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July 4th, 2017 9:00 A.M. Dear A.P.W.A., I received your most welcomed letter, and enclosed w/ this letter is the questionnaire filled out, along with me signature granting permission to publish. The following is first-person writing addressed to a broad readership: Hello there, My name is Cristobal "Cris" Bazan from McAllen, Texas, and I am 33 years old. Over half of my life I have wasted it incarcerated. I am not proud of it, but that's just what it is... The worst way to do time is in solitary confinement, which is how I am currently doing my time. I am classified as a member of a "security threat group," therefore, I must remain segregated in solitary confinement. This is what you call psychological warfare. Most men enter these cells healthy and sane; however, several men leave here broken, mentally and physically, and very insane and anti-social. I try to keep my sanity by reading, writing, and exercising. Breakfast comes at 3 in the morning, and at 7 in the morning I am escorted to a dog cage where I get to run wild like the animal I am for one hour. A 15 minute shower follows my one hour of recreation, and then I am escorted back into my cell, where I am isolated 23 hours a day, seven days out the week. There is no education. There is no rehabilitation. That's why so many of us don't last long in society, myself included. Many prisoners who are segregated in solitary confinement are released back in to society and commit horrible crimes because the solitude breeds a violent nature. I can't explain it; I don't know why. But, when I was segregated in solitary confinement back in July 2006, I was healthy and sane with no ailments. However, I have since been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic with bi-polar disorder, anxiety, depression, P.T.S.D., high blood pressure, and seizures. And, I take the medication. I have to. And I'm only 33 years old... throughout the years, I have seen several prisoners commit suicide, and even more have attempted... Personally, I think it's dangerous to keep prisoners segregated in solitary confinement, especially, since most of us will be released back in to society soon. With no education and no rehabilitation, one can only imagine what we're gonna do in society... As for myself, I will be released back in to society July 9th, 2018. I am not educated, nor am I rehabilitated, but I have hope and faith... I guess I'll just have to wait and see how far hope and faith will get me... If you have and questions or comments, feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Cristobal "Cris" Bazan Connally Unit 899 F.M. 632 Kenedy, Texas 78119 4th of July, 2017
