My Day at Avenal State Prison for Men in California
by For those who have never been inside a state prison, here is an inside look into a volunteer’s day ministering inside a crowded California Prison and the spirituality of some of the thousands of men serving time there.
My name is Sister Veronica Brutosky. I am a Roman Catholic Sister of St. Joseph. I am seventy-five years old, a retired teacher, and somewhat new to detention ministry. On the Saturday before Christmas, at 9 a.m. on a very foggy morning in Fresno, California, I drove over to the Chancery to meet Father Jim Rude, a Jesuit priest, so as to get a ride with him, 140 miles round trip to Avenal Prison for men.
Avenal had been built for 2,920 inmates. Currently there are 7,582 give or take a few, crammed in there, (my numbers are approximate). There are no cells, no bars, just six separated prison yards with large rooms with bunk beds. California prisons are way overcrowded. Currently at Avenal, when a more dangerous prisoner is incarcerated there, to make room, a less dangerous one is shipped out to a prison in Mississippi, which means his family cannot visit him unless they have money for travel. Avenal is a level two prison, level five being the most dangerous.
I was warned not to wear blue, the prison color, or denim jeans, so as to be distinguished by the guards quickly in case I had pushed the alarm button which I was given to wear in case of trouble.
I wore long black pants, a white long-sleeved t-shirt, a dark green jacket and on top of that, a cinnamon colored coat which my family had given me. Fortunately, I decided to remove the green jacket when we got out of the car upon arrival because I felt more comfortable with just the long coat, which I never took off the whole day.
It was very cold all day, mostly in the 30’s and 40’s but I have to say the prison rooms themselves were nice and warm. We met Rodney Ornellas at the Cafeteria for the Staff. Rodney is the Catholic Chaplain there for all six yards. He is doing a superb job. At the time the preceding priest chaplain retired, no other priest could be found to fill the job, so Chaplain Ornellas took it on. He is well-known for being able to get priests to come to the prison for confessions and Holy Mass, and he is excellent for recruiting volunteers. It had taken six weeks for my clearance to come through and I had taken a workshop on what to do and what not to do in the prison. I still have an eight-hour class to take.
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post CommentDarrell
On December 31, 2007 at 2:04 am
My prayers are with you and your outreach. God bless you for what you are doing!
Sister Veronica
On January 3, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Thank you, Darrell. It is so good of you to pray for me. Please include Chaplain Ornellas, Father Jim, and the inmates and staff. I hope you will consider doing detention ministry, too.
Happy New Year!
FRANCES OLIVARES
On March 13, 2008 at 8:03 pm
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR VISITING AND ENCOURAGING OUR SONS. MY SON IS IN YARD 6. HAS BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR 8 YEARS. HE IS A FIRST TIMER. AND HAS 6 MORE YEARS TO GO. I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT GOD HAS A PLAN AND GREAT DESTINY FOR HIS LIFE. SO THANK YOU FOR POURING INTO HIS AND THE OTHER MENS’ LIVES. GOD BLESS YOU AND THE LOVING MINISTRY YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH!
Sister Veronica Brutosky
On May 11, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Dear Frances,
Happy Mother’s Day. You are a good mother. I can tell! It is good that you are encouraging your son not to give up his trust in Jesus. Tell him to be very careful who he spends time with in the prison. I will keep him on my prayer list so that the six years go by fast but fruitful for his growth as a good man. Blessings,
Sister Veronica Brutosky C.S.J.
Annita
On August 3, 2008 at 7:17 pm
My son just turned 30 years old this past March. He had paroled last Novemeber from SLO–CMC East. He was so grateful to be able to go to school again, hold a meager job, participate in his church community–until a vengeful, vindictive wolf among the sheep misinterpreted something he saw–did not speak with my son, assumed what he saw to be something it was not.Others in the church had also witnessed events—none but one vindictive wolf felt it necessary to write untruths to a parole officer. My son willingly came to the police on his first and only conviction,ashamed, alone and unrepresented, aware and willing to accept consequences for his actions. When notified by parole that an unfavorable report had been filed, he willingly returned to the parole office–and was arrested. He did the RIGHT things=–ans has received the WORST punishment. Now-having been re-institutionalized on the word of an ‘authority’ who had never spoken to him, his life has been assaulted while in an area that is supposed to be closely guarded to PREVENT assaults. Where are the so-called ‘correctional officers’ who are supposed to be preventing such assaults? They are no where near–they know who is in the shower, who is not, and when to look the other way so that such assaults will occur. They set UP the assaults to occur. My son has 14 staples in his head at the moment–but he may not survive to the end of the week, let alone until his sentence for ‘parole violation’ has ended, December of 2008. All for the sake of Christianity–while attending his church. My worst enemy is better trusted than a “GOOD CHRISTIAN” in wolf’s clothing. Where is someone to speak for the inmate’s as human beings? to protect them from the wolves wearing green and tan uniforms? To give them hope that there will be a day when their goodness will be received in the world as they struggle to overcome the illness of behavior which took them to dark places? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”–”let he who is without sin cast the first stone” If we are on this earth to minister to the souls of others, we ought to be making sure their body’s survive long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labors. If we are here to raise one another up, we ought to be protecting them from being beaten down. WHO will speak for the lives of those who are in most danger—those incarcerated men and women who are at the mercy of their captors? If actions are indeed to speak louder than words, prayer is only slightly valuable. Who will ACT to prevent atrocities being committed against those who have no power to resist? Please–just try to convince me there is a God who is even half as loving and kind as my SON insists God is.. convince me there is a God that forgives while my son is telling me how wrong it is to feel angry toward that God—convince me there is still Hope in a God that has turned a blind eye too many times, for too many years, to too many people who have paid the price too many times for their iniquities. Who will listen? Who will care? who will HELP? Keep “ministering” as you will–it gives you comfort, it gives thin hope–a fantasy–to people who have none at all. The reality is: there is nothing left to hope for but quick death, an end to suffering for us all. If you don’t believe the fox is guarding the hen house, look more closely at Avenal.
Brenda
On October 12, 2008 at 2:36 pm
This is what an Inmate did to my boys, He is now at Avenol Prison, The only thing he deserves is HELL, and that would be to good for him.
RE: Alfredo Escobar
CDC # J97861
Hearing date: December, 3 2008
Dear Parole Board,
My name is Brenda Tebbetts, my two sons Jeff and Shane Austin were victims of Alfredo and his brother Alfonso in 1994. Jeff was only 16 and Shane was 15. They were brutally attacked along with their friends who were only 15 as well. The mere thought of Alfredo ever getting Parole is unthinkable to me. Alfredo stabbed my son Jeff twice in the back with a knife so big that it severed his spinal cord at the T-2 level. Jeff is paralyzed from the armpits down. I have watched Jeff suffer everyday for 14 long painful years. Jeff has been hospitalized several times with near fatal complications, In Aug 2004, Jeff was in a coma for 8 days and he almost died. Jeff will never get out of that wheelchair. All of our lives have been forever changed; we live in a never-ending nightmare because of Alfredo’s actions. Shane was in the back seat of the Volkswagen when this happened and witnessed a horror that no child should ever have to see. Alfredo’s brother shot Jeff and Shane’s best friend Henry in the head twice, killing him instantly. Since Henry was sitting in the front seat, his blood and brains covered Jeff and Shane. Alfredo’s brother then turned the gun on Jeff and shot him while Alfredo was stabbing him in the back. Alfredo then broke out the back window of the Volkswagen with a tire iron and tried to stab Shane and his friend Nathan, who were both hiding in the floor. Jeff and Shane relive this nightmare repeatedly. This was a horrible, heinous bloodbath and Alfredo should have to pay for the rest of his life just as Jeff and Shane are paying for Alfredo’s actions with the rest of their lives.
Neither Alfredo nor Alfonso showed any remorse for their actions, in fact they sat and stared at us, making faces throughout the trial. I do not believe they were remorseful then and I do not believe they are now. They deserve to spend their lives behind bars. My son Jeff will never enjoy things like walking on a beach or making love to a woman, even the simplest things in life are a struggle for him, such as getting dressed or taking a shower. If my son is never to enjoy life’s simple pleasures then Alfredo should never be able to either.
Is this the kind of person you would want out on the streets with your kids or grandkids?
Sister Veronica Brutosky
On October 13, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Dear Annita,
I apologize that I had not gone back to my article to check on messages from you. Today, Oct. 13, is the first time I have read what you wrote and it is heartbreaking indeed! I believe in the Justice of God and that bad people will have to face their just judge someday. Although I do not know your son’s name, God knows when I pray for him. I hope he will identify himself to me when I go to minister in yard 6. He also needs to speak with Chaplain Rodney Ornellas, a really strong and smart chaplain who tries very hard to take care of all his men. Encourage your son to go to Chaplain Ornellas’ events and religious services even if your son may not be a Catholic, he is very much invited and will feel warmly welcomed. Blessings on you, dear mother of a suffering son. You are so much like the Blessed Mother of Jesus Who was shamefully treated and wrongfully accused. It is our sins that bring down evil into the world. Your friend, Sister Veronica
Sister Veronica Brutosky
On October 13, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Dear Brenda,
Your letter to the parole board is so very well written and I hope it influences the parole board. It is a horror story indeed.
It is heart-wrenching and you have my deepest sympathy. I know it is hard to believe that God allows such things to happen. I know it is difficult to believe that your sons’ guardian angels were on duty at the time. Redemptive suffering is suffering that is united by your intentions to the sufferings of Jesus Christ for all sinners, but as we know, not all sinners repent and you and I know where they go when they die. So do unite your pain to that of Jesus and you and your sons will reap a glorious crown in heaven. Of course that does not help allay the pains now on earth but all I can say is that being united to Jesus is the greatest thing! I hope you wrote the letter to the parole board because they will not see it on this site.
You are a good mother. May God answer your prayer.
Blessings, Sister Veronica, your friend.
mary haro
On February 3, 2009 at 2:23 pm
i too have had my life torn apart by an inmate at Avenal. He fatally shot and killed my mother- his wife. mother if his children 6 times as she tried to flee, continued to blame her for his actions. He continues to blame her for \”his\” crime. I still have not heard him acknowledge his guilt, nor remorseful for this murder. He continues to blame his children for not forgiving him. He has stated we are wrong in not forgiving him, God wants us to forgive him. Yet he brought the priest to my mother when she would not return, he promised God he would not harm her. He would be a better man. So i feel they may be many who do go to the ministry with true intentions and remorseful for their crimes, but there are those like my father that will say and do whatever will get them released. When i see that his heart has trully embraced God and he sees his betrayal to his wife- family- God then i will give him forgiveness, but i will not waver with the crocodile tears. Crying as he sees my sister and i at the parole hearings, but yet when he is denied condems us in the name of God.
Veronica Brutosky
On September 3, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Dear Mary,
God has a lot of work to do in this man\’s soul. When I visit the yards I talk to them about Divine Mercy and Hell. I teach them about repentance. Most of all I pray for them so that grace can penetrate the darkness of their souls and the misunderstandings they have. It may be risky for me to say it, but sometimes forgiving a person changes a person. Right now you are both at a stand off and you both think you are right. If you forgive him, he may change. However, I can see it is scary to think of him out on the street again and you in danger. So I think God will monitor the situation closely as God does in all situations. God is working in your soul and his. Know that any sin has a residue in the soul and Satan loves to use that residue to ensnare a person into more evil. Prayer and love and forgiveness is the Catholic answer.
All the best to you and your family,
Sister Veronica
Veronica Brutosky
On September 3, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Dear Annita,
I hope you see this and have seen the comment I made above. Please tell me if your son died or what has happened to him.
Did he file a wrongful arrest claim? Has your family sued the person who lied about your son? Get some legal help if you can. Please get back to me. Call the Fresno Diocese and they will tell you how to get in touch with me privately.
Love and prayers,
Sister Veronica Brutosky
Michelle Brodie
On July 4, 2011 at 11:18 am
Dear Brenda, I was looking through this site as I am trying to get hold of you, Its Michelle a very good friend of Jeff’s. Unfortuanatley I am unable to sign on to my usual email account so cannot get old of her.
Jeff is an amazing person and a very beautiful man. What he has to deal with everyday puts us all to shame, I did nit realise the true extent of what Jeff and Shane had been through. Please contact me Brenda, how to tho I am unsure!!
Lots of love Michelle