As I
write this we are still on “modified” lock. Starting Monday morning we went on
“lock” for our twice annual compound search. As I’ve written before, these
sweeps accomplish little. Sure the COs find extra sneakers and t-shirts. They
grab CDs still in the possession of men who traded in CD players for the newly
available MP3 players. Shirts, sneakers, and CDs; yet, the drugs remain.
Lockdowns are a waste of money and time here. They wear officers out, they piss
off the population, and they stop all education programs. They are an exercise
in futility and driven by the ego of the security chief. But why would he care
about the effectiveness of the lock? Responsibility (“the buck stops here,”)
doesn’t apply in DOC for managing a facility. Who cares about another lost
week? You should.
It
costs approximately $27 million per year to operate this level “2” facility. And,
like everything else in the Department of Corrections, there are operating
procedures that govern how a prison is run. “Inmate.com,” the rumor mill that
is inmate life, will tell you every prison has lockdown twice each year. And,
long-term guys, those who’ve spent time at the higher levels, will remind
newbies of “real” lockdowns where you’re confined to your cell with one five
minute shower every fourth day. The officers sweep in, enter your cell, then
handcuff you. All your personal belongings are dumped on the cell floor. Your
bunk is stripped, sheets and blankets thrown in a corner. The COs paw all your
stuff then uncuff you and slam your cell door shut. That’s a real lock down.
Here
it’s lay around and wait, wait until the ten to twenty regular shift COs come
to our building with counselors in tow. A short walk to the gym then back to
the building, twenty or so guys at a time, and “voila” in an hour and a half
we’re done. That’s it – an hour and a half. The officers are tired. See,
budgets being what they are, they can’t bring in reinforcements to move through
in a precise manner. No, they go to “6” – kitchen workers, then “1” – factory guys (funny how they never miss work,
even on lock), then the drag begins.
What
do they take out of the buildings? Nothing but trash and extra clothes. They
finish all the other buildings by Wednesday afternoon. We’re done, right?
Wrong. For the rest of the week we sit in the buildings. There is no school, no
“re-entry” programs (maybe that’s a good thing!). No AA or NA or sex offender
treatment. “Ball courts” open on Thursday for three hours; same thing Friday.
Collage
program. We have the academic counselor scheduled to be here and meet with guys
for their January semester. Memo goes to “the Major” a month ago reminding him
of the college schedule. But, shake downs take priority – even when (1) they
aren’t required by policy/procedure (they are routinely waived at other level 2
facilities) and (2) they interfere with education (the number “1” program that
breaks the cycle of recidivism). Education doesn’t matter, follow phony
procedure even when you don’t have to.
So
Thursday at lunch they give us fried chicken – “chicken on the bone.” Why not?
Feed them – and the COs – a little something better and it – hopefully – makes
you forget what a waste all this is; a waste in time, money, and lives. Hey, at
least the Major got to run his lockdown!
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