Solitary Story #1

I have recently dropped out of the Sureno car [gang]. I am 35 years old. I have not gang-banged since I was 21. This is my first time down: 2010 - 2013. When I first got to prison I tried to stay out of the "politics." But prison gives you no choice. I was put in the lower Rs in Shelton's Washington Correctional Center, with nothing but Surenos. I had nowhere else to go but to join the influence of the gang. I try to stay out of trouble but found myself caught in a riot at Stafford Creek. I didn't want trouble, it came to me and I had to defend myself. So when I lost good time and got closed out to Washington State Penitentiary I decided I am not going to let gang inluence keep taking good time away from me and my family (3 kids). So I checked into protective custody (IMU: Intensive Management Unit), only to find that there is nothing for me.

IMU is the only safe place for me, and you can not go to church here, you can't go and get an education, there are no jobs here, and you have to visit your family behind glass. While the gangsters are enjoying mainline pressuring people to do what they want, and if they don't getting rid of them off into IMU!

It is too bad that when someone wants to better their life by not commiting acts of violence or being in a gang, in the state of Washington there is no help for us! In two months I will go to another facility, where the Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) tell me it is safe for me. I know however I will be X-ed out. (or assaulted by the Surenos). In spite of that I would rather go than to stay here in IMU. I just hope I don't lose any more good time.