The Lebanon Experience (Part 2) by: Desmond J. Isom

I’ve even written a letter to the (CIIC) Correctional Institution Inspection Committee of Ohio General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio about the abuse (assault) on inmates by the staff here at Lebanon Correctional Institution. And had my family call Columbus about these matters still we’ve received no help. But I have been threatened about my well being & framed by staff here for a (Rule 36) conduct Report Ticket of being in possession or manufacture of a weapon, ammunition, explosive or incendiary device. In other words they planted an knife on me after me and my family continued to press the issue of the ongoing harassment & trying to get hardship (transfer) back up north closer too my family. Because of this I was denied my transfer this prison mentality deficiency jeopardize my safety & growth towards change due to its numerous acts of harassment, retaliation, & violence in their actions. Which goes against related ACA Standards of employee conduct & that of the (ODRC) policies. All these actions from staff here at Lebanon interferes with the growth of my relationships with my family, personal growth, religion, and my inner thoughts. It’s caused unnecessary stress on my love ones behind their consisted worries of my safety here at this institution. I’m being trageted due to the fact that I’m a out spoken black male from Cleveland, Ohio that studies Islam and won’t just let them disrespect me without voicing my opinion on the matter. They have me labeled as a gang member (Heartless Felon) and, I’ve never been apart of this movement ever! Yes I have made mistakes in life behind poor decisions but labeling me apart of something that I’ve never been apart of not only jeopardize my safety in prison behind mistaken identity or association but it also jeopardize my well being in the free world (society), because this tag shows up once I’m free as well. We all know how police are playing god as if its their right to decide who lives or dies. I grew up in the same neighborhood that police shoot & killed 12 yr old Tamir Rice November 23, 2014. If they shoot and killed a child with no regard, how do you think they’ll handle matters with me during a basic routine stop once this false label shows that I’m part of a security threat group that the city authorities hate with a passion? They’ll shot first with no regard to the fact that I’m a father who’s worked hard towards growth & change in both my behavior & life. Do you think that the news (media) cares of getting their facts right before airing their story about what the police would call an justified shooting? HELL NO! Will they talk about the fact that during my incarceration that I finished two majors in both Business Management & Basic Business from Ashland University College thru their outreach program with a 3.3 gpa? Or what about my certifications from the Ohio Central School System in Graphic Art Design for (Book Making in InDesign Binding & Finishing as, well as Graphic Communication Brand Identity) and the fact I’m working on an urban novel trilogy as, well as trying to start my own publishing company? I highly doubt it!!! As I have stated before these acts of harassment & retaliation affects my overall well being towards that change & growth as, well as my relationship with family, personal struggles, religion, & my most inner thoughts. For example: Sometimes I feel what’s the point in even trying to change when everyone is excepting me to do the same shit anyway? Or the fact that these Co’s here feel as though they can disrespect you why take their bullshit just spazz out and hurt or break something on one of them. But those self defeating thoughts only hurt my love ones behind those selfish acts. An older brother gave me a poem to read and it stated
” If you get what you want in your struggle for self and the world makes you king for a day then go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that man has to say
For it isn’t a man father,mother,or wife whose judgement upon him must PASS the fellow whose verdict counts most in his life is the man staring back from the glass
He’s the fellow to please, never mind the rest for he’s WITH YOU clear up to the end and you’ve passed your most dangerous, DIFFICULT test if the man in the glass is your friend
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years and get pats on the back as you pass but your final REWARD will be heartache & tears if you’ve cheated the man in the glass”
What I got from that is…
“In order to become the MAN you want to be, you must first change the MAN you are NOW!!!”
So I guess what I’m trying to say to the viewers of this blog who have family behind the walls don’t give up on them. Because that just makes it easier for them to give up on themselves. And let them know that they can’t just take the easy way out when shit gets hard because that’s giving up on themselves before the real fight even starts. Nothing worth having in life comes easy so they must continue to fight the GOOD FIGHT just as we did when we fought so hard to do wrong. NOTICE THAT I SAID WE BECAUSE I’VE DONE THE SAME THING BEFORE TOO! KNOW THAT YOUR DESTINED FOR GREATNESS & WITH THE LOVE & SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY & YOUR OWN DETERMINATION TO DO BETTER YOU CAN & WILL… God Bless!!!!

Desmond Isom
DOC #A670-294