On December 12, 2009, I was leaving a friend’s. I admit, I had two beers, but since I lived in the middle of nowhere and was only two miles from home, I didn’t realize what damaging affect it would have on my life.
My passenger, who was also very intoxicated for he had been drinking vodka and orange juice since ten am that morning started an argument, wanted to be my future husband, grabbed the steering wheel as we were coming down an icy hill. We spun around, hit a tree.
I walked away, with only a fractured wrist, he had a fractured hip. Although, he was telling me to my face, he didn’t hold a grudge, it was just an accident, he filed a DWI and a lawsuit.
I was arrested five months, from the date of the accident. I was put on nine months probation. I could have spent five years in prison.
I had a chest cold, and since I was raised in a culture not to take over the counter cold medicine, I took two teaspoons of whiskey, honey and lemon. My mistake, again; since I took it at nine am in the morning, I didn’t think it would still be in my system. I went to see my probation officer at one pm. She did a breath test and it showed. I was screwed.
Two days later, I got papers in the mail, to appear in court. I admitted to the judge what had happened. He sentenced me to four days jail time, for violating probation, despite my culture and beliefs.
I had talked with a couple of people I knew had been there, for a shot period of time, (nothing serious) and they had told me it wasn’t that bad.
But, things that had happened since they had been there, changed things.
So it sucked, but I know now not to do anything that will send me back there, No way!
One thing I feel that was abuse is, even though the men’s department had flushed the pillows down the toilet, the women were punished also. So, I had to use one of my blankets as a pillow.
We were not allowed to go outside, for previously two prisoners had tied to escape, even though it was winter time, here in Michigan, it still would have been nice to go outside and get some fresh air.
We were only allowed to go to the library / exercise room when the corrections officer had the time. They allowed the women to go once in the time I was there.
And, I guess the most thing that really sucked was we were only allowed one towel, one wash cloth and clean clothes every other day.
After I was released, I got home and hit the shower. I took four showers that day and vowed never was I going back again.
Thank God my new boss who understood, so I still had a job. I took every dime, from the next two paychecks and paid off my probation fees so they could get out of my life.
I have now gotten this nightmare behind me, I really think someone needs to stand up for future inmates. To me this was a form of abuse.
