Gardenia Jackson
19 years, 7 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine
base
My name is Gardenia Jackson. I am serving a ten-year to life
sentence under the federal mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines.
As I write this, I am
looking back over
the past eight years of my life in this federal prison. My mind
has been stretched to the limits of sanity. Mostly, I cannot
fathom how and why in any way I should be spending this staggering
amount of time behind this razor wire, away from my beloved son,
Alex.
I was a drug addict. Today? Most of the time I lose all strength
to fight; my days are consumed with worry over my son and his
well being, afraid that I may lose him to the cold, cruel streets.
In order to help care for Alex financially I work at the government
run factory, UNICOR, which pays very little per hour. After purchasing
personal items for myself, I send the remainder home to help
care for my son. He is only eleven years old, and at that age
there is very little that he can do for himself.
I am a nonviolent drug law violator with a sentence much harsher
than many violent offenders. I have acknowledged and accepted
responsibility for the wrongs I committed during my drug-induced
past, but I cannot accept that it's right for me to lose all
this time apart from my child's life. Every day I hope and pray
for comfort and one more chance at a fulfilling future with my
son, and to live and work as a role model for him and other minors
in a large, parentless community where stumbling blocks are a
major part of life.
Yes, I have lost the connection with the natural rhythm of life
because of all these years serving an unjust sentence, but with
time, perseverance, and determination I can reassimilate myself
into the outside community through infinite grace and wisdom.
I refuse to allow this cruel and unusual punishment to defeat
me or define me. I am a person, a woman, and a mother. I refuse
to give up and let my son become a victim of this vicious cycle.
I am a loving mother in a very precarious situation, I made some
mistakes, but I don't feel that taking away my life, and leaving
my son without his mother is "just" punnishment.
Gardenia Jackson 47633-004
FCI Tallahassee
501 Capital Circle NE
Tallahassee, FL 32301
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