Joe Con's CONversations

Pictures are the bomb, Bro!  A recent photo of a girl friend or wife will stay with your GOODCON throughout his ordeal…mine did!! Little things can mean so much: school work from the prisoner’s kid’s class, a mass card from the funeral of a friend who has died, an announcement that the inmate’s school was football conference champion (Go Blue!).

Every guy I knew had a photo collection taped to the inside of his locker door. (some had some great looking relatives!!)   C’mon! You know how you feel when you get a pic in the mail or over the net. Make a difference in your inmate’s life. Communicate with him or her, and believe me, you will never be forgotten.

I’m bummed by the response I’ve been hearin’ from John Q. Public about this Casey Anthony case. First, I don’t think y’all were in the courtroom for the whole trial, Yo! How can you express a valid opinion one way or the other? My judge was at my entire trial and couldn’t form an opinion ‘CAUSE HE SLEPT THROUGH HALF OF IT!!

Second, the prosecution obviously never came up with the AH-HA point; you know, that piece of evidence or testimony that makes everybody on the jury say, “Yeah, now I’m sure she did it!” AND THE GOV’T KNEW THEY FAILED!!! They wouldn’t even get up before all us fools who watched them bob and weave for months and apologize for BLOWING IT!!! Well, my men and women, all that’s left to say is that I’d rather see 100 Casey Anthony’s go free than have 1 innocent GOODCON be locked up for a crime they did not commit! Yeah! Innocent until PROVEN guilty is the crucial tenet of this country’s legal system that the jury, the court and We, the People, cannot betray. Remember, Yo, next to life itself, our founding fathers placed liberty as the most important inalienable right given to us by our Creator! It’s worth fighting for on the battlefield . . . and in the courtroom!!

Keep your GOODCON involved in your life. She may not be able to do anything about it but keeping her in the mix is one of the most important aspects of family support. Never treat your inmate as if she has forfeited her place in the family structure. Seek his or her advice on things, inform her of happenings in the family, and most importantly on issues concerning your kids as they grow and have new experiences. Being included means so much, and it is a connection that will enable your GOODCON to maintain contact with the world that she left and give her a running start when she returns to it.

Loss of liberty must never be considered a loss of humanity. We all make mistakes. We all suffer, to some degree, from fear and loneliness, even when we experience a small degree of isolation or separation from those we love (think of how you felt when you had your last hospital stay!). Love your GOODCON, and help him or her maintain a level of self-respect while they suffer through their imprisonment. Yes, I know that you’re doin’ the bid as well . . . BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS GET DRUNK, YO!!!

Have you visited your Good Con yet?
Has it been too long since you visited him last?
Have you asked other family and friends to pay a visit?

Visitation is, by far, the best time an inmate can spend while incarcerated. You can do nothing more comforting for an inmate than visit him and show how much you care. Your inmate may say that they don’t want any visits; that visits make their time go slower, but in the vast majority of cases, these statements are not true and are said because the inmate doesn’t want anyone to travel far to see them or put themselves out, or the inmate is embarrassed to see people who just found out that he has been incarcerated. (to say nothing about that great vending machine food!) Nothing is more healing to the mind and soul than the touch of another person. Be it a kiss or a handshake, it renews the spirit and enables the inmate to re-energize. Make arrangements NOW to visit your inmate!!

I feel a bit up tight and up close, Bro! Not as bad as in the joint, for sure, but I just need a little smile pick-me-up and I think I just found a way to get it . . . In The Jailhouse Now!

Let’s talk about phone calls. Every inmate needs to hear the voice of a child, spouse, or parent, or have a conversation with a friend. Hopefully these calls will come often. Accept them graciously, and if you are a spouse or significant other, lovingly, as they mean so much to your GOODCON. Try to keep them positive, even if your GOODCON is expressing anger, frustration or is just plain sad.

That is when your support is needed most. A call only lasts 15 minutes and by the time you get the next call, your inmate’s mood will probably have improved significantly. Lastly, although your inmate needs to be included as much as possible in real world activities, he doesn’t need to hear about every problem you have.

He or she is already frustrated by being separated from you. Constant negativity only makes matters worse. Even if the situation you’re in may have been caused by your GOODCON, now is not the time for “I told you so” . . . not if you ever want him or her back.

Every once in a while I just gotta share a dose of music that tells the prison story like it needs to be told.  Just click on this link and holler back if Eric doesn’t do it for ya!!   County Jail Blues

Mail Call is BIG!  It’s one time that every prisoner looks forward to each day.  Receiving a letter from a friend or loved one is exciting, and believe me, not hearing your name at mail call hurts.

Trudging back to your bunk empty handed while your cellies or roomies or bunkies are eagerly reading letters they just got only adds to the depression and loneliness a prisoner already feels.  So, Hey Yo!, all you friends and family, write to your GOODCon as often as possible. Letters about work and play, notes on family activities or just plain old heart-felt conversation; we really like all of it!

Anything is great. A card that says, “I’m thinking of you.” has the ability to make an inmate’s day and make your GOODCon smile, if only for a moment.  And if you REALLY want to make him or her happy, SEND A CONCARD!!  They don’t cost much but they sure count a lot!  Just go to the home page , pick a great card, buy it, AND SEND IT, Yo!

You know who you are!

You are the guys or gals who didn’t commit their crime of conviction or were crushed by a sentence far too severe for the crime you did commit!  And your wives, fathers, mothers and friends. Yeah, they’re all GOODCons, too!

We can’t let them keep us down – I will be your voice of CONviction…

Joe Con