Behind These Walls

By JoAnn Erwin

Sexual harassment, lies, cover-ups, mistreatment of staff and inmates. These wrongs have happened at one time or other in the thirteen Kentucky state prison facilities. Every attempt is made to keep things that happen behind these walls quiet. The public does not know what goes on in a state prison. I have experienced all the above and more during my employment at Little Sandy Correctional Complex. I am Jodie Erwin, and this is my experience as a prison nurse. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joann Erwin
• Release date: May 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201784683

JoAnn Erwin

JoAnn (Jodie) Erwin was born in Olive Hill, Kentucky. She is the oldest of six children. She worked as a factory worker in Morehead, Kentucky till she lost her job in 2002. Seeking a more stable career she returned to college to pursue a nursing degree. Jodie was forty-seven years old when she went to nursing school. In December of 2005 Jodie graduated from the LPN program and went to work at a nursing home. It was 2012 when she took a position at a prison and her life was set on its current course. She would face some of the darkest and most difficult times of her life. Turning to writing Jodie has started a journey of healing by sharing her memories of being a prison LPN with her readers.

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Author Disclaimer:

JoAnn Erwin has written this memoir to the best of her recollection. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Early Life

My name is JoAnn (Jodie) Erwin. I was born and raised in Olive Hill, Kentucky, which is in Carter County. I was born on Thursday, April 18, 1957, in Grayson, Kentucky at Stovall Hospital. I am the oldest of six children. I have two younger sisters and three younger brothers. I lost one brother, Jack, in 2003. He was born Jackie Allen Buckler on April 13, 1961. He passed away on May 28, 2003, at the age of forty-two. I miss him every day. Jackie was a good man and something of a loner. He never married or had children. Some people are content being alone. I think he was one of them.

I have fond memories of my childhood and siblings growing up. My mother was a stay-at-home mom and my father worked construction. We were able to get by despite not having a lot. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents on both sides were all from Carter County as well. I have two adult sons and three grown wonderful grandsons. They range in age from twenty to twenty-five. I lost my oldest grandson in October 2021, in a motorcycle accident. A deer crossed the road in front of him and hit him. He died the next day from traumatic head injuries. Unfortunately, he was not wearing a helmet. I miss him so much and I am blessed to have had him and the wonderful memories I now cherish. I have had my share of heartache and know what it feels like to lose someone that I dearly loved.

I wrote this Memoir to bring people’s attention to the corruption that exists today at the state level of the judicial system in the state of Kentucky. I want the world to know about the sexual harassment I suffered at the hand of Warden Meko. All because I said no thank you to a drink date with him. He then retaliated against me by pulling my security clearance, which resulted in me losing my job as a Licensed Practical Nurse. This took place when I worked at Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Elliott County, Sandy Hook, Kentucky. I want readers to know about the ongoing injustice that exists in my case today and the relationship that exists between Judge Rebecca Phillips and the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC) in my case and the Barbara Lynch case. Ms. Lynch filed a wrongful death suit in Morgan County Circuit Court in 2015, 15 CI-00043. At the publishing of my book, Judge Rebecca Phillips has failed to enter her final ruling. This would allow my case to move forward and be heard by the KY Court of Appeals. I feel she will never render a final decision in my case unless steps are taken to make sure she does so. At this point, I have decided I will not pursue any other legal action requesting Judge Phillips to enter her final decision to the court in my case.

After my marriage to my first husband, I started my first job. I was nineteen years old. I bought my first car shortly after I started working. It was a 1968 Chevrolet Bel-Air two-door. It was not new, but it was dependable. It had a positive traction rear-end and was good in the snow. I learned early on that if I was going to work; I needed a way to get there. I paid for my car payment and insurance. I learned to budget our money. We always paid bills first. Sharing in the responsibilities of a home and family was a great life lesson for me. This is when I gained my independence. I enjoyed having my own money and being able to balance the responsibilities of raising a family. I worked in a garment factory, and my husband worked at an area grocery store. After a year or so, we were able to open a joint savings account. We set aside ten percent of our weekly paychecks. Soon, we had a nice amount tucked away.

Besides us both having full-time jobs, we also farmed. We usually raised a tobacco crop every year. Eventually, we were able to build a new home. Nothing fancy, but a comfortable home and a good place to raise our boys. Our marriage lasted fifteen years. My husband was injured on the job and became disabled. Our marriage slowly fell apart after that.

After our divorce, I had to work three part-time jobs to raise my two sons and pay the bills. This was when the job market had just become unstable. Their dad offered no help financially for them after our divorce. He quickly remarried and started a new family. He later told my sister; it was like he and I were never married after our divorce was final. I could not understand how he could forget about our sons.

He never called me to ask if they had food or if they needed anything. They received seventy-five dollars per month from his Social Security Disability benefits. I never asked him for anything for them. I would not give him the satisfaction. This is all they ever received from him. I was faced with rent and utilities. I had a car payment and auto insurance. I