Hi all,
I am new to this site and this is my first post. I am Australian and i have decided to write to a young women incarcerated in Mountain view prison in Texas. I am appalled by the waste of life that is perpetuated by prison systems generally and would like to be able to provide some inspiration and mental escape from the dreadful reality of having to serve a long sentence. I do not condone the crimes this woman has been found guilty of nor do i want to pass judgement on her actions. I do however, want to inspire her to use her mind to create a world for herself where she can use her mind to provide some happiness in her life. I am certainly not intereted in her in any romantic sense and indicated this in the first letter i wrote to her. Whether she is interested in having a relationship on this level is up to her. I realise that now i have started the ball rolling i am sort of committing myself to keep up with regular corespondence. If indeed she does respond, i would like to know a little about her place of detention beforehand as i do not want to be focusing my letter writing on these sorts of matters. If anyone out there has information regarding life inside mountain view prison for women i would certainly appreciate any insights that they may offer.
Thank you.

MT view is a maximum, security prison in Gatesville TX a prison town in central TX There are in all there are 4 other female units Crain ,Murray , Hilltop and Woodman state jail and a maximum security male unit Hughes. in all over nearly 12,000 prisoners are incarcerated in Gatesville mostly women .This does not include the nearly 2,000 women 40 miles away on Hobby in Marlin Try Google earth to get an idea of the size of this massive prison complex type in 1401 state school rd Gatesville TX and scroll around .

. Mt view houses approximately 600 females offenders . Mostly those who are serving life or very long sentences . It also houses high profile female offenders and some who would be at risk on the other units .It houses TX Female Death Row . They can be housed in dorms where they live in cubicle ,Two person cells on open cell blocks one person cells if they are in seg or PC . All offenders except those in seg or PC work for no pay in TDCJ they depend on friends and family for commissary money . In TDCJ offenders call commissary store. Offenders in Seg and PC do not work

Their unpaid “ jobs “ vary from field squad AKA hoe squad, clerical jobs unit maintenance , landscaping , kitchen jobs just about everything but guards, medical staff and jobs that give them access to other offenders information . TDCJ Depends on convicts to run the units creating the false impression of keeping cost low . their job will vary with their classification all TDCJ units have trusties all maximum security units have every level of offender on them .

They can attend courses and other programs as offered if they are not in Seg PC or DR . They also can go out to they yard for rec and or watch TV in the day room some chose to spend little time in the day room due to the drama that can go on . They cannot and do not have TVs in their cells only those in the GRAD program have this . They are allowed a radio and head phones .t o listen to . Life is generally the same from, day to day . You probably will want to talk with her about her days and life there it shows a interest in her and her situation as well as giving her a outlet to express her frustration with it. TDCJ if anything can be frustrating .It also shows concern for her .

Food is usually bland on TDCJ units it is not what some make it out to be either . It is institutional food and on some units they have to prepare meals for 3,000 .

You can also email her via JPAY see their site to set up a free account you pay for the services you use . .Any one can do this if you are so inclined you can also use this for fee service to put funds into her account . Jpay is not affiliated with any DOC or The federal BOP

She cannot call you as you are overseas TDCJ offenders not in SEG or DR can make calls to those on their visiting list they are allowed 10 people on their list. TDCJ prisoners cannot receive anything other than letters photos and where available email from you . you can send via a vendor books calenders , and stationary Amazon seems most popular.

TX is considered one of the harshest places to do time . I can say it is very harsh having done time in TDCJ on a male unit . Things such as photos especially colorful ones taken out doors are always welcomed as is mail and Emails . From all accounts the offenders really love getting Emails in between letters This in turn helps with behavior while incarcerated and lowering recidivism . Your friend if you ask will tell you there are women who have not received mail or visits in years . If you develop a friendship eventually she will ask for help. TDCJ offenders cannot ask those not on their visiting list for funds She will also tell you about things there . You will read some unpleasant things on occasion . There are many ways to encourage her and be a friend to her .

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Dear ASE,
Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my enquiry. Your response has provided enough insight that will greatly assist me in my approach to letter writing. Even though i am struggling to fathom the reality of her predicament.
I do however, look forward to the challenge of providing an outlet for her mind and imagination. I do not take on this role lightly. I realise that by initiating a friendship i am potentially setting her up for further mental anguish if i was to abandon her.
As someone who has a love affair with learning, and reading in general, i would love to be able to take her on mental journeys that bring her pleasure and add colour to her life so that monotony of her surrounds can be alleviated.
I have only just sent my first letter to her so it will be a while before i am likely to receive a response. I am so glad that you indicated it is possible to send her photos. Having lived in a few differnt cultures as well as having travelled extensively both in Australia and overseas, photos will enhance the dialogue that i want to create.
Once again, thank you so much for taking the time and making the effort to respond. It is greatly appreciated. Now it is upto me to fulfil the human contract that i have entered into.

Sincerly,

Chibichan

Waow to both of you guys !

Chibichan for getting into that adventure, I myself have lived abroad and love reading above anything else - and want to take my pps into "journeys"

and waow to ASE for such an answer, so much info - what a great member !

The only thing I want to add to ASE's post is that female units breed a lot more gossip and a different kind of tension to male units. Women form different social strategies to get them through incarceration to men, so try not to base your thoughts and ideas exclusively on other people's experiences of writing to male inmates.

I have a pal at Mountain View.

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Thank you Sunray's wench for your reply and for that insight. Also to SandyF for your kind words.

Good luck I started writing several months ago with someone at Mt View and we have fallen in love. As crazy as it might seem we are getting married! But it has been both hard to be apart and a blessing in meeting her.