1/6/2012 11:08:01 AM
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Daniel West
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inmate / resident
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I lived at Joyceville Pennitentiary from July 1987 to May of 1988, then I was transferred to Matsqui Pennitentiary in Abbotsford, BC. While staying at joyceville my time went by fairly quickly. I had a chance to go to school. I pretty much stayed to myself, and if any trouble came my way I always took care of business, sometimes not in the nicest of ways.
One instance this person told me to go fuck my mom, and, well, this does not go down well with anyone. I went back to my cell over lunch break and thought deeply about what I was going to do about this situation. After the lunch break I had asked a friend to get the teacher out of the class room for some time, in which he did. I came running into the class room and did what i had to do. This messed him up bad, but he recuperated from this and about a month or 2 later he decided to get revenge.
I was working out on this evening when he then came up to me and provoked me, and I went for it. When we were alone he then pulled out a 12 inch shank and tried to stab me. I had a skipping rope with me from my work out which had metal handles covered with hard plastic. I used this to prevent him from stabbing me. I look back on that today and knowing if I did not have that rope with me My life would have of been finished. He was serving a life sentence, which I didn't know at the time.
After this happened the inmate committee jumped in and basically made both of us apologize to each other. From that day on we saw one another through passing, but never spoke again. Peace was in the air once again. That's all it takes for someone to get seriously injured in prison. Overall my time went by very smoothly. The sad reality of going to prison, there are more privileges in being in prison then out in the world if you are a homeless person. You have your own tv, stereo, computer, and if you want you can get educated from GED to getting a degree from University. You have 3 meals a day, a gym to exercise in, and a huge yard if you enjoy jogging. There is a store open everyday, and a games room if you enjoy playing pool. You can play an instrument, and hobbies if you enjoy doing hobbies. It is sad, but true, some would say a person would have it well off in prison.
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I just got released from joyceville penn dec 17th 08 and i must say doing time aint like it used to be. They're selling a pouch of tobacco there now for a thousand dollars, can you belive that? These days no one's your friend in there. they all just wanna rip each other off. And now you cant even smoke in the prisons.
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Well, the Salvation Army had their truck parked out front last night. The neighborhood all crowded around and we all had a chili and bun from the truck. Cool neighborhood, free meal, wow. Anyway, i'll stay on topic.
I remember Salvation Army at Joyceville. Sundays and can't forget Christmas. One time the girls came and sang and I was singing along and Bob and his friend said to me not to sing and let the girls sing. Guess I wasn't a singer at all, oh well.
Another time the Canadian Army was there. I still remember that Sunday morning. I returned to my cell for a while. I guess I'll say there was a bit of risk for Salvation Army to at that time but we all lived to tell the tale.
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I did time at Joyceville a few years back. Maybe I should say "many" years back. Before I met my wife. I went to school and got a grade 10 education at Joyceville. I worked out every night by weight lifting with a guy named Ken. He was one of the stronger inmates. Even though I did a short bit at the prison we had a stabbing, some fist fights, a small riot and a friend from my home town, Gord, who killed himself.
I remember I liked to wear my red T-shirt. I would keep it washed and wear it all the time. I guess it was light red and my pants were green. I remember I could keep my cell door unlocked by keeping the bolt wedged back when I closed the door so I could come and go when i wanted to. Family day was so cool in the gym. Mom and sister, music, KFC chicken. Not too bad at the joint, actually. The hardest part of my stay was saying good bye. hahaha
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I was an inmate in Pittsburgh Pen. and I have to say that this facility was the nicest, cleanest and most proffesional of all the institutions that I've been in. I was fortunate enough to have had the chance to upgrade my education and I utelized this chance to the max. To all the staff in the educational dept. , I thank you with all of my heart and I will never forget the positive experience I had while I served my sentence at Pittsburgh. Many thanks especcially to Kevin and Dorothy for being so patient with me and helping me get a head start to upgrading my education. I am happy to say that after my release, I continued to stay in school and I have earned another credit for grade 12 English.Keep up the good work and again,thank you for all you have done for me.Sincerely, Eugene Gentile. Inmate # 123678c
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