Interview: Inmate Darrell Jones Speaks Out Against Massachusetts Prisons

Prison Abuse, Racism, Incarceration, the Prison System and Prison Commissioner Harold Clarke

Massachusetts ranks high among those prisons that are overcrowded. There is poor medical treatment, according to the inmates, prison racism, abuses, and poor nutritional food among some of the complaints. What Massachusetts prisons do have is a large number of Correctional Officers. In a state that is suffering from unemployment, and an over loaded budget, the hiring of Correction officers don't seem to be affected at all.

One Massachusetts inmate Darrell Jones (see other article)could see the abuses and racism in Massachusetts prisons, and decided to watch, take notes, and eventually report on an audio tape what he felt was going on. Upon release of the audio tape on the Internet, the next day he was thrown into "the hole." He was soon transferred from OCCC to MCI Norfolk, where he is currently housed.

Here is my interview with Darrell, where he speaks his mind on the issues of Massachusetts prisons, and what happened to him when he spoke out against the system. He speaks about a video he and others created to help prevent crime. When inmates try to help young people from committing crimes, their voices should be heard and not stifled. After all, who would know better than someone who has been imprisoned for so many years.

Darrell, can you give us a "Bio" of yourself?

I've been given the opportunity to provide a "BIO" on myself. As much as I appreciate such an opportunity, I know there is something extremely "larger than myself" that this space and time has to eventually unfold.

My Name is Darrell Jones. I'm 42 years old, and I am a brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and son to a family that has been destroyed by a "society of leadership" that has never taken the time to listen and investigate the truth.

I was falsely arrested and convicted in 1985 for the murder or a man I've never even met. This has been done by a system that has denied justice for both my family, his family, and in fact for the victim himself by not providing the closure of truth each of us deserved.