Count Time, Count Time

Being counted is a big part of prison life. I’m not sure who came up with the idea for counting but I’d be willing to bet every prison and jail in the U.S. employs some form of count.



When I was at the jail, we were counted four times a day and the inmates made all kinds of noise, talking, catcalls, hoots. That isn’t tolerated at a DOC facility. Count time is serious. No noise, no reading, no movement. All electronics turned off.


Still, being at a low level prison provides for some funny count times. Count here is a vast cry from count at receiving when I was sharing a cell with a psychotic, 24 year-old gang leader doing 76 years for a double murder.


At receiving, we were locked down 23 hours a day in dilapidated cells with leaking toilets, cracked sinks, and one 60 watt light bulb that had to be twisted off and on. First count at receiving was 5:00 am, standing, with cell light on. There was a second standing count between breakfast and lunch; a third mid-afternoon; fourth count after evening chow; and final count at 10:30 pm.


Here, count is a little more relaxed. Our “first count” is at 6:00 am. Inmates have to remain “in bed” while the COs quietly walk up and down the aisles. That’s a far cry from the loud siren whistle at receiving and the CO yelling “FEET ON THE FLOOR” over and over.


There are only three standing counts during the day: 11:30 am, 5:45 pm, and 10:00 pm. The COs (2) come in and whistle then call out “Count Time fellas; count time, count time”.


One CO – Jones – a mid-60’s black woman comes in and toots her whistle 3 times then says “give me a good count gentlemen”. Another CO – Eppes won’t blow his whistle any more. The pea got stuck once when he was blowing it. Everyone busted out laughing. Eppes is a young, skinny black guy. A lot of the “old heads” intimidate him so he tends to get timid when they laugh, of course, it doesn’t help that he’s got a high voice when he announces “count clear fellas” you hear 20 guys yell it back in a high pitched tone.


Count is serious. There are almost 1200 inmates here. The prison has to account for each one of those guys every minute of the day. A single number off and the compound stays on “no movement”.


A few weekends back I was up at visitation when 11:30 count was called. Inmates at visit line up in the gym under dorm building signs. Visitation count was correct, but building count wasn’t. No one was allowed to leave visits, including visitors. After 45 minutes count cleared and the mass exodus of visitors began to make their way out of the “VI” room and head to their cars.


It’s an antiquated system and labor intensive. It’s probably the same count method they used in the Civil War and at Alcatraz in the 30’s. But, it’s the only way the officers can be sure the inmates are all inside the compound.


A couple of years ago, at another low level Virginia prison, a guy went to “pill call” (med call) after early evening count. That facility had no other standing counts the remainder of the day and a bunk count at midnight.


After he got his pills he snuck back out on the rec yard and climbed the perimeter fence. It was the next day before anyone noticed he was gone. They found him a week later.


There’s a great deal I never knew about prison. Count time was one of these things. Inmates hate it, but without it I’m sure a whole lot of guys wouldn’t stay put.