Webring...

The orange ribbon is worn
to promote the value of
families of prisoners

Graphic created by Princess,
member of Families:
Doing Time Together ring

Artwork by Wade Aikins, SD
State Penitentiary

Our Story...

My name is Hope and my husband is in prison. Wow, that doesn't get
any easier to say.

Well, we have known each other for about 12 years as friends. He had
always had another person and when we really started talking about
three years ago he was in prison. I went to see him and it was like,
"he's the one".

Our relationship grew and I stood by him for the 16 months while he
was in prison. He asked me to marry him while still incarsarated. Of
course, I was in-love so I said YES! August 1997 he was granted parole
and released September 1997. We were married November 22, 1997;
aside from being "Saved", that was the best day of my life.

We built our house and everything seemed great; a few months later
I noticed Dale acting different. I wouldn't find out until a few weeks
later he was using drugs again. This would turn out to be one of the
worst times of my life. I tried to hide things from my family and his, but
it is kind of hard to lie about why your husband is not coming home at
night.

Finally I had enough, so I went to his parole officer. He called Dale in
that day and gave him a drug test. Needless to say he was very mad.
He was ordered to go into treatment or go back to prison; he chose
treatment. I thought we was doing fine until I received a call at work
saying, "Dale is in jail".

My parents and his went and got him out, he was charged with a
weopons charge and a stolen van. The weopon was not his and we had
just bought the van; but since they were both felonies his parole was
violated. After paying an attorney $5000.00 that was dismissed, but
once your parole is revoked you have to stay in prison. He was picked
up in August 1998, just 11 months after getting out.

We were hoping he would be home by July of this year, but he has been
charged with something esle. It seems like once you are in the
system you can't get out. It gets so hard to deal with, but through faith
and prayer we can make it through anything...

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