Invisible Handcuffs: Colorado Community Corrections (Halfway House) for Women

By Tammy Garrett-Williams

Do not get too comfortable while reading “Invisible Handcuffs” This book will make you think you are dreaming and you will want to wake up, but the reality of this dream is, IT’S REAL! You may not want to have another bowl of Oatmeal and if you miss a phone call, it could it cost you, your freedom.
The minds of the victim(s), wondering what happens now that an inmate resides in a Halfway House? How does this affect the community?
This book is especially for families and friends who has someone in Jail or Prison planning to come to Community Corrections, you should understand what factors goes into their loved ones successfully completing such a program as a Community Corrections Resident.
This book is great reference for an inmate of Department of Corrections (DOC). They will get a chance to see and understand that Community Correction is not what they possibly think it is.
Great read also for Judges, Lawyers and Parole/Probation Officers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312413795

Book preview

Invisible Handcuffs: Colorado Community Corrections (Halfway House) for Women

Invisible Handcuffs

Colorado Community Corrections (Halfway House) for Women

cover for invisible handcuffs.jpg

ISBN:  978-1-312-41379-5

Copyright

Unless indicated.  All Stories quotations are taken from real people within a Colorado Community Corrections environment © 2014, by Tammy Garrett-Williams.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

Tammy Garrett-Williams

P O Box 16652

Golden, CO 80402

Printed in the United States (USA)

First Edition

The publisher is not responsible to websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher

ISBN 978-1-312-41379-5

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my best friends Terry and Sandra Little.  You both believed and trusted in me during the most difficult time of my life and I pray that God continues to bless the both of you the way he has blessed me to be a part of your family.  You’ve paid it forward!

To the woman (Gloria Garrett) who gave birth to a baby girl, you never knew what a special daughter I could be.

To Tyrone, Charles and my Granddaughter Kayla Garrett.  Tyrone & Charles you have seen my experiences and I am proud that you did not become a product of the system.  You both are a product of my success.  I know I raised you right.  Love you all.

To John-Mark Gladstone.  You were there for me.  This was the most difficult time of my life and you comforted me with your love, letters and support. You also kept me focused on God’s love for me.  Thank you.

Acknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge Brandi H and Empowerment. They have given me so much encouragement as I took care of myself as I wrote this book.

Thanks Nicole H for the laughs and cries we shared while I was going through many trials at this facility.

I would like to acknowledge Wanda Grier for being supportive of my book and for being a good friend and a good Bible study partner.

I would like to acknowledge Elanna for helping me to realize I have value and a voice.

Thanks Dr. Amie for understanding the circumstance I was in and for helping in every way you could.

Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the most important person in my life GOD. I thank YOU because without YOU this book could not have come into these readers hands.

Why I wrote Invisible Handcuffs

The completion of this book is something I’ve wanted to do as soon as I was released from Community Corrections.  I hope that I brought everyone mentioned in this book to life and I did what I said I would do. Tell your story.

Table of Contents

Terminology - DOC/Diversion/Levels

Fresh Blood

Roommate Reality

Ten o’clock Confusion

The Interview

Unrelated Education

Right On! – Write Ups

Protection?  Call Dr. Jokes

Me, Resident Counsel, Nah!

Insanity Gone Wild

High Hope to No Hope

Meals under Wheels

To Work or not to work

A Ticket out of Hell

In Conclusion

References

About the Author

Tammy Garrett-Williams resides in Golden, Colorado, served a total of 18 months of a 4 year sentence in Colorado Department of Corrections.  She has successfully completed her term in Department of Corrections and Community Corrections. She is currently on parole.  Tammy Garrett-Williams has two adult boys which locations are in Phoenix AZ and Denver, CO and a granddaughter.

Tammy’s positive attitude and strength in pursuing her goals, is why she has become the voice for the people on the inside, and she has a profound insight for understanding matters regarding the inside soul of someone in the situation of Invisible Handcuffs that’s why she felt the need to write this book.

Her current education is in Business and she is currently pursuing a further education in Theology.  She will use this further education to build a ministry reaching out to individuals like the ones you will read about. 

She is also the author of another outstanding book coming soon called, Will & Grace What? God’s gifts I did not deserve?

Her ability to write Invisible Handcuffs will let you see and feel each situation a person in Community Corrections experiences.  Her dynamic writing is clearly executed in, Invisible Handcuffs.

Introduction

I would like to first say, thank you for your interest in reading Invisible Handcuffs.  I feel this book will give you an inside look at how a Community Corrections Center is ran.  The stories you will read are true but the names have been changed to respect the person or persons involved.

Colorado Community Corrections from my understanding is an institution aimed toward the ability to assist offenders whether they are coming from Jail or Prison, to help them with transitioning back into society and becoming a successful individual as they are welcomed back to their homes with families and friends and possibly a new support system.

Community Corrections is supposed to be a bridge from incarceration to freedom, but in some of the residents’ eyes, Community Corrections is just another money making business and its attention is not truly on the success of the residents, but on the profit for their businesses.

I have experienced each person’s story told in this book, and you will see how I too have come to that conclusion.

I spent eleven months in this environment before I reached parole.  I can say the things I experienced here led me to not only write this book, but I am the person who will be the voice for women who are not strong enough to discuss a topic such as this, to a curious audience.   Have you wondered, What goes on inside Community Corrections?  Or How does my tax dollars help rehabilitate inmates, or does it really rehabilitate?

This book will also give you the insight to what your spouse, daughter, sister, cousin etc. may be experiencing while in such a place. It may also explain their behaviors to certain situations that you’ve noticed when you were visiting with them or if they are on pass at their pass-site and even when they are released. It may seem their behavior has changed, but not for improvement.

I was happy when I