Mail in Jail, and Getting Ready to Go

Greetings everyone,

I had a chance to speak with an officer at the McHenry County Jail to find out a little more about conditions inside and relating to the outside world. Interesting chat...

First of all, here is the address to write me while I am in the jail:

McHenry County Jail
Le Anne Clausen
2200 N. Seminary Ave.
Woodstock, IL 60098

Please send letters on simple stationery (no metallic or string-like or glitter attachments) without newspaper clippings or internet printouts, or other gifts/enclosures. Please do not send blank paper, stamps, or envelopes either. These will be discarded. I'd love it if you only wrote on one side of the page (and use additional pages), so I can use the other side to keep my journals, etc. That way, when I am able to get paper, I can use it to send letters out.

I also found out that I will have access to a Bible, and that there is a library inside, although, according to the officer, "Not a very good one." There's an overabundance of romance novels (as I was afraid of). However, they will accept book donations to the jail itself (you can't mail them to me specifically). It's wise to have someone bring them in person, so they can be approved/rejected by the guard. Pornography or violence would not be permitted, some religious themes would also be rejected, but classics and contemporary thought and humor and poetry and textbooks should be fine. Women's themes would also be good. If a few friends would like to organize such a drive, particularly those living in and around Chicago, that would be very welcome. This would then benefit everyone I am with, including after I am there and gone again. You could make additional inquiries to the jail at 1-815-338-2144.

Visits: The visit restrictions are still pretty tight, with only one visit per week during the visit hours, for 30 minutes maximum, and maximum two people per visit. Apparently it's also not an in-person visit, but over closed-circuit television. Lawyers are the only exception. Pastors must also be approved by the guard and should call in advance. In order to coordinate who is coming when, I think it's best folks contact my sister-in-law, Erin. She and my brother are my closest relatives able to visit. You will need to bring a goverrnment-issued ID and follow the instructions carefully on the website. Please do not worry about disappointing me if you can't make a visit--it is very difficult under these circumstances, and I'll probably enjoy your letters more. Or, rather than visit, get together and throw me a party when I get out. By then I could use some friendly faces and hugs and good food. And I'll be happy to come out to your church or group afterwards and talk about the SOA and civil disobedience, etc.

Speaking of parties, the co-op will be hosting a farewell potluck for me on Sunday. Please bring your well-wishes and a dish or beverage to share! Classmates had hoped to do something at the seminary, but unfortunately that week there's a time conflict with the Public Theology conference. I am actually grateful for a time to see friends I might otherwise miss altogether. Finally, please remember there are many things you can do, not just to support me, but the cause for which I committed civil disobedience, that is, to close the School of the Americas. Please take the time to visit the SOA Watch website, www.soaw.org, and follow the suggestions for talking to your Congresspersons about cutting funding for this program which has destroyed so many lives.

peace,

Le Anne