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| Breaking bonds painful for prison inmates, volunteers |
| By observernews.net - Melody Jameson |
| Published: 03/29/2012 |
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BALM – Tearfully, their laughter leavened with sadness, the hopefulness tinged with regret, bonds forged over years between inmates and volunteers loosened here last week. Striving for a positive spin on a long-dreaded event – closure of the Hillsborough Correctional Institution – the facility’s female prisoners served their mentors and teachers for the last time Thursday with large cookies, rich chocolate bars and decorated sheet cake made in their culinary classes. And, then, filling their prison chapel to capacity, together they rocked the rafters with song, shared appreciations, cried and counseled through their tears. Florida Representative Rich Glorioso, a member of the Hillsborough legislative delegation who worked at the state level to keep HCI open, had to pause to regain composure as he asked assembled inmates to hang on to their HCI experience now that they’re moving to another facility. “We all want you to be successful,” he asserted seriously, then added “I’m a good Republican, I want you to go forth in the world, work and pay taxes” as laughter rippled through the crowd. Long time volunteer Janet Smith, struggling to hold back tears, quoted the Biblical advice given by St. Paul, “learn to be content in whatever state you are.” And veteran corrections officer Sgt. David Schaffer, noting that he’s been on the job for decades, asserted “I’ve never seen a program like this one. Take the program with you and don’t quit. Just do not quit!” Dr. Ken Barringer, retired psychologist and a prison volunteer for nearly 10 years, spoke of the “drastic changes in your lives” that he has witnessed, adding “I thank you for that. May God bless you all of your lives.” For their part, inmates lined up at a microphone to express their gratitude and their regrets. One referred emphatically to her “six wonderful years at HCI, learning to love.” Today, she added, “I am somebody. Thank you.” Another spoke of the benefits she has reaped from participation in the prison’s multi-faceted crafts and sewing instruction program. “I have learned to give back,” she allowed and then added impishly, “about $200,000 worth of giving back,” referring to the value of the program’s charitable donations. One of the women with substantial prison experience called attention to the vast difference between the HCI compound and other facilities. “We know every day we are loved,” she said, referring to the courtesy extended HCI inmates by staff and volunteers alike. As a result, she added, “my children will have a good mother when I get out and my mother won’t be getting phone calls in the middle of the night.“ The reason, she reiterated, is “my prison family and God’s help.” Still others voiced their amazement that “anyone would fight for a prison” and talked of the value as well as values of the prison family and noted regretfully that they will not be able to pursue courses of study or complete classes for certification as the HCI programs ended this week even though the instructional timeframes did not. The same subjects are not expected to be duplicated where they are going. HCI’s inmate population is to be transferred to a new two-dormitory addition to the Lowell women’s prison complex near Ocala in Marion County. The facility is known as the Lowell Reception Center and anticipated to accommodate about 1,300 women prisoners. Many of the HCI staff also are to be shifted to parts of the Lowell complex, including HCI Warden Robin Smith, Deputy Warden Angel Velez, and R. Maria Tarrant, known fondly as “Chef T,” director of the culinary arts program at HCI, plus some of the corrections officers. Read More. |
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