beesy said:
as lauriej said, Death Row is safer and you are with fewer other women. Why would Darlie want a job anyway? I doubt Darlie likes to walk much either. Things just aren't as icky on Death Row, besides the fact that you're waiting to die, of course LOL, you have less people to put up with. Gen Pop is filled with the type of people Darlie has never been around before. Not that she's been around Death Row inmates, but there are fewer to adjust to.
She obviously has access to hair care products and makeup. From what I've read a bond is formed with the others on Death Row. And I was just goofing around about her getting LWOP, she'll die, I know she will. And I know with clemency she'll be charged with Devon's murder.
I have spoken with TDC inmates and I have an old friend who was in Gatesville three times, the last time for 3 years. She worked in the factory there where they make uniforms for the women as well as drapes and linens and such for state hospitals and another time she worked in the laundry which she hated because it was so hot with no A/C. She said they had a beauty school there and that you could have your hair cut or permed there but that they didn't allow you to change the color (I guess for escape reasons or something.) She said her day was filled with going to work, going to mess hall, going back to work, going to dinner, going to school in the evening. She would do just about anything to get out of the dorm or cell (and she was in both at different times.) She would drop a form for church, the doctor (even if she had no reason), the dentist--anything to get out of the cell. Weekends were tough she said unless she had a visit and they didn't have outside rec every weekend, just now and then. During the week it was just like the free world except you didn't get to go home at night, you went back to your cell or dorm cubicle.
When I asked Debbie about the danger, she said that women's prison is nothing like men's as far as danger goes. She made friends easily though, so it could be different for a baby murderer. But Debbie was in there with Lucinda Stout, a mom murderer, and several women who were doing long terms for baby murdering, one got 25 years for starving her baby to death and another got 99 years for killing her baby, but they didn't do that much time before the law changed back in the 90's to the minimum 40.
But on death row, you sit in the cell all day. No job. No school. TV if you want to watch what everyone else wants to watch. Writing letters is all they do. They can drop a form to go to the Law Library, but I don't know how often they get to go. Other than that, they sit. Even church--the minister comes to them and they stay in their cells. With cellmates on either side, you better like them or else you have no one to talk to. Talk about stir crazy! As far as cosmetics, you can buy Maybelline products on commissary, but TDC does not allow any gift packages or anything but publications from the publisher or yarn from a craft company. Shampoo and such are very limited--not much selection, but they have it if you have the money.
If it were I, I would much prefer to go to a job and school than to sit and look at the same cellmates all day, every day. I think I would rather be dead. You are, anyway, on death row. You just haven't lain down yet.