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A Prison Author
An article by Michael Flinner
For longer than any of us know, prisons have been a fertile setting for musicians,
artists, and writers alike. Some works by prisoners have been counted among great
classics in literature. Books which describe prison life inspire audiences far
beyond prison walls.
Although some of the finest prison authors remain unknown, and in many cases
unpublished, the country's highest courts recognize the importance of these works.
The writings primarily focus on the prison experience itself, and generally
provide a testimony to both the struggles of the human spirit and the magnitude
of the system of justice.
The success of several prison authors came with a price, many were eventually
executed, some innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.
It wasn't until 1968 that legislation formally took it upon themselves to
abandon the concept of "first amendment death" and reinstated protection
to manuscripts written by incarcerated men and women.
Different types of prison writings began to emerge, heralded as convicts found
their voice, one that so many people in the outside world were willing to hear.
It is the very voice of the prisoner alone, that bring their personal, intimate
experiences to the world.
Destined to shape our society, the prison experience for many, is the past,
the present, and the future of what their individual lives will hold.
United States, birthplace of all modern prisons some two centuries ago, has
managed to transform prisons into central institiutions of society, both in influence
and scale. From within this transformation, another provocative type of writing
blooms, far more descriptive, disturbing, and desperate than the known prison
literature of earlier periods. And unbelievably, these pieces rise to the occasion,
much like their forerunners, revealing amazing creativity and perpetual strengths
in humanity.
Prison journalism plays an important role for many people. Newspapers provide
prisoners with information on programs like legal matters, events, health care,
and articles on a vast array of issues. The overall tone of both magaine and newspaper
articles, vary depending on the source, the publisher, editors, etc. These are
outlets for those of us who tend to tell it like it is.
The unique thing about these outlets are the voices, much like mine, that
are coming from beyond the walls of prisons throughout the United States.
We are not the voices of people who claim to be experts, or even those who
once may have been in prison and now pretend as if they never were. No, we are
those who often disagree amongst ourselves, the very voices of the men and women
most involved and, directly feeling the effects of our incarcerations.
Our voices have been conveying some interesting messages. We have written
about our desires to further our individual educations, wanting to get paid for
our work, some have written about opportunities and various programs to help not
only ourselves, but others, build new constructive lawful lives. Some simply want
to write, much like me. My message is clear.
I've heard people say that prisoners are ignorant, don't get the big picture,
and if they had any smarts at all, wouldn't be in prison.
Education and current information is undeniably the best method I know of
to get people involved, to help those who are less fortunate, avoid dangerous
situations.
What a cruel joke fate has bestowed upon many of us. "We're doing this
for your own good, doesn't seem to work anymore."
As a Death Row inmate, you may not believe how I could have ever endorsed
the Death Penalty. I once believed in the Ultimate Punishment.
Aggravating circumstances outweighing mitigating ones was no reason for me
to change my view simply because it was my life in question. Obviously, the people
of this great state think the world will be a better place with my death. I didn't
say safer, I said better.
The thought of finally attaining a sense of tranquility after embracing death
and losing the struggle, is very tempting.
Perhaps the prospect of accepting and inviting my greatest fear, death, into
my life, I virtually eliminate everything that governs my fate, disconnecting
me to my very existence, leaving no controls over my mind or emotions.
Such thoughts are terribly short-lived. Like many others, I've found a reason,
perhaps only apparent to myself, why I must live.
Despite being well-educated about the numerous disparities in our criminal
justice system, I'm constantly astonished at the depths of my plight, nearly immeasurable,
the realization that I'm only here for one reason, to die.
Will I ever fully appreciate the sanctity of life as I remold myself from
the wreckage that mine has become?
Clear to me after living amongst condemned men, is the myth behind the very
notion that Capital Punishment serves as a deterrent to murder.
A sick sense of justice, and perhaps some emotional closure for victim's families,
may be the only useful purpose one could imagine for the necessary evil in these
state-sanctioned killings.
Does the Death Penalty permit living victims to venture beyond the devastation
in the loss of their loved ones? In the context of the criminal justice system,
with its many decision makers, American Society remains profoundly afflicted by
the combined potential impact of current social and criminal justice policies
regarding the imposition of death as a punishment.
Recent and ongoing revelations of the persistent fallibility of the Death
Penalty have had an extraordinary impact on the public's view of Capital Punishment.
More than 600 men and women await execution here in California, the largest
Death Row in the nation. California's rate of serious errors in Death Penalty
cases is far above the national average, where, two out of three convictions are
overturned on appeal, primarily because of serious errors by defense attorneys
or because of police and prosecutorial misconduct.
Even more disturbing is the Federal Habeas Corpus Reform Act, the law which
expedites the Death Penalty process and, ironically as a result, reduces the very
opportunity that courts have to look for these errors, thus exacerbating an already
unfair set of guidelines and regulations.
Throughout the nation, politicans are scrambling for ways to restore faith
in a broken system. Having successfully convinced the public for so long that
the Death Penalty was an effective crime-fighting instrument, these same politicians
are now trying to discern how to respond to the dramatic change in public attitude.
The ever lonely struggle against the Death Penalty appears to have turned
a corner. As the public continues to lose faith in a flawed and unjust system,
it becomes our responsibility to continue exposing its fallibility and to press
toward alternatives.
Concerns regarding fairness and the huge risk of executing the innocent has
led the way into discussions about imposition of a moratorium on executions in
this state.
The Federal government and at least 11 other states are conducting thorough
reviews of their own systems. Moratorium legislation of some type or another remains
pending in some 18 states and, Federal legislation seeking a moratorium or other
reforms have been proposed in the United States Congress.
It is the moral integrity which continues to be on the line in this nation
as each and every execution under our current system tests our shared commitment
to due process and equality under the law.
So many problems of unfairness and violations of said due process are inherent
in the administration of the Death Penalty. Because of this, one must oppose Capital
Punishment.
Even if you're not categorically opposed, you may still share the concern
about fundamental fairness.
Whether you like it or not, it is a proven fact that innocent people have
been put to death, and each execution amid so many questions of simple fairness,
creates a tremendous crisis that demands immediate attention.
I oppose the Death Penalty but, I want you to make up your own mind.
Even if I'm unable to convice you that the Death Penalty should be abolished,
I hope that you will take the time to become informed and consider helping me
address the severity of perpetual problems associated with Capital Punishment.
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
This is why I write. The voice. I'm a prison author.
Michael Flinner
CDC V-30064
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, CA 94974
USA
© by Michael Flinner
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