[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS

[Rick Halperin]

Prison system backs off change on death-row visits
August 21, 2006

Dear All,

Today, TDC decided to hear the voice of reason and I wanted to thank
all for your support. It meant a lot to me personally and I am sure it
means even more to the men and women on death row. I feel no sense of
victory and none of us should, but a strong sign that we must open
and maintain the dialog with both TDC and the Polunsky Warden to
resolve such matters peacefully before it gets out of control.

I would like to add that it is vital for ALL visitors (from overseas
or otherwise) to strictly respect the rules (correspondance and
visitation). We have lost many privileges over the years because visitors
violated the rules, sometimes purposely,
sometimes in good faith. Someone new to this may feel that by
cheating the system they have won something, but believe me we all
lose in the long term and mostly our friends on the row are the big
losers. Respect works both ways, whether we like or not. If a rule
change seems necessary we can all work together with the proper authorites
to implement chages, breaking the rules adds unnecessary pressure for all
concerned.

To conclude I would like to add that at no point did I feel that
Warden Massey was at fault,
merely enforcing a system, maybe over-zealous and under a lot of
pressure, but certainly
I hope he won't be sanctionned  for it. In his days as assistant
warden at the same unit,
he was a decent man, fair and open to conversation, let's hope that
now we will get back
to productive conversation rather than one-sided  decisions.

Anyway, thank you all very much for your support. The petition will
be closed tonight now that TDC has officially anounced the change of
policy.

Let's be sensible about the whole thing, enjoy your visits and don't
play with fire.

Best to you all.

Sandrine Ageorges
France
sandrine.ageorges at free.fr