Jose Cruz
I wish the world could read this letter so that they could know this:- Mental health care
- False offers of help from legal practitioners
- Advocacy
- Withholding mail access and oppressive communication policies
- Medical neglect
- Being met with silence by organizations
- Legal work from the inside
- Retaliation/abuse of the disciplinary system
- Addressing forced labor/prison slavery
- Care Work
- Addressing class inequities
- Addressing Racism
Jose Cruz
transcription
To who it may concern:
 I would like to know if you guys are
 offering the detailed legal education
 and empowerment curriculum? If so can
 you add my name to the JLI Network
 and send any avaiable modules and newsletters.
 I am really looking forward to have
 access to effective and relevant training
 that will equip me to meet diverse
 legal needs For us prisoners! Please
 address any correspondence to the name
 below. Thanks!
 Jose Cruz D.O.C # 233877
 1000 Van Nuys Road
 New Castle, Indiana 47362
Jose Cruz
transcription
Dear Tyler Watson, Jhody Polk,
 [Redacted]
 and to who may take time of their
 busy day to read this. Feel free to
 write me anytime,
 My name is Jose Cruz DOC 233877,
 I am a Immigrant of Guatemala
 who arrived here on Dec 19 of 1997.
 I had a rough childhood and that
 developed into a teenage life of
 addiction and bad decisions that led
 me to prison in august, 20, 2012.
 This is my First time ever being
 in trouble of this magnitude and
 never been in prison prior to this
 sad ordeal opened my eyes to how
 much lack of help to inmates is
 avaiable to help with court proceedings,
 or any court reliefs, or inmmigration
 guidance. I was incarcerated for murder
 and aggravated assault and was sentenced
 to 75 years, 65 for murder and 10 For Aggravated
 assault while other inmates who commited
 Worst crimes under same charges got less
 time who where white and had criminal
 history unlike me who never been in trouble
 got the max and thanks to
 meeting an inmate who is white
 helped me understanding that
 books is a tool I can use
 to help me and many others.
 I Filed my (Post conviction relief)
 a year ago and now is Just a
 matter of waiting to see what
 I can do to help others in
 my free time, I dont look
 at race as a factor to help
 on how to build a routine in
 this environment or build friendships
 however, the state of Indiana
 makes it hard to let us obtain
 and maintain a focus to learn
 what our rights and tools are
 at our disposal to get any help
 from courts. The IDOC is built
 to divide and conquer inmates way
 of thinking and in some instanses
 create tensions between white, Latino and
 black folks to have them take time
 From you based on their own creation.
 Its inspiring and helpfull you guys
 are writing me and others for that I thank you.
 Sincerely Jose Cruz
Jose Cruz
transcription
Dear Tyler Walton, Esq,
 I have received the clemency Package
 and I can't express how thankfull
 I am for such blessing. I Just Filed
 my post-conviction and currently working
 on my clemency, I would like for
 your help or guidance on my double
 Jeopardy and Innefective assistance issue
 On my case please I beg of you
 for guidance or [scribbled out word] advice for
 this nightmare Im currently going.
 God bless you!
 Sincerely,
 Jose Cruz
 D.O.C# 233877
Jose Cruz
transcription
Dear JLI Family,
 As I sit here today writing
 you back I am blessed and
 happy to have all of yall take
 time of your daily live's to
 respond to my letter's sharing
 what me and many others
 deal with on a daily basis.
 Recently I been having my
 mail among my access to
 law library and connect with
 loved ones tampered and blocked
 by unknown administration
 members at my facility, this began
 more often as soon as I
 started to write you guys, also
 I been a target of bullying
 due to correspondence with
 JLI'S because they have
 to make copies of everything
 since drug contraband on
 paper has sky rocketed.
 I am okay overall because
 this cause is worth it
 and I Fear others in
 Prisons accross the state
 might have it worst. I am
 currently been blessed by a inmate
 who I can truly trust him
 with my life who has been
 helping me with my Post-Conviction
 and writing this division out
 my county in Indiana to investigate
 the integrity in which my case
 was processed and looked at.
 I have issues with double Jeopardy
 and Ineffective assistance on
 my case, due to the overworked
 public defenders and lack of
 communication. I am left alone
 with my friend in prison to help
 me navigate my case. I filed
 my P.C.R almost 2 years ago
 and still have not met my
 public defender lawyer to discuss
 issues in my case. Many people
 with paid lawyers have done
 more in 3 months than me in 2yrs.
 I am hoping we can
 find a way to connect
 electronically so it's easier
 for me and whoever reads
 my ugly handwriting understand
 more and share more of
 what's going on in the prison
 system and what can we do
 to Fix it or begin to share
 ideas on how to help Inmigrants
 like me develop ways to not
 fight against the current of
 the river but learn how to
 flow with it and accomplish
 enough to Keep ourselves
 afloat and others no matter
 religion beliefs, race, color or political beliefs.
 Information to connect electronically:
 Jose Cruz D.O.C. Number: 233877
 www.connectNetwork.com /Portal
 Indiana Department of Corrections
 New Castle Correction Facility
 New Castle, Indiana / County: Henry
 Thank you again for all
 you give my JLI'S Family.
 you all are a light in my
 darkness and with your help
 and unselfishness lets work
 together to make everything we
 can control a better version
 on what it was meant to be
 to what it could be with
 a little attention and Passion.
 - Bless yall
 Peace & love
 - Sincerely
 [Signature] Jose Cruz
Jose Cruz
transcription
Flashlights Essay ! [Underlined]
 In 2012 I was convicted
 for Murder & aggravated assault
 and was given 75 years. This is
 my First time ever being in
 trouble, 11 years later I learned
 that a majority of my white
 counterpart's have gotten on average
 40 to 45 years on similar
 charges on some cases worst
 things were done and still was
 given 40 to 45 years. I am
 a Guatemalan Immigrant who
 had a drug problem a got
 with the wrong person and
 now here I am writing you guys
 how hard is to believe that
 me being an immigrant who
 got convicted of murder & aggravated
 assault where a white Female
 was Involved in my case got less
 time for killing her daughter and
 within inside these walls lots
 of white inmates have acknowledged
 that I was given all that time
 because of race, Immigration status,
 and white female being Involved in
 my case also the fact that
 I am not the only one who is
 an immigrant in the Prison system
 who has gotten harsh sentencing
 above sentencing guidelines. In
 2021 I Filed a Post-Conviction-Relief
 For double Jeopardy and Inneffective
 assistance out of Marion County,
 Indiana and almost 2 years
 later I am still waiting for
 any relief From the courts.
 A total of 5 inmates that I know
 of that filed post conviction relief
 or modification of time who
 are white have received relief
 from the courts, some have
 gone home and two are
 on brink of going home, one
 had over 30 years to go and
 got overturned for double Jeopardy
 issues and excessive sentencing.
 The state of Indiana is the
 most expect the unexpected about
 Justice being served with Prosecutors
 using emotions and not law to
 correct behavior for inmates
 instead there are many cases
 like mine which are being
 ignored due to being used as
 cattle so private prisons like
 G.E.O. can make more money
 by me being a Immmigrant
 and has developed mental
 health issues due to the
 lack of Programs and lack
 of care for correcting any
 previous trauma this hell has
 caused me. I have writen the
 governor, the president, and my
 own guatemalan consulate for
 any help and so far Im
 still waiting. Please tell people
 to stay the hell away from
 Indiana due to racism and
 inhumane living conditions in
 all prisons. I hope and Pray
 to God for help to get out
 of here the right way.
 Sincerely, My E.P.r.d is
 Oct. 14, 2048
 Jose Cruz
 D.O.C #233877
Jose Cruz
transcription
Flashlights Program!! [Underlined]
 Recently there has been a uptick
 of limitation to access of toenail
 clippers or Fingernail clippers due
 to punishing our whole unit for
 a few idiots doing illicit activities
 that prevent us to keep up with
 our hygiene. There is also a
 continuing issue to access haircuts
 or daily or at least weekly
 cell cLean out and it has
 Created a outbreak of "scabies"
 and "staph infection" to inmates
 who have to turn in 10 request
 slips to obtain medical attention
 by a doctor who takes more
 vacations than an Unemployed
 Person who don't like to work.
 Correctional officers have provided
 us the best answer that every
 other person, Probably hear's
 on a daily basis and it's always
 a "Ill email somebody and we
 will see what happens" or a "Don't
 come to prison unless you can bond out."
 That right there deflates you
 and it some instances makes you
 question your methods of
 Staying out of trouble and
 Just pedal to the medal.
 Recently a inmate nicknamed
 [Redacted] was slashed in
 the throat by a inmate who
 was taken off mental health
 medications and locked our unit
 down and Punished us For mental
 health Doctor [Redacted] in [Redacted], Indiana
 lack of visitation and taking people
 off their medication without notice.
 If you don't smile when you walk in
 if she comes and see's you every
 blue she quickly thinks your
 suicidal or Homicidal and at times
 she make's up stories about people
 she don't like within the Prison
 and tell's inmates so they can
 gossip and turn it into a drama
 Fiasco. I ask for whoever is reading
 this to talk to someone that
 cares and investigate this Prison
 or sue the prison because I guarantee
 a settlement before trial Just check
 records. Have a nice day!
Jose Cruz
transcription
Dear MR Walton,
 On October 16, 2013 I was
 sentenced to a term of 75 years
 on a murder and aggravated battery.
 These Two charges were the
 result of one Incident where
 the same in Jury that made
 the aggravated battery charge
 resulting in the death of my
 Victim.
 I signed a plea that, at
 the time, contained double
 Jeopardy due to the above
 explained situation. 75 years
 is more than the max I would've
 received had I went to trial.
 This created no benefit for me
 by pleading guilty.
 I was Ignorant to the law when
 I pled guilty and my lawyer told
 me this was the best he can do.
 The things I've been researching
 lately have shown me that my
 my lawyer was ineffective.
 I am now trying to obtain
 relief on a P.C. R. The thing
 is, Indiana has many gray zone's
 in the law. Any help in regards to
 how to challenge a double Jeopardy
 issue on a plea with a claim
 of ineffective assistance would be
 So helpfull.
 This is my first time being in
 Prison and the proccess that
 I been thru as Illegal Immigrant
 from guatemala and no education
 for a period of time, has made
 me skeptical of this entire process.
 I would like any independent Information
 you can give me so that I know
 if Im being lied to in this P.C.R.
 Process.
 IF you are able to put me in
 touch with a lawyer who can
 answer a few question's here
 and there I may have in the
 near future, I would be extremely
 grateful, I thank you for
 time and thoughtful letter
 you've sent me. Take care
 and I hope I hear from
 you soon.
 - Sincerely,
 Jose Cruz
 #233877

 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                    