James E. Dolan – COVID-19

May 3, 2020 As to the inquiry regarding the impact on we the incarcerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, I have passed your questions to a couple dozen of my fellows, considered their responses with my own observations and thoughts, and come away with the following summary for you. * At the top of nearly everyone’s […]

Timothy Rumage – COVID-19

May 3, 2020 Helpless. That is how I feel being incarcerated during this pandemic. I am helpless to support and protect my children, my family or my friends.  Furthermore, I am afraid that because of rampant negligence, I may not make it out to see all those people again should I get sick. I am […]

Gregory Nelson – COVID-19

Dear Any Who Will Listen The Governor’s office and the Department of Corrections gave a hope of early release and a way to east the fear and worry of COVID-19. This was great for our families and ourselves especially since having less than a year on my sentence I had arrangements for my release. All […]

Jermain Barry – COVID-19

I’m writing in regards to say that during these trying times, there’s so much anxiety I’m dealing with. The fact that I was sentences to 26 years and I’ve been incarcerated 19 years with no possibility for parole or early release like non-violent offenders. I have family who love me, and need me there to […]

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 […]

Brian Keith Hensley – COVID-19

To whom it may concern, These are real dark, uncertain and frightening times to be incarcerated in Virginia. Especially for those of us with pre-existing health conditions. I’m 58 years old and I have a multitude of health issues (COPD, elevated A1C Levels, high cholesterol levels, A-Fid heart rhythm disorder), and I wear an anti-embolism […]

Unknown – COVID-19

To whom it may concern, I am writing this letter to share my thought on the COVID-19 Inmate Early Release Plan. As long as the inmate has a release date it shouldn’t matter what they are convicted of. Putting stipulations on us is basically giving those that have a release date a potential life sentence […]

Taj Mahon-Haft – COVID-19

To anyone who’ll just feel about it… It seems the world is falling apart. Life as we’ve known it has ended virtually overnight. Everyone I now is going through chaos, needs me, and there’s nothing I’m allowed to do about it. Life behind bars is ever frustrating in its isolation and incapacitation. Despite having spent […]

Terry Church – COVID-19

Coping from a cell. The COVID-19 pandemic is altering the lives, in some form at least, of everyone on earth. It is unexpected, unpredictable, and so far unrelenting. A lot of recent media reports and advertisements on television speak of anxieties and mental health issues arising in people from the stress of it all. The […]

Wasim Abdul-Salaam – COVID-19

Living during COVID-19…Under my current circumstances being incarcerated I’d always figured that my sentence entailed a little hardship. I never imagined that the possibility of losing my life was actually up for discussion and up until now I always felt a level of security whether it was up to me protecting myself or up to […]