Prisoners and COVID 19

I correspond with a man serving a life term in a Chino, California prison. He abetted a murder when  he was a teenager. He seems to have found Jesus  behind bars  and has become a  Christian.  He has lost any residue of violence left from his youth. An inmate  for at least 40 years, he says he has used up all his requests for a retrial.

A friend asked me to write to him since he has no family or anyone who cares about  him. I suppose some would call me a bleeding heart, but when  I try to walk in his shoes for a while, I feel  like writing a letter once in a while is the least I can do. I also send him jokes and crossword puzzles  which he enjoys.

Jim (not his real name) shares a cell with another “cellie” who is often angry or even violent,  without any recourse for a change. He falls into the category of reformed prisoner, who has served his time and is no longer a threat to society. Instead of being released, he is exposed  to the coronavirus in an overcrowded prison.Without testing there is no way of knowing who has the virus and who doesn’t.

Please say a prayer for Jim and other inmates who live in fear of contracting COVID 19. We might remember they are our brothers too. Recall that  Jesus reached out to the criminal who died with him and promised, “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Someday we could meet some of these prisoners in our heavenly home.

(On May 28, a large outbreak of COVID 19 cases in Chino prison caused officials to transfer 700 prisoners  to 12 other prisons in California. All had tested negative.Thousands of inmates have been released to enable social distancing. Seven inmates have died of complications from the virus since the beginning of March.)