Larry is a man who is very special to me...
One cannot help but like him. He is schizophrenic and mentally challenged. Although he's in his 50s, there's a childlike demeanor to him.
Larry would often be seen waddling along the prison's corridors in a penguin-like manner as he goes back and forth to an area of the facility near the Infirmary where the psychotropic medications are administered. And he always has a disheveled appearance, even when he puts on clean clothes.
Larry has been in prison for almost twenty-five years. During a time when he was strung-out on cocaine, he committed a brutal, senseless crime. Somehow a 5'6'' Larry with a medium build and stooping shoulders that cause his head to tilt slightly forward like that of an old man, managed to wrestle a police officer's service revolver away from him, and then used it to take the officer's life.
The judge who presided in Larry's criminal case obviously took pity on Larry because he received a sentence of twenty-five years to life, as opposed to the maximum sentence which could have been handed out: 25-years to life for murder in the 2nd degree.
The parole board, however, has taken no pity on Larry. He's already made two appearances before them, and each time he was given the standard two year "hit." Although many of the prison's staff think Larry should be paroled to a psychiatric facility, there's little chance of this happening.
On some days, the ICP Unit inmates are allowed to go to the recreation yard for an hour to ninety minutes, if the weather permits it. Since I worked with these men as a caregiver and "program aid," I too must go along with them when they go outdoors.
And today was such a day. The sun was brightly shining. So when the ICP Unit men and I entered the yard, it felt as if we were stepping into a hot oven. As for Larry, to everyone's amazement, he came outdoors dressed in winter gear. He was wearing a woolen watch cap and his prison issued coat. As expected, several of the guys teased him about it.
Sadly, Larry is out of sync with everything, even with the seasons. His illness seems to have put him in another world. Oftentimes, as I'd walk by his cell, I'd see him talking to himself. He has a tendency to misplace his belongings, too. And Larry needs frequent supervision to make sure he leaves his cell during mealtimes, and that he takes daily showers.
I've known Larry for many years. A while back, he was able to go to church with me. Over time, however, his condition worsened to where he cannot attend the worship services or Bible studies. But he will allow me to read the bible to him. On occasion, when Larry wants me to pray for him, he would tap his forehead gently as a signal for me to place a hand on the spot and say a prayer.
Fortunately, Larry still has a few family members who've remained in touch with him even though he's too ill to compose a letter. He has his mother and a sister. Yet, I do believe that God has His hands upon Larry's life. I am confident that whatever Larry may face in the future, Jesus will put caring people in his path. They'll be there to help him.
And when today's recreation period came to an end, and we began to line up by the yard door in order to go back to the ICP cell block, Larry noticed that his coat was missing. Then someone spotted it lying on a bench at the far end of the ball field. I therefore asked the officer who was in charge of us if I could retrieve it, and he said yes. So, I ran across the yard, picked up Larry's moldy old coat, and ran back to the door. He was glad to see it, and he was relieved that no one stole it.
I doubt if anyone would want to steal Larry's smelly coat. Apparently, he had simply taken it off at some point, and then forgot where he left it. This is typical of Larry. He's very disorganized. After all, a man who dresses for winter in the middle of the summer is a man who's lost his mind.
D.B.
Larry would often be seen waddling along the prison's corridors in a penguin-like manner as he goes back and forth to an area of the facility near the Infirmary where the psychotropic medications are administered. And he always has a disheveled appearance, even when he puts on clean clothes.
Larry has been in prison for almost twenty-five years. During a time when he was strung-out on cocaine, he committed a brutal, senseless crime. Somehow a 5'6'' Larry with a medium build and stooping shoulders that cause his head to tilt slightly forward like that of an old man, managed to wrestle a police officer's service revolver away from him, and then used it to take the officer's life.
The judge who presided in Larry's criminal case obviously took pity on Larry because he received a sentence of twenty-five years to life, as opposed to the maximum sentence which could have been handed out: 25-years to life for murder in the 2nd degree.
The parole board, however, has taken no pity on Larry. He's already made two appearances before them, and each time he was given the standard two year "hit." Although many of the prison's staff think Larry should be paroled to a psychiatric facility, there's little chance of this happening.
On some days, the ICP Unit inmates are allowed to go to the recreation yard for an hour to ninety minutes, if the weather permits it. Since I worked with these men as a caregiver and "program aid," I too must go along with them when they go outdoors.
And today was such a day. The sun was brightly shining. So when the ICP Unit men and I entered the yard, it felt as if we were stepping into a hot oven. As for Larry, to everyone's amazement, he came outdoors dressed in winter gear. He was wearing a woolen watch cap and his prison issued coat. As expected, several of the guys teased him about it.
Sadly, Larry is out of sync with everything, even with the seasons. His illness seems to have put him in another world. Oftentimes, as I'd walk by his cell, I'd see him talking to himself. He has a tendency to misplace his belongings, too. And Larry needs frequent supervision to make sure he leaves his cell during mealtimes, and that he takes daily showers.
I've known Larry for many years. A while back, he was able to go to church with me. Over time, however, his condition worsened to where he cannot attend the worship services or Bible studies. But he will allow me to read the bible to him. On occasion, when Larry wants me to pray for him, he would tap his forehead gently as a signal for me to place a hand on the spot and say a prayer.
Fortunately, Larry still has a few family members who've remained in touch with him even though he's too ill to compose a letter. He has his mother and a sister. Yet, I do believe that God has His hands upon Larry's life. I am confident that whatever Larry may face in the future, Jesus will put caring people in his path. They'll be there to help him.
And when today's recreation period came to an end, and we began to line up by the yard door in order to go back to the ICP cell block, Larry noticed that his coat was missing. Then someone spotted it lying on a bench at the far end of the ball field. I therefore asked the officer who was in charge of us if I could retrieve it, and he said yes. So, I ran across the yard, picked up Larry's moldy old coat, and ran back to the door. He was glad to see it, and he was relieved that no one stole it.
I doubt if anyone would want to steal Larry's smelly coat. Apparently, he had simply taken it off at some point, and then forgot where he left it. This is typical of Larry. He's very disorganized. After all, a man who dresses for winter in the middle of the summer is a man who's lost his mind.
D.B.
