaf community.
Thank-you.
Sincerely,
William C.
P.S I have a rather substantial bank account and could help sponsor meets, events, etc. or as needed. I’m also a USAF (air force) veteran and speak out strongly for veterans. -Will-
“A while back…I was the head clerk in the kitchen. My job functions were typing call-out count letters, menus; ordering foods and supplies; assigning kitchen jobs and pay scales. I worked long hours, often 16 to 18 hours per day, and I worked 7 days a week. My pay was $1.25/day. Yes, just one dollar and twenty-five cents a day. Sadly, this was the top pay for not only the kitchen...”
