Inmates at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex are asking that the warden and deputy warden be supportive in having a fund raiser to assist in the cost of television cable service.

CATV is not a free service for the inmate population, as it is being paid from the inmate benefit fund (IBF). The IBF is a fund established by legislature and is funded by the inmates and other special groups, and not by tax payers of this state.

As of July 15, all inmates who owned a TV were required to surrender $3 per month for cable service. However, inmates who received O/I are being subjected to a 23 percent theft of their monthly O/I payment.

The average person on the street, working at a minimum wage job and paying 23 percent of their earnings for CATV would cost them $264.80 per month for CATV.

This is the reason we are asking that the warden and his staff support the fund raiser and to establish a good foundation for our IBF to take care of our needs at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex without the inmates being robbed of their money.

Sincerely,

Danny Garrison

Mt. Olive, W.Va.