Bamboozled (18 page)

On April 7, 2011, while listening to Amy Winehouse's
Love is a Losing Game
eleven times, Joey wrote a letter to commissioner Anderson which he made 50 copies. He began mailing a new copy to Anderson every few days.

Joey says for awhile every day felt closer to freedom.

But then a new man walked into Joey's cell. He hit Joey's right eye, then delivered a hook, then connected a head-butt. Joey claims he broke his old typewriter over the man's head, ending the fight. While adrenaline was pumping and he was in survival mode, Joey says he stepped over the body, put a book in the hinge so they would not be locked in the cell together, dragged the man into the shower, kicked him in the teeth, and walked back to his cell with a cut and swollen face.

Joey was pissed to lose his typewriter but says he could not report the incident, for a write up of any infraction deemed to be his fault would result in another five year denial from the parole board.

Days later, Joey saw the same man in the yard talking to himself and eating grass. He found out a week later that the man ran in on him because Joey had refused to give him a cup of coffee and that others were eating Joey's discarded trash before him.

Joey claims he did not remember this guy but does find it amazing how much other inmates clamor for his apple cores and rotting food. He does remember that once an inmate brought him a
Sports Illustrated
magazine he had tossed the day before, trying to exchange it for a cup of coffee.

Joey stood at the door, awaiting an interview with his counselors, wondering what they could want. Prison counselors can prevent a transfer or other such complications.

Joey entered and Counselor Bond, a rough, old school Marine freshly back from Iraq, stated that he would be writing Joey's updated parole board report and was given permission to sit in on the parole board hearing. The counselor urged Joey to obtain “parole plans.”

The state needed to know that Joey had a residence and a job awaiting him. Joey explained that everyone in his family was dead and asked how he could obtain parole plans from inside. Who would send a letter stating they'd hire a convicted murderer serving
life
upon release? How do you find a new residence from a cell?

Joey called Katie Alsobrook, a new friend that he'd begun writing and talking to on the phone. She offered to help him in any way she could. Joey got back in touch with Sister Sean from the Catholic church in Los Angeles. He had sent her drawings to sell at church fundraisers and in return she offered to provide him with a place to stay if he could come up with $500.

The way the parole system works, a convict is released right back to the same locality from which they were living before arrest. So convicts with a background of gangs or drugs, or who are simply marked for death, are released into the same streets where the same elements are waiting for them, often into their old habits. When someone in trouble is released from prison back to their old neighborhood, there are almost always hundreds of people waiting, eager to kill them. If a released convict flees the county, they are marked as “fugitive on the run and parole violator.”

State officials endure enough bureaucracy that they rarely address this reality and their interests remain in parole violations and, as a result, creating a system of recidivism.

Joey fears that even if he found a way out, anyone who remembers him from saving a prison guard or working with the FBI might see to making a quick end of him.

Four months later, Joey obtained the credits needed for parole. He wrote to Commissioner Anderson informing him of
this but not did receive a response. Joey wrote a second time and to officers who had helped him over the years. Joey was informed by Counselor Bond that he needed to obtain some “Laudatory” chronos, or what we might call letters of support.

Re:
Joey Torrey – #V21699

Dear Board of Parole Hearings Members,

My letter affirms Joey Torrey in his release back into the community. Mr. Torrey has served thirty-years in prison. He has used his incarcerated years well to grow into maturity, sensitivity, improve himself educationally and to expand his marketable skills. Mr. Torrey is an excellent artist with exceptional talent. Likewise, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the way in which he has used his talents to help at-risk youths is extraordinary. Joey's involvement and presence in programs such as Boxers Against Drugs (BAD) and New Mexico's Youth Development Inc (YDI) have given at risk youths an example of hope and change. Mr. Torrey's dedication to helping others is remarkable.

Through the Partnership for Re-Entry Program, we support Mr. Torrey in housing at Francisco Home –
40th:

1224 W. 40
^th
Place, Los Angeles, CA 90037.

Or at Francisco Home – Leighton:

1135 Leighton Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90037.

The first location houses eight persons and the second up to fourteen people. Both are transitional living homes for men that are close to public transportation and within a couple of blocks of each other. Residents are required to attend house meetings weekly, which include a Bible study and an AA meeting. If it is necessary, Francisco Homewill support Mr. Torrey in attending additional regular AA or NA meetings in the neighborhood. We ask for $100 deposit and $500 monthly rent, adjustable according to employment. We work with each individual to assure that financial resources are not a limitation for their housing. Availability of room is assured, but the location at either home will be determined at the time of release.

I also offer a position in the Office of Restorative Justice when he is released. The position is for clerk in the Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP), a mentoring program that supports parolees upon release. This is a volunteer position to help with the transition. The position would include filing, letter writing, phone calls, computer work, and generally supporting us in our work to reintegrate parolees into society. Additionally, PREP works in partnership with Ernest Roberts at PV Jobs [
www.pvjobs.org
] and guarantees Mr. Torrey an interview with Juan Alvarado, job developer, upon release. Mr. Torrey has learned marketable skills that will enable him to enter the job field. PREP will support Mr. Torrey until he secures a job and affirms him in his return to society through the community of Los Angeles.

Mr. Torrey's years of detention have given him a new perspective of life and a desire to be a conscientious, law-abiding and self-sufficient citizen of the community. He has taken his rehabilitation seriously and has proven this by his active involvement in BAD, YDI and countless other at-risk youth organizations. Surely the prophet Isaiah speaks to the justice system when he says:
“Comfort, O comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…he has served his term”.
I implore you consider finding Mr. Joey Torrey suitable for parole release when he appears before you.

I remain,

Sister Mary Sean Hodges, OP

Director, Partnership for Re-Entry Program, PREP

213-438-4820 ext. 23

CC
: Mr. Joey Torrey

CCI Bond

NAME and NUMBER:
TORREY, JOEY, C-475S4 or V-21699 (B10-150L)
CDC-128-B (Rev. 4/74)

Recommend that Inmate Torrey be considered for release on his next available Board of Prison Hearing (BPH). I met l/M Torrey at CTF-Central over twenty years ago when his CDCR # was C47554. I/M Torrey has always been truthful, respectful and acted with the utmost integrity when interacting with staff. In 2004, we again crossed paths at MCSP, where I was the CCII Supervisor on Facility B.

When Torrey and I were on B Facility at MCSP, Torrey had just been returned to prison from a release on an appeal bond. Many things had been happening that were detrimental.to Torrey's period of incarceration. These things included his being issued another number (V21699) which also resulted in the deletion of the previous twenty-plus years he had already served. On numerous occasions, I sat with Torrey to encourage him to maintain his positive attitude, to stay on course and to not lose hope that he would prevail. Torrey always maintained his positive attitude, educated himself and kept insight into his crime, all the while patiently waiting for the system to catch up to the situation.