My son said he tried to help someone in prison. The guy was supposed to pay him back but did not. That's what he did all the time was help others.

My son knows nothing about the prison life and is learning (fortunately and unfortunately 0 as he goes.

Now, the guy the he helped owed someone. That person is making my son pay the other guys debt. Every time the debt is not payed off on time, it goes up.

The guy my son tried to help is not bothering to pay his debt. my son is scared of course. Not a fighter. Afraid for his life. Does not want to be moved to any other place because he is fine where he is, he said. Any place else is worse.

He has been paying but the county takes part of his money to pay off his debt to society so they say.

Now, that means, each time he thinks he is paying the debt off, the county takes his money. The debt is not paid off and thus goes up.

Well, this time we think the debt is going to finally be paid off. I have written to my son and spoken to him to let him know that this cannot continue and that he needs to have faith and pray. That is what I believe in and my son is getting there I think. At least, that is what he tells me.

I don't want anything to happen to him and fear tries to creep in. I immediately get up from where I am and pray for him.

He keeps asking for the money and he is afraid. I know that this will end and I have faith in God that if my son just haves faith, it will be o.k. but we are human and the fear creeps in. You know?

__________________
"Faith, Hope & Love, but the greatest of these is Love."
I Corinthians 13:13

Sorry to hear where your son is going through.

I just voted the answer what is the most common to do when your inside. I wish i could give another answer. But all inside has to do with how you behave and own respect. I guess this is the only way to own that. Sad, but true. (i voted fight and risk.....)

Wish your son all the best with the decision he will make. And also all the strenght for you.

__________________
~Live with no excuses, and love with no regrets~

wow that is a tough one especially with a family member involved i just dont get why they are getting your son to pay off this other guys debt all because he helped once ?Now it seems like they'd be going after the guy who owes the debt instead i wasnt sure what advice to give so i voted hard to say .are you sure your understanding the whole story ?

i'm so sorry to hear this i feel sad because your son is still green as grass so a little naive ......... your son only see the good things in people.
that's not bad,but it's so easy to take advantage of him.
good luck to the both of you.

xxx whiterose.

__________________
be nice to the people on your way up,because you will meet them again on your way down

I also wanted to add im sorry he's in this situation its pretty sad when all he was trying to do was be a friend and now he's in this terrible situation

I wish the best for your son in this situation. I think with prayer and some thought, and some fight and risk is combination needed to put a stop to the games.

I am sorry this is happening, your son will know which way to go even if unsure at this time.

__________________

[i]I apppreciate your responses. I also appreciate your heartfelt thoughts and wishes of luck for my son in his situation.

I have posted this after long and careful thought about it. I have prayed about it. I have talked to my son about it. I still feel there may be something that he is or "had" at first kept from me. But gradually had given me the entire story.

I know he does not want to worry me. He always says for me to stop worrying in his letters. Yet, there is no one else but me and God.

I told him that if he keeps paying someone, they may believe that he is an easy way for them to get money and why should they stop? It is up to him to say no and to do something about it. I also told him that I trust him to do the right thing and that God is with him. That he is not alone and he should have faith in himself and in God.

Take a chance that if he does the right thing, good things will happen.

I told him all of this on the phone and in the letters. I sent the money because I am his mother and I am afraid for him you know? I do not want to be the one who makes that decision for him by not sending the money.

It is very hard to come up with the money when he needs it. There may a time when I am unable to come up with it at all! I told him that as well. I am not there with him and he has to make that decision hmself. He is growing up in prison. Unfortunate but real!

I am with him as best i can be through letters and phone calls and pictutres that are consistent. Also through prayer. I do my best to eep my faith as well so that I can tell him to do the same thing.

I send him Bible lessons on faith and prayer also. I just think if he hears it from someone else besides me all the time he may listen. I'm mom.

He needs to hear from someone else that he matters still. That he is not forgotten and that he should do the right thing.

I don't know. I am doing the best I can to try and continue to raise my child from outside of a prison wall.

__________________
"Faith, Hope & Love, but the greatest of these is Love."
I Corinthians 13:13

faith is a wonderful thing and brings us through life's greatest hardships but prison is a cold uncaring world where the weak are prayed upon . we are all taught to help others when we are growing up but in this world from what i understand its everyone for them selves in order to survive so its just the opposite from what we try to instill in our children all you can do is pray and keep your faith and pray he has his but now he's got to be a warrior for his own sake and stand up and say no if you continue to give him the money they are extorting out of him they will keep doing it till you have nothing left its scary but its time for him to stand up for himself .thats the hardest thing for any parent i think to let go and to hold our breaths hoping it all works out but right now thats all you can do this is where he has to become a man early and has to rely on his own wits to make it or you'll be sick with worry and he will constantly be calling or writting asking for you to help bail him out
keeping you in prayer

I am a ex con who did some serious time in a very harsh prison. If you can your son should know that NO ONE is your friend in prison . I always acted as if every one was out to get over or get something. Some guys/ gals who have been in and out of prison can spot a new guy / gal who is very unsure of himself and will target him / her .
The only advantage I had was I had a reputation for "fighting " when I went in and had "respect " due to my case .

he unfortunately is going to have to either check in to PC. He can do this via a attorney . Or he can fight back and end up with a major case and go to ad seg . Ad seg is is usually you are locked in your cell alone 23 hours a day with not much to do it can really get to you psychologically.

This sounds like prison debt and once you are in it it is next to impossible to gt out with either fighting and doing some damage or checking in Once you are sen as a easy mark they will not stop . It is not a good situation at all . I wish I could do more . and give you some advice to pass along to your son

Best of luck in this I hope your son gets himself out of this as safely as possible .

Talking to a boss , rank or rating will put your son in severe risk in many situations

__________________
If the storm doesn't kill me
the government will

REM

I should add If and this is If it was me, I would fight any one and go to ad seg for a while . at one time I really did not care as I had nothing to lose . (eventually I got a new trail and a much lesser charge )

If he does go to ad seg you can usualy still send him moneyand books to read
after a while they can order stuff from commisary also but it is hard way to do time . Also in a prison your name becomes known to almost every one at some level .

Where I was if you caught a major case ( fighting is one) there was a hearing sort of like court and those who wore gray always won even if they were in the wrong. He will have to "be quite" and not say he was being extorted and have a bunch of BS answers as ratting / snitching is a good way to get yourself seriously injured or worse .

Sadly a lot of people who did something stupid and exercised bad judgment maybe while intoxicated and are not life long criminals are tossed in with some very hardcore career criminals . They come out in bad shape some messed up for life Prison bosses are not really concerned about anything more than "security" and that vague excuse covers almost everything . . Also Boss are not your friends in prison they are even worse than other prisoners and will use anything against you . Bosses have US vs one else attitude so talking to one can lead to even more trouble and extortion by the boss .

__________________
If the storm doesn't kill me
the government will

REM