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LORILEE LECKNESS January 19, 2001 Lorilee Leckness is a contributor to The Tallahassee Project, available in bookstores summer 2001. The following letter was received by Becky Stewart and forwarded to the web site for posting. It comes from Donna Strohm, Lorilee's mother, and tells of her distress on hearing from Lorilee. Lorilee was included in the December 17, 2000 shipment of federal prisoners from FCI Tallahassee to Fluvanna Correctional Institute, the State of Virginia maximum security prison in Troy, Virginia. This is the first news of Lorilee to reach public attention. At the end of the letter It should be noted that Lorilee has lost her federal registration number and been assigned a state prison number, thus cementing her status as a State of Virginia prisoner. To protect Ms. Strohm's privacy, her postal address is withheld. 1/19/01 Dear Becky, Received your letter and will try to answer it. She [Lorilee] calls me about twice a week - was once a week for the 1st couple of weeks. She is worried about the money as they only call collect. Rumors there have the phone calls from $6 to $22 a call. They tell you to call 9 when they first get on the line to see how much the call will cost - tried it as did my other daughter - nothing! She sounds better now - the first 4 or 5 calls she would break down and cry. They gave her 30 days to get permission to write and receive letters from her husband. When she asked the second time she was told not to ask again, even though the warden told my sister that she needed to work and that the full 30 days - what a bunch of bowel movement! They were told yesterday that they would be there for at least 24 months and not to expect anything different. One girl was to go to a half-way house last week - another next week and they were told Virginia doesn't belong to the federal system as they are a Common Wealth state and they do not believe in half-way houses so the girls must stay there! They were also told yesterday they must cut their hair 2 to 3 inches long - what is that for? Lori heard from the web site guy and he is putting her story in his book and is listing her as "Lost in Action" as she is no longer a Federal Prisoner. They now get outside for 20 minutes in a small area and must walk - no jogging or running - or they will be punished. Punishment consists of fines they must pay before they are released. I am shaking so much I can hardly write. I am so angry. She does not know the girls she is with and is awfully worried about Joy - no medicine and she just reads and sleeps - I'm trying so hard to figure out who I'm supposed to forgive for this outrageous treatment in the land of the "Free." I'll be sending you some addresses as soon as I get them and need you to get them to as many people as possible and have the send them home to their people, as we have to make as much awakening to the citizens of the U.S. as we can. Well, I faxed everyone with what I knew at that time - December - even President Clinton. Have only heard from the Judge that sentenced her and the Senator from Tallahassee they can't interfere with the Federal system. How do we understand how they could crucify our Lord - not much is changed. Well, I'll give you her address.
Feel free to write any time. Keep your chin up!! With love, Donna Strohm
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