From Rags... to Free Room and Board

Dale came from a very large family – eleven children in all. He was the 6th, the middle one. At the time he was starting high school, an extra one showed up – Donnie, his nephew. He and his Mom, Dale’s next oldest sibling, had been abandoned by his father before he was born. They had nowhere else to go. Of course, they were taken in and given a corner in the basement until they found better. So from the start they knew poverty as a life style. Perhaps, they hoped to move to the slums “when they could afford it.” Dale was aware of this, in Donn’s childhood years, but he knew little of his teens and young adult years. Molested as a child, an alcoholic by the time he was fifteen, and had already run afoul of the law several times, he was lost in a maze. So two years ago, with only brief contacts for a few years, they visited again. As an interested family member, Dale got in touch with him about writing his story. He had decided that he could ask Donn about specific areas of his life, and let him respond. From a prepared outline, they committed to this. So they would plow through every phase and facet of his life as they dug through his memory bank for many long-forgotten details. They together agreed to co-author this story: From Rags. . .to Free Room and Board. He grew up in poverty, and finally the State of California provided him “free room and board,” such as it was. Writing the story would be a challenge, just exchanging info via mail service, without the availability of phones, or his having access to a computer. At that time he pointed out some problems: He didn’t think he could recall much of his life, and that much of what he did bring back would be painful and embarrassing. “Anyway, nobody would be interested in reading it anyway,” he said. However, the process has been therapeutic and brought some healing. The authors have written an eye-opener into the life of a kid whose life was wrecked early on, who grew up in abject poverty, and has spent more than half his 64 years as a guest of the Prison System of California. He admitted committing the horrendous crime, to which he pled guilty, and without a jury trial, was given a 15 to Life sentence. This meant he would be eligible for parole in 12 to 14 years. He was granted a parole but it was “pulled back” by the governor before he could be released. Since that time, twenty years ago, he has been before the Parole Board 17 times without a new date. He obviously is intelligent, having learned computers – hardware and software – inside, and became the prison Systems Analyst in the Warden’s office. Donn is blessed with artistic skills, is highly efficient with writing ability, and has business sense, all of which will stand him in good stead when he is paroled – again. Can he survive on the outside? There is no way of knowing without his being given a try. Donn’s is a very sad but fascinating story, and was difficult for him to bring into focus and re-live. But it has, in fact, been cathartic for him, and has perhaps brought some degree of healing. Through therapy groups and counseling sessions while incarcerated, as well as a host of other opportunities, his life is very different and taken on new meaning. For many years now he has been a non-drinking alcoholic, as well as having worked through defeating other personality defects. What remains now is getting a new parole date. Extensive court documents and records included here make clear how he has spent large amounts of time and money (from his scarce savings) to go before the Parole Board. Also, included are many reports and positive recommendations supporting his release. For various unclear reasons, they continue to deny him freedom. So some valid questions are: Are his human rights being violated by their continuing to keep him incarcerated for more than half his life? How much time is enough? Has he been rehabilitated? Would it be safe to release him back into society? Donn’s story makes clear that concerned parents and other adults must to be alert to the vital needs that youth have for good parenting, strong and firm guidance, and communities of people who are concerned. Responsible people need to see prison life through the eyes of an insider, as well as see how the California Penal System functions (or malfunctions), which Donn has seen for so many long years.