Interview by: JoJo Ejonga with Darrington Curtis Henderson at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (Aberdeen Washington State).
JoJo: Merry Christmas Curtis. How are you doing today?
Curtis: Merry Christmas to you too JoJo –haha– Well, how my day is going? hunn.. I will like to say that my day is going well, I am trying to take it one day at a time, and live life to it’s fullest by the grace of God — you know how it is, just being grateful for being on the right side of the dirt.
JoJo: That sounds great, and I am very impressed with your positivity.
Curtis: Thank you JoJo, just trying to focus on what is within my control.
JoJo: That is the right way to look at it. I wanted to thank you for your time and allowing me to have this conversation with you.
Curtis: Thank you for the opportunity to share and contribute to the work you doing advocating for change and standing up against the oppressive system. If my words can contribute to and help bring light to the conditions, count me in.
JoJo: Thank you Curtis, people like you make me do what I do. Well, if you don’t mind me asking where are you from and how did you end up in prison without disclosing to much?
Curtis: I am a Washingtonian, born and raised in Seattle Washington.
JoJo: The Evergreen State, born and raised the Emerald City? You a Seahawks Fan?
Curtis: Yes, of course, Seahawks all day. Well, you asked me what got me to prison?
JoJo: Yes, only if you are comfortable talking about it.
Curtis: Well, I am here for DUI?
JoJo: What? DUI, are you serious?
Curtis: Yes, I am, that is not all, I was supposed to be at work release, but they denied me work release because I had only 4 months left, and was going to be on ankle bracelet upon release?
JoJo: Wow Curtis, you telling me that you had only 4 months to go, rather than letting you go to work release, they sent you to prison?
Curtis: Yes JoJo. In fact, not only did I only have 4 months to go when they sent me to prison — I already completed the required treatments ordered by the Court.
JoJo: Wow, that is unbelievable, but hey, it is not surprising when dealing with Washington State Department of Corrections and the Legal System. When you think you’ve seen it all, that is when you presented with something new. So, how much longer do you have left in Prison?
Curtis: Gosh, thank God I only have less than a month to go, but will be on 16 months probation upon release.
JoJo: Are you excited about it?
Curtis: Yes I am, but at the same time just trying to keep my head and mind focus on what I have to do when I gets out, how to get a job and also navigate the 16 months probation period. But for sure, when I am done with the probation, I am looking forward to traveling and getting out of this State.
JoJo: I will like to go back to what you previously said — I believe you mentioned that you were denied work release — why did you want to go to work release?
Curtis: Yes I was denied work release. The reason why I wanted to go to work release is because it would have given me the opportunity to get a job and save up money for when I am completely out of custody. This would have allowed me to have some financial stability and job security.
JoJo: So, them sending you to prison significantly hampered your opportunity for some financial stability and job security upon release?
Curtis: Yes! You know, they do that to people, they stand in the way of actual rehabilitation, and then disparaged people when they do not successful reenter the society. How do they expect someone to be able to take care of themselves broke? Especially when you get release after a long time away from the society, even worst for those who gets out homeless. I just don’t understand how they expect people to be successful. I don’t want to come back to prison, I want to be able to go back to my community and contribute and not be a burden on them. Meaning I want to have a place to sleep, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a job to work to pay for those things, not to forget — You know “Uncle Sam”(The IRS) wants his cut too, which I don’t mind, as long as he is off my back. But to accomplish this, all I ask is be given the opportunity.
JoJo: Man, you are so right, I ask myself the same questions — How do they expect recidivism to go down, when they fail to create and provide people with the needed pathways to successful reentry? Why should people have to fight to get needed help for a successful rehabilitation, when in fact they should be encouraging people and providing people with the opportunities. I don’t really get it — they tell folks on one hand that the reason they send you to prison is for rehabilitation, but on the other hand they create barrier and makes it harder, or should I say almost impossible to rehabilitate.
Curtis: Yes, I wonder why they do that. I have come to believe that they like it when people don’t succeed and then come back to prison. I honesty believe that they want people to come back to prison, that way they can level more blames and and ask for more money. You know that every time the prison population goes down, that is less money for DOC, it affects the kick backs they get from companies they contract with. I think it is all about the money, and what best way to make sure people come back creating a path to failure for them.
JoJo: So, knowing that you can’t really expect the government to help you rehabilitate effectively, what are the steps you’ve taking and the safeguards you’ve set up for yourself to make you reentry a success?
Curtis: First, is my faith in God and knowing that he will guide and help me navigate my way back. I also have a loving and caring family who has been there for me. I have also worked on connecting with organizations out there that helps provide a more humane reentry, most especially housing. Having a place to sleep makes it more easier and allows me to focus on getting a job, save money and, stay out of trouble. I thank God that I was able to take advantage of the treatment opportunity that was given to me in County Jail before coming to prison, what I have come to see since coming to prison is that, getting help like Drug treatment is hard.
JoJo: So Curtis, now that we are back from break, would you like to talk about your experience in prison, what has been the most upsetting?
Curtis: Hannn, gosh, my experience in prison has been challenging, but my Faith in God is the only thing that has kept me going and giving me strength to battle this wave.
JoJo: Amen to that brother.
Curtis: I am so serious bro — You know how it is right, you’ve been down for how long now?
JoJo: Going to my 13th year.
Curtis: I know you know how challenging things gets in prison, you know how hard it is when anxiety kicks in and you got to deal with disrespectful staff, racist staffs, and those staffs who has nothing good to do.
JoJo: Could you enlighten me more on that please?
Curtis: Yes. It really bothers me when you have staff who think that their jobs are to be the executors of punishment. You know the staff who think that they are just better than you just because they wear the uniform and have a batch? Yes, those who just think that because they have power, so their job is to use those power to make your life hard, especially those ones that have been on the job for a long time. JoJo, don’t get me wrong, there are some younger staff who think they are just All Powerful Dictators. Either way, the level of indeference and inhumanity demonstrated toward prisoner is hard to understand, and I could see how someone in my position can easily loose their self control, but by God’s grace and my Faith allows me to focus on God instead of people, or my situation. Some staff will intentionally push your buttons and attempt to get you to a breaking point, just because they have the batch. For someone like me who respect the Authority and those in uniform, it is frustrating to see how people are treated. Clearly, there are few who just push the line of disrespect, you know? They just push people to the state of biasness. Another thing I don’t understand is the classification process. I am in prison for a DUI with only 4 Months left, but I am housed with people who have Life Sentences, De facto life, and never getting out. I don’t know how you can put a low security person with an extremely short sentence with a person probably never getting out of Prison, just can’t see how that isn’t a security concern.
JoJo: I feel you brother, I totally understand what you saying bro.
Curtis: Bro, without Faith in God, it is hard to deal with a lot of things in prison — I just thank God for transforming me and giving me enough patience to think about things before I approach them I can also see how someone in my position can loose their self-control. But you know, I have learnt through my faith in God not to focus on negative people, or situations, but rather look for the best possible positive outcome!
JoJo: You are about to get out, but while you await your release, what message do you have for those in the community, and the law maker?
Curtis: Wow, you put me on the spot JoJo
JoJo: haha, getting too hot for you bro? you got this, just speak from the heart.
Curtis: I just want to the people out there to know that The Justice system isn’t working, and those the society has given the duty to rehabilitate people has turned the process of rehabilitation into an instrument of vengeance. You can’t expect a people to rehabilitate without providing them with the means and the opportunity to do so.
JoJo: Thank you so much for kicking it with me and talking about life the legal system and the life behind bars!
Curtis: No problem bro, I am honored to be part of this, and appreciate you shinning the light and putting this out there.
JoJo: Heyy, I am just doing what I can, and people like you makes it possible for me to continue doing what I do bro, so think you again! Merry Christmas bro.
Curtis: Merry Christmas!
JoJo: Peace.
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