There is no shortage of horror stories from individuals whose lives have been destroyed by wrongful conviction, or who are serving outrageous sentences because of incompetent or indifferent representation, or who were slammed by fanatical, win at all costs, prosecutors who are often little better than criminals themselves.
My story isn’t one of those. I could list why’s and tell the back story – but none of it justifies taking a man’s life. My story is one of a million sad tragedies that fill the annals of newsrooms.
Sentenced to life, I’ve been incarcerated since 1994 and in solitary confinement since 2004 after an escape attempt went very badly. Like my original crime, I could list the why’s – the violence, the conditions, the prison sexual predators… but none of it justifies hurting others. I don’t ask for or expect sympathy. I did wrong and however painful it is, I have to accept the consequences.
There are no policies against indefinite or permanent solitary confinement in the State of Texas. Chances are I will die in solitary, and I only say this to illustrate that I know a thing or two about darkness. After fifteen years in solitary, I’ve seen a lot of it… Indeed, I’m currently housed on the James V. Allred Unit – a unit known for having the highest suicide rate in the state and one of the highest numbers of uses of force against inmates. There’s nothing I haven’t seen in solitary.
However, even in a place such as this there is light to be found. Simple acts of kindness – sometimes from guards, sometimes from inmates… hardened gang leaders, violent men, extending kind gestures to strangers and acquaintances alike. I have been both the recipient and the one offering, but the light I want to speak on is the light that shines from the outside in…
The efforts – often in the face of scorn, ridicule and personal sacrifice – by advocates, activists and family members who rally for change, who visit the lonely and forgotten and work tirelessly to shine a light on America’s Gulag Archipelago.
These people give the condemned hope – the activists fighting for criminal justice and sentencing reform, demanding improvements in mental health treatment, improvements in conditions, treatment and transparency. Those willing to simply share a little of their time by writing a letter or offering some small gesture for the woman or man who has no family, no hope for release, or terminal illness.
These people are rays of light that illuminate dark places. They make a difference and inspire change and give hope to those of us in seemingly hopeless situations. I know this to be true because I’ve seen and experienced it. Were it not for the kindness of strangers, my world would be a much darker place. Were it not for the hope that activists may one day force change in the solitary confinement policies across the country, my outlook would be very bleak.
So, while there’s no shortage of horror stories about prison conditions and treatment of prisoners, there is also no shortage of light, no shortage of individuals willing to try and make a difference and be a voice for the voiceless.
To all of you who care, I think I speak for every prisoner in saying a heartfelt – Thank You!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Dalton Collins lives in solitary confinement in a Texas prison. He was an entrant in our recent writing contest that was only supposed to have one prize winner, but there were three writers that caught our eye and are deserving of an Honorable Mention. Dalton is one of those three, and I hope we hear from him again. Dalton can be contacted at:
Dalton Collins
#768733 Allred
2101 FM 369 N.
Iowa Park, TX 76367
