St. Petersburg

By Lawrence Sivils

9/05

             Finally  after waiting 6-1/2 years for work release statues I soon found myself walking slowly through the doorways of Saint Petersburg, Work-Release Center.

            As that huge Blue bird bus pulled quickly away, with many old forgotten memories of Sumter Forestry Work Camp.  I thought to myself (smiling), It doesn’t get any sweeter than this..  “Man, was I wrong”!!!

            Upon arriving at the work release center,  everyone has to be checked-in by name, number, job title and statue.  Either your work release or your permanent  party, which means in a nutshell the following:  Work release Inmates work in the free world and permanent party Inmates work inside or around the compound which also includes the work release mess hall (A.K.A.) kitchen.  All new arrived Inmates gets one chance to make a collect call home for their family to bring them clothes, blankets, money and hygiene products by mail or by drop off.   However, if you’re lucky enough to be permanent party like me, the state will open up it’s wallet and provide some of these  “Little things for you.”

Good Points

 The good points about work-release, Is:

1. You get to make money by having a real job.
2. You get to save money and, also, keep real money inside your pant pocket.
3. They allow you to go home on furlough passes for eight hours.
4. All rooms have a/c in them.
5. Telephone calls are 35 cents and you may call or talk as long as you wish.
6. The food tastes better, with a friendly normal cafeteria atmosphere.
7. Your Sponsor, Mom, Dad wife sister, friend or brother can take you to work and/or drop you back off at the work release center everyday.
8. Huge basketball court with lots of space for jogging or other activities.
9. Two day rooms with two TV’s outside and inside for your sporting events.
10. Free World snack machines with different luncheon to serve you.
11. Church service every Sunday and Monday evening!  (Free world people)

 Bad Points

 

1. Phone calls at night are 10 minutes, do to the fact everyone wants to use one of the 8 phones on the compound.
2. D.O.C. takes 55% of you pay check.
3. There’s no medical or medical staff here.
4. You pay for all hospital visits, which comes out of your D.O.C. account.
5. All inmates get punished for other inmate’s mistakes!
6. You will lose your furlough if you fail room inspection! (Room inspection every week!)
7. Rec yard opens up only 30 minutes a day.
8. Snack machine areas are off limits three to four hours a day.
9. Group clean up every night after 10:45 pm, work release and permanent party inmates both included.
10. Wal-Mart run once a month, Please, remember to always buy every thing you’re low on.
11. Saving passes, low bunk passes, light duty pass or any other passes are no good here.
12. No self-help programs: NA/AA or Lifer’s!
13. No shorts on the compound, however, you may wear shorts on the basketball court and rec. field.. (also weight area)
14. Can’t wear shower shoes on the compound.  But may be worn in living quarters.

 

7 Months

        Seven months later, I finally become work release party, but to my surprise, the job market was full due to the fact that at the work release center, 80 inmates were calling the same jobs as me.  Suddenly, broken hearted with little money left to live on because the washer and dryer cost plus not to mention the 10 phone calls of 35 cents a day for job searching.

      “My Spirit cries out to God, and God leads me to J&K Ministries which speaks to me about keeping on believing  in God.  Mr. Potts (John) asked me what do I need to make it?  I tell him I’m running out of toilet paper and need new T-shirts.  No sooner then I’m off the phone him, the next morning MR. Potts is handing me a Wal-Mart bag with one Huge Hug and a Hang in there smile for me.  I ask (John), how may I pay you back?  Mr. Potts says, by helping others in need, then he turns and walks out the front door.  “That week runs smoother, yet Darkness is still chasing the cat around me.”.  Which causes me to call upon Mrs. Karen Potts for help..  Who listens closely as I speak of my head banging pain, which she only agrees with some of my problem areas, for days I call her for advise until one morning God Blessed me with my cooking job at I-HOP Restaurant.

 “Lost Friends”

Throughout my one year stay at the work-release center.  I have seen many Good men fall short for really stupid events.   “Such as the Following:

1. Having to much money in their possession. (which causes them to return to Polk work-camp)
2. Drinking on the job and/or drinking upon the work release compound with mix drinks in soda cans (which causes them to return to prison)
3. Mixing business with pleasure causing angry women to call the work release center of unclean behavior. (back to the Big House of Lock-Down style!)
4. Ordering Fast Food by compound phones and/or delivering fast food to their personal room windows. (officers eat the food as they drive you back to Polk!)

 The List never ends, however this letter must, because I’M a Free Man now and I Thank Jesus Christ for bringing me though this Hell Hole, which you guys believe is the best place on God’s green earth.

 Work- Release!  You better prepare yourself for a never forgettable ride of free Falling.

  

Special thanks to: The Lifer’s Group and

                              Much love to my Mom,

                              John and Karen Potts, for true love through the awful nightmare.

 

Lifer’s 4 Life               One Love Jesus Christ