Henry Headed Home

The older guy in the bunk across from me – Henry – went home the other day.  He finished 21 months on a two year bid for probation violation.  He was one of the nicest, funniest men I’ve ever met while locked up; a 58 year old bald black man with a huge, bushy moustache.

Henry did a four year sentence – his only conviction – from ’99 to 2003 for an argument at a family reunion that led him to, as he put it, “straighten up my bum ass nephew”.  He did his four years and went back to his wife and kids with ten years probation hanging over his head.

In 2009, he decided to smoke weed with his daughter.  He hadn’t been urine tested in two years.  That afternoon he received a call from his PO, “come in for a test and we’ll discuss releasing you”.  He went, told the PO what he’d done and faced the music.

So Virginia spent over $25,000 each year for the last two years keeping Henry locked up for a probation violation.  For the taxpayers of Virginia I say the joke’s on you.  Henry had no business being sent back in here.  He and his moustache are home and I’m glad.