JUNE 27, 2025 PRISON LETTERS Exile from State Street — part one I have lived in and around Washtenaw County since 1987. In 2022, I committed a series of crimes that led to my incarceration, first in jail and now prison, along with banishment from Washtenaw County until November 2042. During this time and for the rest of my life, I will make amends for my actions. I want to apologize to the victims of my crimes and to confirm I have recognized and modified my behavior. I was first arrested in 2003. I had just turned 21, and I was enlisted in the United States Air Force. I was initially charged with desertion, a crime that is punishable by up to and including death; I had left my post at Sheppard Air Force Base to run away with a traveling carnival. I was placed in the Wichita County Jail in Texas prior to my day in court. I remember long nights feeling I had thrown my life away. Thinking back on that period of incarceration, I would say I was scared straight. After my time in the Air Force, I was afraid of cops. I spent the next two decades without even getting a ticket for driving. I think my experience as a soldier led to me being a law-abiding citizen for a long time. I wasn’t aware of the machinery of criminal custody as I am today. I went through intake at another jail and was transferred to Wichita County to serve the rest of my sentence. I was released after 60 days and with a general, under honorable conditions, discharge. Washtenaw County has a similar system of intake, transfer and release, which is known as the ITR. The ITR is the first and final incarceration phase in most cases that go in front of the magistrate in Washtenaw County. An individual who is arrested in Washtenaw County can expect arraignment the following day, unless they are apprehended on a weekend. The holding cells in the ITR start to fill up on Friday afternoon and do not empty until Monday morning. This is the jail time that most people associate with minor crimes — the DUIs, domestic disturbances and shoplifting — alongside people who’ve committed more serious crimes. Meals are served at 7 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. every day. There is a phone in the unit, but most people don’t use it. A fellow inmate here in prison named Wild spent time in the Washtenaw County ITR on a few occasions. He offered some advice. “Always make that first call,” he said. “Many people are scared of the judgment of ROBBIE FEBRUARY Groundcover contributor loved ones, instead of judgment of the legal system.“ He remembered a few times where the officers on duty were very helpful in accommodating inmates. “The officers were very respectful. I was able to stay in street clothes and keep my earrings in,” Wild stated. “They even gave me Benadryl to reduce sinus pressure and help me sleep.“ Wild is a good person to know on the inside. He is always willing to share a story and a smile. His first stretch of time was in 2003 to 2004. He had received 45 days for contempt of court. He said, “I felt accused of driving under the influence by the prosecution. They said they smelled alcohol on my breath. The judge appeared persuaded by the arguments. I got mad and threw my boot at the judge. I literally had to go back to court and apologize for my behavior.“ Wild typically has an easy smile, but he related the story of his courtroom shenanigans with a level of sobriety. He’s truly sorry for his actions. A day after the incident, Wild was sent to K Block to complete the rest of his sentence. Back then, K block was for the general population. Nowadays, it is the trustees’ dorm. Trustees are individuals who have special privileges in jail. I was never a trustee and can’t write about the experience. Wild was not a trustee either. Trustees are mostly hand-picked inmates who serve food and clean up the floors and cells. They are typically people serving up to a year for non-violent misdemeanors. As felons, Wild and I were not chosen to be trustees. There are approximately 12 cells in the ITR. There is the larger cell used as the “drunk tank“ while people sober up. There are also several observation cells that are utilized when inmates are considered a danger to themselves or others. I spent a long weekend in one of these cells after I was picked up for making a public disturbance. This was a period of time during the winter of 2022 through 2023 when I was banned from both the Delonis Center and Purple House. When it was cold at night I kept moving. When I was arrested it was because I had nowhere else to go. When I was taken in I was placed in an observation cell. As a homeless veteran, I knew I could survive difficult situations. I was able to “embrace the suck.“ I did look forward to the warm meals and comfy mattresses during my first few times being arrested. It was better than I was experiencing on the outside. Eventually, both Wild and I made it out of the ITR. I pled to a handful of charges and was moved to M Block to serve the remainder of my time. M Block is part of the new expansion of the Washtenaw County jail. There are two rows of four-person cells. The floor is covered with four-person tables, and there is a recreation area with a basketball hoop at the end. The whole area can house around 64 inmates and can get pretty crowded. It was here that I spent the bulk of my time. I wrote letters to friends and family to pass the time. There was often a game of cards or chess to be had. Both Wild and myself have learned a lot during our time of incarceration and neither of us will return. Our time in Washtenaw County jail was important because it prevented either of us from doing more damage during reckless times in our lives. The more we talk, the more we get to know each other. It turned out that we had a lot of friends in common. It feels good to have a friend like Wild during my time in prison. Wild has great intentions when he gets out. “I look forward to enjoying my sober life and being a role model to my 33 nieces and nephews.“ I feel confident that he will do very well on his second chance at freedom. I too appreciate this time I’ve been given to make amends, and I will continue to utilize it to become a better person. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 Drawing by Robbie February
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