A Visit to Texas

Polunsky Unit, Livingston, Polk County, Texas

The prison was just how you would expect, completely grey and imposing, with four watchtowers at the corners. It is situated well away from any neighbouring houses or towns and is marked by a large red and white striped water tower. The entrance is very small considering how large the entire building is, and there are several inmates outside cleaning the windows and pruning the flowerbeds. I went in and gave the guard my passport and John's number, and was given a yellow badge with a visitor number on it and a form with all my details that I would give the guard at the visit room. I was then searched by another guard and allowed to go through the door into the main out door walkway to the visit room. As one door shut behind me, the other one was opened, but no two doors were open at the same time. The building was like a big square with grounds in the middle. I walked through the gardens and rose lined path to the other side of the building and felt relieved that the environment was not as daunting as I had first anticipated. I showed my visitor pass, and went through another set of doors where I had to show my return ticket back to England. In doing this, I was allowed a four-hour special visit with my friend.

The Visiting Room

I was surprised to see that the visit room was a lot smaller and welcoming than I thought and was more like a canteen than a prison visit room. The guard was very nice and friendly and after I showed her my visit form, she allocated me a number. The number related to the numbered booths lining the visit room. Each booth had two phones on the visitor's side and one on the inmate's side. I was there at 8.00am and so John had not been called for. I sat there behind the Perspex glass with my transparent bag of quarters and 1 dollar bills for buying food for myself or John, and looked at the little cage like booth in front of me. The door had what looked like a letter box in it, and there was a little round stool for the inmates to sit on like in the photo booths. I began to feel really nervous, and question whether or not I should be there in the first place.

Then a guard came along, and unlocked the door for John to come in opposite me, and so I knew he was on his way. Two guards led another man in white overalls, with hands handcuffed behind his back past me. As I was watching him walk by, John came in and sat down opposite me. This was a man I had been writing to for the last 7 years, and I couldn't believe it was him. I sat there and watched as he put his handcuffed hands into the hole in the door behind him, and they unlocked him, and then he reached for the phone. I think he could tell I was shaking because he immediately put me at my ease and before I knew it, I was being told that I had gone over my time. We talked about his case and his life before death row, but by no means was that the entire extent of our conversation. We talked about the things everyone talks about like books, films, families, relationships and our interests. We were able to take a couple of photos together and as I waved him goodbye I looked forward to seeing him the next day.

Johns Family

In between visits I went to stay with his family in Dallas. I found it hard to tie the two things together because in our own right we made good friends, and I had imagined the situation to be far more awkward than it was. We had barbecues, played with their 3 lovely children who would sneak into the bedroom to play with their toys in the morning, went and did all the touristy things like going to South Fork ranch and the J.F.K museum! When I did make the link between them and John, it broke my heart that he was missing out on them growing up.

No one can deny the crimes John committed, but they are not deserving of the death penalty. He has not been given adequate legal representation, and without hiring a competent lawyer, he is unable to receive a fair trial. Please take the time to write to him and help him find something to look forward to in each day.