Visiting Diane Wilson in Jail, 2006

I drove from Austin to Victoria, which is about 150 miles, to visit Diane Wilson on a Sunday afternoon. The Inmates are allowed only two visitors during each visitation and there are only two visitations a week, so I cleared my visit first with her family.

When she walked in and sat down behind the plexiglass wall, I was concerned at how tired she looked; her eyes were puffy and her face sagged. I knew she was drinking plenty of coffee, but I asked about water and how accessible it is. She said not very, holding up her little finger and describing the trickle that comes out of a tap on top of the toilet; I couldn’t believe it, but it seems that the only water available is about 12 inches from the one toilet used by all the women.

She was in fairly good spirits but said her energy was low and that it was hard for her to write as much as she’d like. She mentioned her energy several times: “My energy level is half what it is normally. It’s numbing in here.”

She knew that depression might be causing her lack of energy, but then, in typical Diane fashion, dismissed that and talked about the high noise level. She thought that lack of visual stimuli and not being able to ever look outside was affecting her as well and she wondered if the lack of a clock might be considered a kind of psychological abuse. We also discussed whether keeping the window covered was a deliberate punishment, but she didn’t know. She described the environment as something like an isolation cell and since the women don’t have any opportunity to exercise or go outside or do any kind of work, the anxiety levels rise until fights become inevitable.

Diane said the constant noise also made it very hard to write letters or keep a journal. “Normally, when I write I’m hearing the words in my head, but here, the noise… ” she said, shaking her head tiredly. Not herself.

We discussed her letter to the sheriff; she was anxious for it to go out soon and said that she didn’t mind the group of us editing to make it smoother. I quoted several statements, such as to whether she’d mind editing of terms so that “all” could be “many” or “never” could be “seldom”—so that her statements wouldn’t be dismissed as inaccurate or over the top. I pointed out that she was going back and forth between the terms “state prison” and “jail” and proposed that we could still use her points about prisons by pointing out how jails were similar or different to the prisons. She was fine with all of that.

I said that it was impossible for people to quickly verify the stories of mistreatment that she’d quoted in her letter and that some of us were concerned about that. She firmly stated that she knew the stories were true and that was that.

At that point, she began talking about the attitude of the guards. She said they treat the women very badly—“the feeling here is that they despise you.” Despite having had unpleasant experiences in other jails, Diane says her feelings toward cops and sheriffs have hardened during this incarceration, and she now sees how this kind of treatment results in the people leaving jail with a great deal of hostility toward all law enforcement.

“You can’t help but despise people who are so hateful all the time. No matter how polite you ask, they yell back at you. And they refuse to answer questions most of the time.”

Diane said she wanted questions addressed or campaigns started and that the ACLU should be involved. Her main concerns were about the following;

1. Jail inmates should have the ability to find out information about their case or other important issues (see the “drop a form” references in her Letter from the Victoria Jail.)

   In Texas county jails, each, nobody has to respond to an inmate’s questions and if they do respond, it may take weeks. Moreover, an incarcerated person should be able to ask for supplies; nobody, she said, should have to go days without a blanket. There is no mechanism in place but the “drop a form” business. (Diane went three days without any cover and the cell was very cold and the jumpsuits are very thin; she only got cover when another inmate who was leaving gave Diane her blanket. This is standard operating procedure in many jails, according to women reporting from all over the state.)

2. Diane asks that the ACLU consider initiating a lawsuit on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised of Texas jails because “they should have the right to a speedy trial. These people are forced to stay six months or longer just because they don’t have the money. That’s why it’s mostly minorities in here. The way this is set up, it directly affects only the poor.”

 

The 45-minute visit went fast. I told her how many people were concerned and asking questions about her, and I included good wishes from Jody and Kinnu and Alice that they sent by email before the three hour drive here. She reported receiving many letters and said how touching they were. She said most of the women get no mail, no visits and no attention whatsover, so it makes her feel somewhat privileged to be getting so much support and attention. She has received seven books that she shares with the other women in her tank; she says they especially love the inspirational books and ask “Miss Diane” lots of questions – Miss being commonly used as a sign of respect in this part of the world. She is the age of most of their mothers.

I’ve been to a couple of prisons and other jails, but I have to say this jail is quite grim. As I walked out, I noticed an African American man who had been inside visiting his wife. He was outside talking to everyone about what she had told him about her treatment. Vocal and loud, he was outraged at what his wife had told him about the treatment inside. He kept saying “W hat kind of place IS this here?”

The others shook their heads and looked uneasy. They didn’t want to be seen talking to him, in case it would cause trouble for their loved ones inside.

by Diana Claitor, January 2006