Life In Prison: Glenda Virgil, 23 Years And Counting

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January 5, 2010 – KPBS reporter Joanne Faryon interviews 63-year-old inmate Glenda Virgil. Her profile is part of an ongoing look at the aging prison population.

Video Transcript:

I don't have many years left. When I went to board, which was just about four months ago, I said if I had ten years left I would be surprised. I have Hepatitis C. My health isn't that great. I exercise. If I was able to eat the kind of foods that were available on the streets I could probably live a little bit longer. My biggest fear is being shipped up north. I've watched several people that have declined in their ability to take care of themselves and they're shipped up north where it's very impersonal. You don't know the people, you've had, you have 7 other roommates because there's 8 people to a cell, and that's a fear. Here in this prison, I get to train dogs, so there's a dog that lives in my room. I can't imagine what it would be like to be without a dog now, or to be not able to touch a dog. You know, I'd be up there in my wheelchair trying to fight for a dog program there I'm quite sure. Ah, and being alone‚ dying alone.