July 1st, 2019
In a recent article, Jose referred to “inmate organizations.” Realizing some readers may not be familiar with them (and knowing Dawn would be traveling to Italy while Jose shouldered full responsibility for the July Insiders’ Column) we asked Jose to explain about these “inmate organizations.”He did.
And Dawn had a beautiful time in Italy! So, next month, Dawn and Jose will address the issue of maintaining a strong and loving relationship during extended times of no visitation.
(By the way. Did you know there are pyramids in Italy?)
From Jose:
In It Together
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) “…encourages constructive interaction between inmates (1), through inmate organizations…”
These organizations are similar to the NAACP, Urban League, and other such groups in the community. Most organizations behind the wall have a small membership, fundraise and conduct educational classes.
Organizations with a membership must have a constitution and by-laws that outline everything from the Board of Directors to what constitutes a member.
For most of my incarceration, I have participated in organizations, both as a member or adviser. I also had the blessing of co-founding a Lifers’ group* in Attica prison. It only took ten years to get it approved.
In 1998 I put in a request to start the Lifers’ program. The administration’s response: “There will never be a Lifers program in Attica.” Today it’s a thriving organization.
Here in Groveland I recently became the president of the Crusaders’ organization. Now I admit, “Crusaders” is a strange name and reminds me of the Christian crusades. However, the group conducts an amazing array of positive projects, with support from the prison administrators.
All approved organizations can fundraise. The Crusaders sells Polaroid pictures to the population and to the visitors in the visiting room. We also sell candy as a fundraiser. One hundred percent of the candy profits go to the Season of Nonviolence run by the Gandhi Institute in Rochester NY. It is a 64-day program committed to non-violence and the facility has a variety of events and speakers during that time.
This year the Crusaders raised and donated $4,500.00. All of the money was donated to the Bethel Express that feeds children breakfast in the city of Rochester, New York. (As an aside, the Bethel Express program is amazing; check it out.)
Here are some other projects the Crusaders support:
On Mothers Day we pass out long-stemmed carnations to visiting mothers as I mentioned in last month’s Insiders’ article.
Each TASK (formerly known as GED) graduate receives a dictionary and free photo.
The Crusaders also fund all the sports banquets, such as softball, handball, basketball, horseshoes, bocce ball, etc.
The Crusaders also conduct two educational classes: Drug Alert, a relapse prevention course and a communication course, reading and doing exercises from Marshal Rosenberg’s book, Nonviolent Communication.
Here are five main reasons to participate in or start an inmate organization:
1. Stay involved in positive activities
2. Participate in a peer-led self-growth environment
3. Learn about organizational skills and executive board positions
4. Socialize with others one may not ordinarily interact with
5. Appreciate the opportunity to “give back” by contributing to others
Currently, the Crusaders are working with the International Prisoners’ Family Conference, as an Insiders Coalition and have submitted two educational proposals for approval from the prison administration:
* a family relationship program, and
* a domestic violence prevention course.
There is no way to cover all that encompasses an inmate organization and there may be other information regarding organizations in your state. If you’re interested in supporting or creating an inmate organization check the DOC directive on your state’s website.
Insiders of InterNational Prisoners' Family Conference 