A yard update

Artwork by Shawna

Artwork is a very relaxing form of therapy for many inmates.  Several have told me they had no idea they could draw or paint until incarcerated and faced with countless hours and nothing to do.  Many inmates sell their artwork to help pay for their legal fees, help their family, pay restitution, and buy needed items from commissary.   Alot of people do not realize inmates must pay a copay for seeing the doctor or PA and their meds so i thought i would add this in here.  Inmates must buy their own shoes too or wear prison issue crocks which may or may not be the correct size.  They also, on Death Row in AZ must buy towels, washcloths, bed linens, blankets, pillows, etc.....many items most assume was "Free".

May's report

AZ in trouble with Judge for noncompliance with DOC, must submit a POC by 6/16

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2016/05/23/montini-aclu-arizona-department-of-corrections/84795350/

Who killed the DP?

http://www.economist.com/node/21684142/print

Shawna asked me to post this story.

Phone Call Update

Shawna wanted me to give a few updates from our call today. 

1.  Shawna is now teaching classes at the prison to women with 1st thru 3rd grade reading levels.  She asked that anyone could send her stories/educational material she can read/use in class, even dictionary things.  I was so elated to hear this!!  

2.  AZ DOC-Perryville   HAS RAN OUT OF TOILET PAPER.  Unbelievable.....Let's hope this doesnt last long!!  Shawna states the prison makes staff pay to wear jeans on Friday, then they get a little stamp on their hands to prove they paid.  Maybe they should use that money to buy some back up toilet tissue. 
Shawna will be sending a letter update soon.   

TEXAS has executed an innocent man.....the DP must be stopped!

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/03/cameron_todd_willingham_prosecutor_john_jackson_charges_corrupt_prosecution.html

Shawna's upcoming appeal

Shawna believes her upcoming appeal will be in Aug 2016.  Now this is not set in stone, alot can happen, and the court system is slower than molasses!  Tentatively that's when she believes it will be filed.  We believe this will be a jaw dropping stunner leaving very little to doubt she had  nothing to do with the crime..  
I have alot to post on the blog yet, i am very busy so i must apologize as i am slow as molasses myself!!  
Big thanks for understanding, big thanks for those using the Shawna Forde email which is  shawnaforde101@yahoo.com   You can send any questions you may have for Shawna there, or questions to Rae concerning Shawna, her case, PV, etc  

I have a question and answer page from Shawna i will try to get posted this pm.

  

Update on Shawna and 30 yard

Shawna on the loss of music icon Prince

Latest phone call with Shawna and new updates

My sincere apologies for leaving folks hanging with the letter concerning JA.  That was not my intention.  I was totally caught off guard by the whole situation and needed some time to further think on the letter and discuss it with Shawna.  
We need to understand, these women live in terrible situations.  Makes little difference whether we think they deserve their situation, we think they are guilty or innocent, we think they created their own mess or not.  The world they live in is one few of us can comprehend unless we have been there.  A group of women in the best of circumstances will  argue and be catty having "drama" among themselves. Many of these ladies are functioning at about a high school level emotionally and with that type of pressure they are under, combined with the crowed unpleasant living conditions and it's the perfect storm for spats, disagreements, etc.   
My concern lies with Shawna, always.  I felt she was angry and upset when writing that update and that it would be in her best interest to cool off.  After talking to her, she did agree with me.  The rest of that letter will not be published.  While I do not represent JA, I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon and bash on her.   She has upcoming litigation and I do not believe that is fair.  It would also invite her to write about Shawna, and keep this type of thing going and that would not be of benefit to either woman.  It would not help ease tension at the prison either.  My wish is not to exploit anyone and i feel that it would be putting Shawna in a position to be exploited by those just wanting to get "the scoop" and/or make a buck from the drama. 
I hope the readers of this blog will therefore understand my lack of desire to participate in perpetuating a hostile continuing situation between the two ladies.  I feel it is my duty to steer Shawna clear of this whole drama and try to promote peace instead.  Shawna has to live in that environment.  She has health issues already and I do not feel this added pressure  is healthy for her.  I do not view Shawna or any of the women i write to with dollar signs in my eyes.  That is repulsive to me.  Shawna is like family and i want what is best for her.  
As usual, i am very behind this time of year. It's planting time in my region. Region 5 for anyone  that gardens.  I am extremely busy this year, even more than most as i try to get my garden put out and work on a living fence surrounding my property.  I am limited physically in how much i can do and also trying to keep up with a large influx of letters from multiple inmates. So, my blogs and pages may suffer some as i try to keep correspondence with the inmates updated and garden but i am definitely still here.  I will post the new 30 yard update within the next few days.   Thanks for understanding. Be blessed.   

Solitary Confinement

It is easy to forget that, as well as being sentenced to death, Shawna was for a long time in solitary confinement, a cruel and unusual punishment in itself. The following video, produced by
The Guardian newspaper gives us the opportunity to experience solitary confinement for ourselves in the comfort of our own homes. I found it extremely upsetting and I can't begin to understand how Shawna and thousands of other prisoners in the US and elsewhere can not only survive it but can lead positive and uplifting lives.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2016/apr/27/6x9-a-virtual-experience-of-solitary-confinement

Shawna's update, part 1 & 2 of 9 pages

i will contine with the rest of this later, there are 9 pages in all

Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply

Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply

Fewest Executions, Fewest Death Sentences, and Fewest States Employing the Death Penalty in Decades

A report by the Death Penalty Information Center shows that the use of the death penalty declined by virtually every measure in 2015. There were only 28 executions, which is the lowest number since 1991. Fourteen states and the federal government imposed 49 new death sentences, a 33% decline over 2014 and the lowest number since the early 1970s when the death penalty was halted by the US Supreme Court.

Similarly public support for the death penalty continued to fall in 2015, with various polls showing a huge decrease since in support since the peak years of the 1980s and 1990s.

There were six exonerations in 2015, bringing the total to 156 innocent men and women who have been released from death row since 1973.

A summary of the report can be found at:

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/YearEnd2015#pressrelease 

This also gives a link to the full report.

Executions Create More Victims

There are many reasons for the abolition of  the death penalty. These include the immorality of capital punishment, its ineffectiveness as a deterrent, the possibility of executing an innocent person and the cost. Another important, but often overlooked reason is the effect that it has on the people who carry out and witness an execution. This is highlighted by the Equal Justice USA campaign.

Corrections officials, haunted by the experience of putting people to death have committed suicide, turned to alcohol or drugs or suffered mental and physical health problems.

Executions traumatise clergy, jurors and journalists, many of whom have had symptoms of anxiety, nausea and nightmares caused by the stress of witnessing executions or having to decide as a juror whether a person is guilty or not.

The families of the executed person, particularly if they witness the execution, also suffer tremendously and find it difficult to come to terms with their loss.

Supporters of the death penalty say that it brings closure to the victims family. This may be true in some cases, but as the campaign says:

The death penalty’s impact reaches far beyond the victim and the executed. All who cross its path shoulder the burden of participating in the death of a human being, while the system creates a whole new set of victims who are left to grieve in silence.

The article and references can be found on the EJUSA website:

http://ejusa.org/learn/secondary-trauma/

My last phone call with Shawna

Shawna, never fails to surprise me, astound me, leave me in laughter, or even in tears when we talk on the phone.  The tears are because by the end of the call reality sets in "they" want to kill this perfectly healthy, vital, vibrant woman with so much personality and so much to contribute to the world.   Now, she frequently catches me off guard, sometimes with humor, sometimes without it.  This time it was without.  Among complaints, some of which i will post later, Shawna managed to throw me for a loop when speaking fondly of the guards.  I have always imagined the guards to be hard, harsh, surly, even mean authoritarians.  Shawna assures me this is just not so.  Oh I am sure there's 1 or 2 that may be less than kind or courteous at times.  But Shawna speaks very highly of most all the guards.  She praises their hard work and professionalism and states they work very hard and it's a hot and tough job, dangerous too.    I wanted to get this posted as we "ding" at Perryville staff and rules, it's not the guards, they are merely doing their jobs.  And we salute you Perryville guards for treating the ladies fair and kind and like human beings. Kudos!   Your jobs are hard and dangerous and i'm sure you do not get enough pay, time off or credit for what you do.   Thank you all very much!!  Maybe your management can notice and pat you on the back and give you a raise.   

spoiler alert

What may be the largest JA update yet will be coming soon.  Also sometime after the first of next month Shawna will be detailing her experience with the Green River Killer.   Your not going to want to miss either of these.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/916974891681807/     You are welcome to join us in the Shawna Forde Room for discussions.  Please ask to join.  *please note this is not an angry JA hate group.  This is Shawna Forde's discussion group.  Talk of JA is permitted when updates are out but should be minimal.  Everyone is welcome and discussions will vary.  I will not tolerate trolls & troublemakers as we want this to be civil and drama free.  I have many distinguished people in the discussion room and i will not have them leaving due to insulting/hating and otherwise inappropriate behavior.  Included in the discussion room are former DR inmates that are now exonorated, lawyers, and even former inmates of Perryville Prison.  Multiple discussions may be going on at the same time and everyone is welcomed to contribute in a productive and friendly manner.  We are well aware that serious discussion can elitist strong emotional responses but keep in mind this is a very open minded, anti death penalty group and while we will listen to views that conflict with ours, we would like them to be well presented and respectful to all people regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, etc because our goal to strive for a better system and solutions to the problems, not adding to them.   Come and bring your experiences, views,  information, topics and let's take a hard look at the DP, prison system, DR, and other issues.

Please note this blog is under some construction and coming soon will be pages separate from the main blog, please be sure to check sidebars and scroll to the bottom of the blog for new additions.  Thanks!  

The long awaited next Forde updates on A yard and JA

Introducing Anthony

Hullo everybody

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Anthony, I am 77 years old and have five children and nine grandchildren. I am English, although I was born in India and I live in Wellingborough, a small town about 70 miles north of London. I was a Maths teacher, school counsellor and deputy principal in secondary schools before I left teaching to set up a business running exercise classes for adults and children. Now I am retired, but still teach French to other elderly people in the University of the Third Age. My great interest is in philosophy.

Shawna and I have been writing to each other for nearly two years. I was introduced to her through Lifelines, which is a UK based organisation that supports and befriends prisoners on death row in the USA. I very much enjoy our correspondence and I feel that she has become a true friend. She has supported and befriended me, just as much as I have her. Shawna is extremely intelligent, thoughtful and amusing and I really admire her for the courage and determination she shows in having to live in such appalling circumstances. She works tirelessly to try to improve the living conditions for herself and her fellow inmates.

I am proud to have Shawna as a friend and am honoured that she asked me to contribute to her blog. I look forward to writing some articles looking at the death penalty from a philosophical perspective, researching different aspects of it in the USA and bringing news from around the world. It is gratifying that another country, Mongolia, has just abolished the death penalty and I sincerely hope that I will live to see its abolition in the USA.

The 2 letters are to show what Shawna had said about naming other inmates in mail to her.  I also wanted to demonstrate the food at PV is not fajita's with caramelized onions  and fresh anything.   I had sent the pic of this very tray to Shawna from where i had posted it on her Free Shawna Forde facebook page.  That was her response to that tray. 

My own little disclaimer

As i sit on my comfortable overstuffed camel back sofa and type on my gaming ASUS deluxe laptop, sipping my ginger-ale and cranberry juice with a lemon and a lime wedge, snacking on Chile cheese corn-chips, and contemplating what to do next....i had a thought.  I want my readers to know this....i do not want violent dangerous prisoners freed from their cells!!  I do not want the public at risk from these folks.  That's not who i am or what i am all about.  I just want inmates taken care of the way they are supposed to be in a manner acceptable for a civilized, educated, modern, and free nation.  And the way our tax dollars say they should be.     Hence, my effort up there to illustrate my comfortable and well furnished home.  These prisoners are in misery.  AZ prisons just got the right for a/c and it's as hot as 130 degrees F. on the pavement outside their cells.  This is not just a luxury, it's a necessity.  The prison cant even hire enough guards to work in this cesspool because who would wish to work in AZ with no a/c and in dangerous conditions?   I sure would not!   That is what i do not like.  My Forgotten & Failed blog goes into some detail about me, what made me, what got me here where i am.  I am writing somewhere between 30-40 inmates, mostly on death-row for those whom do not know.  All women, 1 male.     Of those, i am convinced a few, as in 3, are innocent.   I don't really know about the rest.  Their guilt or innocence doesn't really matter to me because that's not what i do.  It just happens after writing for a long time, i became convinced these 3, Shawna being one, were innocent and agreed to try to help promote that.  
A few things about me:  If your really curious please go to my Forgotten & Failed blog and read the "welcome" and "the middle years".   I am not ashamed of who i am, i am not ashamed any longer about the things i have done because the Lord has forgiven them. I do not much care what people think or if they forgive me or not because they neither rule me nor judge my fate.   It's not that i think i am so important, here's my life story.  It's that i want to impress upon people the Lord has been very good to me and i hope u will give him a try and see where he leads u.  I want people to realize the Lord did not pick kings, queens, the rich, lawyers, doctors, popular or beautiful people to break bread with or follow him.   He chose people like me, you, and these people in prison.    
I do not want sympathy.  I do not want attention.  I do not want money.  I have everything i need.  My physical health is poor but i do not care because i will receive a glorious new pain free body in heaven.  I live a modest but very comfortable life.  My only sibling was murdered in 1985 and i have finally made peace with that.  Well, the Lord gave me peace after 30 years of misery.   And i mean misery.  Now, i am far from perfect, dont anyone misunderstand.  Some days, i feel awful and rip into anyone near me or agitating me.  But that is becoming less as the Lord helps me see the joy and beauty in life, that i somehow missed during those ugly, black, miserable 30 years.   
So what do i want?   Just to share the good news about the Lord Jesus to inmates and anyone else who will listen.  To brighten their day and give them a smile and hope.   Let them know I CARE. And i care because the Lord says to care, visit, and treat prisoners as if they were him.    Thanks for reading this. Please be kind to all living things and thank God dearly for your family and home and everything you own.   You never know when it could all be ripped out from under you or when your world could be turned upside down.  
(I am not in English class, so i choose to write the way that makes me comfortable.  Because i can and because if all folks take away from this is that i use terrible English and grammar.....well it's their loss, because i choose to smile and be happy).    Much love to all, Rae

Forgotten & Failed blog

http://wwwforgottenampfailedalookatwomenondeathrowandotherissues.org.forgottenampfailedalookatwomenondeathrowandotherissues.org/         If you like this blog, please see my other blog, mostly it deals with Darlie Routier whom is on TX DR and my own personal story of why i do what i do.  

These will now be listed under the page "PV management & procedures"

Check back as more will be added!!

How does a DR inmate have a blog?

I thought this was a rather ignorant question but none the less i will address it.  A DR prisoner is still an American citizen and is still protected by the Constitution.   Among those protections are "Freedom of Speech".   DR inmates have every right to write and express themselves.   If you do not like this then do not come to a DR inmate's blog and read it.  DR inmates, and in fact any inmate is not allowed access to the internet.  But compassionate and kind people such as myself recognize that these condemned people are not "throw away" and matter.  Some are innocent.  Our nation has a rate of 3 exonerations per week right now, so remember that please.  Not everyone is guilty in prison and on DR.  Shawna Forde is one of those people and that shall be proven on her next appeal.   Murdering a person for murdering a person  makes about as much sense as raping a person for raping a person, unless your not smarter than a 1st grader.   If you believe in this primitive type of society then you have alot in common with the countries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, North Korea, China, Iran and other barbaric places and perhaps should ask yourself why?  Americans are the last superpower and they are compassionate, educated, civilized human beings and need to join the rest of the free civilized countries.   

Reminder any abusive comments will be reported along with the IP address they came from.  Negative comments will be removed and comments shut off if they persist.   If you cannot say politely, it doesnt need to be said.....just because it's the internet doesnt mean it's a free for all.  Thanks, Rae & other editors

A yard (formerly 30 yard) update, the letter stops abrupty page 4...5 must have been yanked

Shawna's email

For those that would like to ask questions of Shawna, but maybe do not want to write to her, she now has an email address  shawnaforde101@yahoo.com   This is how it will work:  1.  Send your question/comments to her email.  2.  I will be checking the email and when i find an email for her i will print it out and send it to her.  3.  when she sends the answer i will reply with it to the email that sent it.  
You may ask questions about her case, but understand there are some things she cannot directly respond to because of litigation.    You may send her general correspondence also or comments.  I mail Shawna usually at least 1x per week.  You need to give her a couple weeks to respond because it takes my mail 4 days to reach her, the staff must read the mail there and check it for contraband/appropriateness and get it to her.  She has to have stamps, she has to have her outgoing mail examined and read also and it takes another 4 days just in transit.  She may have to conserve her stamps at times and that can cause delays.  Thanks for your patience!!    

How to contact Shawna Forde via mail

Shawna's addresss needs to be as follows (must include inmate # after her name):
Shawna Forde # 260830
ASPC Perryville/ Lumley
P. O. Box 3300
Goodyear, AZ 85395

1.  You must include your full name and address in the return address on the envelope.
2.  No other inmate names can be in the letter, but initials are okay.
3.  All books, cd's and etc must be bought from an acceptable vender, send directly from the vender, and include the packing slip or the prison will not give it to her.  No staples.
4.  No stamps, envelopes, or cash/coin can be sent in the envelope with your letter.
5.  Money may be sent via Jpay using a bank card or credit card then Shawna can buy stamps, writing supplies, and envelopes from her commissary.  It is very apprpropriate to credit the books of any inmate you wish to correspond with as they have to pay for their writing materials and stamps out of their commissary money.  Death row inmates at Perryville do not have jobs and only have what money we send them.
6.  No pictures showing violence, weapons,  drugs, or labeled alcoholic beverages are allowed.
7.  Absolutely NO MAPS
8.  Do not use prison slang or the officials will seize the letter.  

All mail is read, only 3 of the thousands of women at PV have 100% of their mail scrutinized.  The rules for Death Row changed when JA arrived -so they (on DR) are on 100% investigated.  

The next part is from the PV DOC handbook:
Any person may mail general correspondence such as letters, greeting cards, and post cards to an inmate. All
incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband and unauthorized materials. Mail may not include:
 Packages
 Products
 Contraband
 Cell phones or electronic devices
 Cash, coins, personal checks of any kind*
 Unused postage stamps
 Stickers, labels, address labels or decorative stamps
 Photos where the non-photo side can be separated (Polaroid’s).
 Photos that are sexually explicit, sexually suggestive or contain nudity
 Photos of other inmates
 Unknown foreign substances and/or powders
 Oils, perfumes or personal property items
 Lottery tickets or games of chance
 Battery operated greeting cards, or greeting cards of excessive size (larger than 8 ½" by 11")
 Unused Greeting cards, stationary, pens/pencils and envelopes
 Used postcards
 Bookmarks
 Candy, gum, or any food items
 Art, crafts and hobby supplies
 Other unauthorized items as determined by ADC

*ADC maintains all money received on behalf of an inmate or earned by an inmate in an inmate trust account.

There is no limit on the number of letters an inmate may receive or send in a week. An indigent inmate, one whose
account balance is $12.00 or less and has not exceeded this amount during the previous 30 days, may send three
letters per week by first class mail without charge. Inmates do not have access to email.

In order to deliver mail to an inmate, the sender must address the correspondence as follows:

Inmate's Assigned Prison and Unit
Inmate's Full Legal Name and ADC Number
P.O. Box (mailing address) of the Unit
City, State and Zip Code



Mail that is not addressed as shown above cannot be delivered to an inmate and will be returned to the sender. See
pages 20 and 21 of this handbook for specific instructions on sending money for an inmate's use.

Inmates may receive prepaid publications mailed directly from the publisher/retailer. The contents of these
publications are subject to inspection. All incoming publications are opened and inspected; nothing of a violent or
sexual nature or that displays nudity is permitted.

Shawna's story in German newspapers

1

2

3

The following is a news story appearing in German papers from friends of Shawna's and below i will post Shawna's letter in response.  When i have a German translation i will post that as well.  Thanks for looking
and be Blessed!

4