June 27, 2003

Subject: Letters

Hey Rob Fans,

There may be some changes coming about for Rob shortly. I am hoping (as always) that they are good ones.

The other day I sent a letter to the warden pretty much asking him what I needed to do to get back on the visitation list. I didn't apologies for anything (as I don't feel I did anything to have brought on all of this craziness to begin with!) --But I did let him know I would be respectful of the prison rules and employees if he would restore my name to the list. I am assuming he (or the guy who opens his mail) would have received the letter yesterday or today.

Last night I got a call from Rob. He told me he got called into an office yesterday because of a letter I had written to the White House. He was asked to sign a form releasing information on his file there. He initially refused saying he had no idea about a letter to the White House, and wanted to talk to me first. The person (he did not state their name) told him it would be in his best interest to sign the release, so he did. He told me the information was going to the Bureau of Prisons, but I am thinking he meant "The Department of Justice" because that is who Pres. Bush's assistant said would handle the investigation. I am assuming the BOP has access to all matters of the prison without a release form. Anyway...I am not sure if Rob was happy about this or worried. (he sounded a bit happy and worried at the same time)  I think that technically the folks at the prison would be careful not to do anything crazy now that they are being "watched". On the other hand, I think they are stupid and sneaky enough to "create and incident" or find other ways to make Rob's life really uncomfortable. I'm sure they don't like the fact that I am fighting back. I hope that everything works out okay.

Rob was also taken off of the duty roster for his job at the main prison building. He seems to think it was somehow related to this new development. --Maybe because he works in close proximity to the warden and the Lieutenants who were implicated in my letter to the President. --Or maybe it was just because he is really bad at cleaning bathrooms!:P  am not sure whether he was re-assigned or not.
Another possibility that scares me is that they could be preparing to transfer Rob to another prison. That would really be bad new!

Life with the inmates seems to have taken a turn as well. Rob implied to me in a letter that he was in a fight with someone a few days ago. The inmate who swung at him later told him (as they shook hands) that the rumors are still buzzing that Rob is a "rat". --So whenever anyone gets in trouble for something, Rob is to blame. That little incident could have put Rob and this other guy directly into the "hole". Rob was also concerned this guys friends would gang up on him. (a large number of Puerto Rican guys who never liked Rob to begin with!) He wrote that he could have to have himself put into the hole for his own protection. For now, it seems to have blown over.

Rob is also still waiting for the final response from the judge on the halfway house policy. He is preparing the motion for the next judge, but cannot send it until the first judge responds to the last one. That too, should be playing out very soon.

Things are obviously tense for a lot of reasons --and change seems to be inevitable. The next week or so could be very interesting. I will let you know what happens.

Thanks,
Shannon