Blogging
I started this blog six months ago and thought that if I put the information out there to help people who have loved ones in prison that it would be sufficient and people would find it. Since then I’ve attended blogging seminars and joined a local blogging group and learned that it takes a lot more. They said that I need to blog (or write) at least once a week and add pertinent as well as personal information.
The blog was set up to provide valuable information to those who have a loved one in prison. Even though the information provided in the site can apply to everyone, it also needs to provide more specific information. So going forward you’ll notice more stories about incarceration, visitation and release. Keep in mind the information provided is targeted towards the families and friends of the incarcerated. When you watch shows such as Orange is the new Black, it focuses mainly on the incarcerated, with snippets of how the family and friends of the incarcerated are affected. There are also other shows and documentaries that tell stories of the incarcerated. Where is the helpful information for the families and friends that are affected? That is the purpose of this site.
If other bloggers who have the same intentions and want to share information that would be great and we’ll include it. The goal of the blog is to be helpful and provide knowledge to those that read it. So really, it doesn’t matter where the information comes from, as long as it is valid, legal and honest. Valid in that it provides quality information that can be confirmed. Legal in that it is in accordance with internet, blogging, and publishing laws. Honest in that any stories provided are real and not hearsay or vindictive. I want to keep this site as positive as possible despite the topic.
Sharing
So in the Prison: The Hidden Sentence blog, under Prison Resources is a link to a site that lists resources with valuable information. As I find more sites with helpful information they’ll be added to the Resource section.
What is the difference between a jail and prison? Jails are typically run by local law enforcement or governments and designed for short sentences, typically under a year. This is where a person is housed when awaiting trial. Prisons are typically run by state or federal governments and designed for longer sentences. Stay tuned as there will be a blog written in more detail about these.
We’ll also start publishing our own new stories and interviews that will be written, have pictures, audio and/or video. Still learning about the audio and video so that will be a future endeavor, but not too far away.
Keep Going
Even though having a loved one incarcerated or in the legal system is tough, we need to continue living our lives and to be able to laugh and still have fun. I remember when I first started visiting my brother in prison that the other visitors would be talking and laughing and children would be playing. I couldn’t understand how they could be so joyful visiting prison. Shouldn’t everyone be sad and somber because it was such a sad experience? Then I learned that it is okay to laugh and joke and play when visiting. Most prison visiting areas have games for both adults and children; some also have books and toys for children. This is how many people keep the family intact and keep their loved one informed of what is going on outside of the prison walls. They keep the family going so when the times comes (for those non-lifers) for their loved ones to come home that they will still be a family unit. That they will be able to move on and continue life for the times their loved one is incarcerated and for the time their loved one comes home. My first visit was on Valentine’ Day, and of all things there was a wedding! You could imagine the disbelief from my parents and me. Too much to write here so that will be another blog.
Even though in a sense you are serving the sentence, too, there has to be joy in your life. So I’m working on developing a section in Prison: The Hidden Sentence, a blog of encouragement, learning, and fun. No matter what happens in life we learn and grow from it. It’s those toughest moments that bring out our strength; strength that sometimes we didn’t know that we had. You are not alone, we are on this journey together and we will get through it.
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