How can you live locked in a Texas jail? The most brief answer could be terribly; but this word can't give a clear picture to someone who doesn't know the daily life of a man sentenced to death. Until recently, Eugene, together with about more than 400 people, was detained in the Ellis Unit of Huntsville, Texas. There, although staying in the worst jail conditions in America (maybe even the worst jails in the world), the prisoners had comfortable enough cells, they could listen to music on the radio, and also watch television. The television sets were hung on the wall and watched by 3 or 4 prisoners at the same time. After that, the jail administration decided to move all of the prisoners to a new highly-secured jail in Livingston, Texas, the Polunsky Unit.

During the move, as you see in certain movies, the jail guards enforced all the possible inhumane rules. The prisoners were moved in groups of 40-50 people, woken up at 4 a.m., taken outside, totally naked to have physical inspections and were then left in the piercing cold for hours since the move happened during the winter. The guards didn't even consider the fact that the prisoners might feel uncomfortable standing stark naked in front of the female guards that were present.

So those men, like animals going to the slaughter, got on the bus with great difficulty. They sat on the bus chained together for an hour until arriving at the new jail. After getting off the bus, still in chains, they were led to their cells where they were finally released from their chains and they could get dressed.

In the new jail, the cells are very small, with one small opening to let air come in, but the opening is so high up that no one can see anything outside. Obviously there aren't anymore television sets, but, at least, there is air conditioning.

(At left, how the television sets were hung on the wall in the Terrell Unit).

To be more conformable, the prisoners had to find a way to get some wool sweaters for the winter and fans for the summer, but the jail didn't supply either of these. That's why if a prisoner is able to get money from someone, a relatives or friend, he has to use it to get these types of simple things.

Ironically,none of those things can be brought in to the jail by a visitor, but they have to be purchased through the internal sales of the jail (i.e. $11.50 for a fan, but they are really cheap and do break down pretty fast).

The food for the most part is inedible, therefore, the prisoners who have money barter for better food at exorbitant prices.

Go to Part 2

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