Derek Stephens – COVID-19

First and foremost, I must offer my deepest appreciation to the people whom made it possible for my voice to be heard as I express my concern. Although I am incarcerated for a violent crime, I am still human. I have people that love me, as I do them! I have been away from my family since I were 18 years of age. I am now thirty four with a remaining sentence of fourteen years. I’ve made many mistakes as a young man, yet I have definitely grown far beyond my younger self. I’m years charge free, I’m also a certified brick mason. I work in the print shop, and I enjoy each minute of all of the learning that I do in there. I am a fiancé, engaged to a beautiful woman whom I love dearly. Her and her son! I’m not the same eighteen year old, I have grown into a man of which both my parents are proud. Not only am I paying my debt to society, I’m always trying to figure out more ways to give back to the community now. My everyday walk is aimed toward education and positivity. Unfortunately, my positive thoughts are shadowed by my thoughts of COVID-19. My anxiety level for the virus causes me to refuse the food that’s being served. I’m being told that I can’t go to work ’til the stay-at-home order is lifted, for my safety, but they have us housed around guys that work in the kitchen, medical and administration who have direct contact with people from the outside. They issue soap yet it never lasts. The two bars of soap being passed out once a week are smaller than hotel soap, and they are not anti-bacterial. Yet whenever we verbally complain about it, there’s no positive dialogue. Or to make matters worse, for complaining our cell will be searched. Stress is getting mounted on more stress. I go through the exact same things that a non-violent offender does. The difference is, that person is going home sooner than later regardless and no matter how good I do, no matter how rehabilitated I become, there’s no one to take that into consideration. I don’t fall under any parole, juvenile nor fish back bills. I’m faced with 85 percent and now the fear of COVID-19. Unfortunately I asked my lady to not come visit once they open the state back up, out of fear that they or myself may contract COVID-19 through visitation. That was definitely a difficult conversation…