They have been introducing tablets in California prisons. One of the features on these new tablets is the ability to receive messages and photos from family. This is great right? But ofcourse the Correctional Officers have found a way to abuse this. 🧵📱 COs have to review all photos and messages before they come in as a “security measure”. However, COs have been sharing incarcerated people’s family photos with other officers. COs huddle around their desks looking at peoples personal messages & family photos & ridiculing them.

When I was in prison my foster mom who was 75 years old at the time and in a wheelchair took an 11 hour car drive just to visit me. When she got there the COs harassed her and said her wheelchair wasn’t approved by the prison. So she stood up and limped into the visiting room. 🧵 Luckily another CO saw this and was disgusted by their own colleague and told my foster mom to go ahead and use the wheelchair. This process took multiple hours so by the time my foster mom got to me we had about 45 minutes left in the visit. We cried that whole visit.

I was told as a kid that prison was reserved for the 'worst of the worst' and I believed it - until I was sent to prison. 🧵👇🏽 I just turned 18 a few weeks before getting incarcerated. As a young kid getting sent to the 'big house', honestly I was terrified. I heard the rumors and watched the prison movies. However, what I found instead blew me away.

I was forced to plead guilty to crimes I didn't commit. So do 90% of people incarcerated. It's called Trial Tax. And it begins with your local DA upcharging. I'll use my case as a case study. Let me preface by saying I was not an angel or completely innocent. ⚠️ Graphic🧵👇🏽 3 weeks after my 18th birthday I made the terrible decision to commit a robbery. My sole job was to ring the doorbell. That was all I was asked to do and thats all I did. The home owner saw me ringing the door and called his friends. His friends came and began shooting at me.

My roommate was recently released after serving 27 years in prison for petty theft. He never broke the rules while inside, so that means he has never used a cellphone. He came home to find out our entire lives exist on this device. 📲🧵 He struggles to receive help because he doesn’t know to how text, pick up calls, or listen to a voicemail when he misses a call. When I try to teach him how to use his phone it is extremely overwhelming for him. Keep in mind, he was incarcerated in 1995!!!