[DP] Letter from Death Row

[Rich Woodward]

This is a well written and very disturbing letter from Death Row.
-------------------------------------------------

Hello.  

My name is Steven Woods, and I am currently an inmate awaiting lethal
injection in the Alan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas.

I am writing this as a plea for help, for myself and the 400 plus 
inmates living on death row. I am writing this to ask that you get 
involved, to help make our conditions more liveable and humane. To 
help us gain a little comfort as we sit out what little remains of 
our lives.  

I am aware that there are numerous people and organizations world-
wide
that expend an immense amount of energy trying to abolish the death
penalty. While I admire and respect their efforts, I am also aware 
that
there are few who stop and look at how we are forced to live. So much
effort is put on saving our lives, that this is often overlooked.

This is no fault of the people, it is the fault of myself and all the 
400 plus inmates who share my fate. We just lie down and accept the 
way we are treated. If were not willing to stand up for ourselves, 
why should anyone else?  

It is time for this to change.

Death row, in Texas, is housed in a maximum security super 
segregation facility. A facility designed to hold prisoners 
indefinitely in a solitary confinement environment. We are locked 
down for 23 hours a day, in a single man 6x9 foot steel and concrete 
cell. We are afforded extremely limited privileges, and only one hour 
a day to get out of our cells for recreation. Every time we leave our 
cells we are strip searched, placed in hand restraints and walked by 
2 guards holding each arm. being walked.  

If you were to ask the TDCJ administration why it is set up like 
this, they would tell you that we are security risks. This is absurd. 
Granted, it is true that we were convicted of some very heinous 
crimes, I would like to point out that there are TWO penalties for 
capital murder; death, or li fe in prison. Those who are convicted 
and are afforded a life sentence (my co-defendant, for example) are 
in most cases convicted of the exact crimes we were. They live out 
their lives in general population as a reward for their testimony 
against us, the fact that they plead guilty, or because the jury 
decided to show compassion (as in the case of the terrorist sniper 
Lee Malvo).  

Let me ask you this. Who is more likely to be a danger to others; an 
inmate condemned to die, who has a chance to save his life if he can 
prove that he is not a danger to society, or the prisoner who will 
serve out a life sentence, and has nothing to lose?  

The majority of people who are sent to a TDCJ prison, those who did 
not receive the death penalty and behave themselves, are placed into 
the general population unit. They have a lot more freedom than we do. 
They receive hot meals at a steam table, not in a cell. They get to 
go to church, and parti cipate in educational programs. They are 
allowed to interact with other prisoners, and can walk around freely, 
to the dayrooms and recreation yards, and around the section they 
live on. They are allowed to receive contact visits, to touch and 
hold their family and loved ones. These convicts consist of thieves, 
violent offenders, rapists, capital murderers and child molesters. 
These inmates often act violently toward each other and the guards, 
and sometimes try (and succeed) to escape. But, of course, they are 
not security risks. Not according to TDCJ.  

We, on death row, are deprived of so many of the things that make a 
human being stable, and sane. The TDCJ officers dont care about us, 
dont like us, and act against us whenever and however they can. They 
are constantly degrading us calling us names, trying to take what 
little dignity that remains. They often deny us our sleep, food, 
shower, and recreation. They even get violent and strike at us when 
they think they can get away with it. They write us disciplinary 
cases for petty things, or sometimes for something they made up. They 
even ignore us when we need medical attention. Then they laugh and 
joke about it. After all, we are less than human, and it is their god 
given right to oppress us.  

When it comes to the meals on death row, policy dictates 3 warm meals 
a day, served in our cells, of the same quality and quantity that the 
guards receive. We are allotted 2400 calories a day, at least in 
theory. In reality, the food is served cold, more often than not, and 
on broken and dirty food trays. The guards who serve the meals dont 
wear gloves or even wash their hands. Usually, the food is not even 
fully cooked, and we are never given as much as we are supposed to 
have. This may seem trivial, but to us it is very important to remain 
healthy.  

The one hour a day that we are allowed to leave our cells for 
recreation is sp ent in the dayroom, or outside. The dayroom is a 
cage 18x24 feet. We mostly spend this time just walking around in 
circles, because we are not allowed to take anything out of our cell. 
If we do, we get written up for trafficking and trading. Outside, the 
only differences are that it is a concrete room with iron bars for a 
roof.  

We are not allowed any contact with the other inmates, except the
conversations we can have with those in cells close to us by shouting 

through the walls. We do not get any arts & craft programs, no 
television, and no work programs. The only things we have to break 
the 
monotony of solitary confinement are a radio, books we receive from 
the 
outside world, colored pencils, and cheap water colors. We are denied 

the basic human contact that is essential to keeping a healthy state 
of 
mind. But, legally, this is not cruel and unusual punishment.

Visitation is one of our bigger problems. We get 2 hours a week, or 
certain extended special vis its which are two 4hour visits, if the 
person visits from over 300 miles, out of state or overseas. Only 
those on our visitation list may visit, and they have to be approved 
by TDCJ. We are only allowed 10 people on that list, and we can only 
change it every 6 months. This means, in average, we will be able to 
change it or add people 10 times, as the average life expectancy on 
death row is 5 years. These visits are the most cruel, inhumane 
punishment. Through a solid, thick sheet of glass, we can see our 
loved ones. To talk to them, we have to use telephones that distort 
their voices. Most of us will die without ever being able to touch, 
hug, hold our families and friends. Without ever being able to hear 
the true sound of their voices.  

Under the Death Row Plan, as outlined in the Supreme Court case Ruiz 
vs. Estelle, we were supposed to be allowed more privileges- namely a 
work program, group/ extended recreation, televisions, and in-cell 
arts and cra ft programs. Unfortunately, these privileges have been 
suspended indefinitely, due to an escape attempt (which failed- and 
when investigated was determined to be the fault of the officers due 
to negligence) over 5 years ago. 5 years ago, we did have these 
privileges (except contact visits). So what happened, and why cant we 
have them back?  

TDCJ is punishing all of us for the mistake made by 6 inmates and the
officers that neglected their duty. It is not our fault they dont 
train
their guards properly.

We cannot change anything from the inside, by ourselves. We can only 
stand up for ourselves and not accept the way we are treated. I am 
taking this first step in writing to you, and by protesting our 
conditions by not cooperating with TDCJ officers and officials. We 
are asking for your support, to put forth as much or as little effort 
as you can. We need you to fight with us, by calling and writing the 
government and the administration and telling them that you will not 
accept the way death row is being run. To protest, if you can, or 
just spread the word of how we are treated and encouraging others to 
get involved.  

It is going to be a long hard road we walk down. It will require an
extreme amount of energy. It is our hope that you are willing to walk 
it
with us.

To protest our conditions, please phone or write to the following 
people
and tell them you will not stand for the current situation. We would
appreciate your help.

1) Rep. Terri Hodge, P. O. Box 13084 Austin, Texas 78711.

2) A letter to Chairman and Members of the Texas Board of Criminal
Justice, P. O. Box 13084, Austin, Texas 78711.

3) A letter to Warden Chuck Biscoe, Polunsky Unit, 3872 FM 350 S.,
Livingston, TX 77351.

If youd like to get involved and like more, in-depth information, 
have
comments, questions, advice or encouraging words, feel free to write 
to:

Steven Woods # 999427

TDCJ Polunsky Unit

12002 SFM 350

Livingston, Texas 77351

USA


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