Living on California’s Condemn Row also known as Death Row and being lockedup 24 to 20 hours a day in a tiny cell, condemn resident Albert “Ru-Al” Jones overcame three different types of dyslexia to self-publish 10 books in one of San Quentin’s darkest places.
Jones, 59, said he has been locked up for 30 years with 27 years on the “Row” and 24 and a half years in the same cell. “I had to keep busy — when I knew that I was going to be here a long time,” said Jones.
“I had to use every minute of my time here. I wrote these books so that I can leave a history for my grandbabies and leave a legacy in this dark place.”
Jones’ books consist of some autobiographies about his life in gangs, his religious faith and even a couple cook books title “My Last Meals?”
“Trust me, this did not happen easy, being in this cell all these years. I had many neighbors and some would bang on the wall all day and night. Some that screamed all day and night,” said Jones. “I had to stay focused in order to get the job done on my education and book writing. The good thing is that I am in the cell by myself so that has a lot to do with my success.”
“But I can say this: I am living in a real hell hole of a place. I can say this: being locked up for … 24 to 20 hours a day in a cell — no night sky and handcuffed every time I came out of the cell. Did this have and effect on my mental, yes it did. But, I turned that negative into a positive and stayed busy,” he reflected.
Being on condemned row, Jones witnessed a lot of his fellow resident succumb to mental health issues.
“I have seen some good guys kill themselves or they are on some kind of medications that help them deal with this living nightmare,” said Jones. “Some of these guys sleep 18 hours a day that is how they deal with this and that is their way to escape this place.”
Jones added that there are a lot of mental health doctors to help the guys with mental health issues. But those on medications look like zombies with glossy eyes, which is scary.”
“They are not the same,” said Jones. “I get it because being in this cell all them years and hours, TV and radio can only help so much. I can feel that pain of not being loved by the outside world because I have very little family support and yes, it hurt like hell, but I knew that I had to survive and keep my sanity.”
Jones credits his daughter and four grandchildren and his ambition to prove his innocence as a man on Death Row.
“But, when I walk out of here as that innocent man, people are going to say, he was telling the truth,” said Jones.
Jones used education to flourish while housed on the “Row.” He expressed that he has earned religious studies degrees in Protestants, Catholic, and Buddhist studies. He graduated from Coastline Community College with a AA degrees in Social and Behavioral Science and General Business.
“That was a moment where I just cried at that accomplishment,” said Jones. “It took me 11 years to finish and that’s the main word, ‘I finished.’ And I did it with a learning disability. Three different types of dyslexia. So I say to all that have this learning disability, don’t stop I know it is a struggle but you must stay in tune to do it.”
Jones added that it took 24 years and many book agencies that wouldn’t write him back, but he didn’t get discouraged. He said he just kept on writing. He did receive some support from the outside from people who saw his vision.
“I am doing my marketing from the cell,” said Jones. “I write to public places and send a flyer to sell my books until the right person sees what I have done and see the unique and special thing I have done.”
Jones’ goal is to get into the Guinness Book of World Records as being one of the only Death Row residents to self-publish 10 books.
“These books are going to be best sellers,” said Jones. “That’s how confident I am about this. I call all this the J-plan’ and that’s the Jesus plan because my plan didn’t work. I know that my faith has kept me on point and protective.”
Books: Our Last Meals; Put on the Shelf to Die; Behind These Walls; Toez Down; I Survived COVID-19; I’m in God’s Confinement; So Death Row Spiritual Testimonies; College Graduate 2.3 GPA; My Last Meals?; 2nd cook book; I Thank You.
These 10 books and my Christian Children’s Books are an eight book series of bedtime stories I’ve don all in this cell.
