# Ask a former prison guard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 7, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554 "2003-02-07T20:33:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/101 "2003-02-14T21:37:21Z")
He wants to go outside… I think it is part of him being trapped in intake… this is not someplace you’re supposed to stay long I think. He was classified months ago but not moved. No room at the inn it seems. The letters from him are horribly depressing… I want him to get punished enough that he wakes up and learns how to make a life for himself… but not so much that he turns into a career criminal… _sigh_ Hard to believe we both grew up in Hotel Hell the way our lives have taken such different tracks. I will try and ferret out a little more information and appreciate the advice. I don’t get to talk to him much because since the move to RI phone calls are a dollar a minute collect… they were just normal collect calls in MA… The dollar seems a prohibitively expensive way to limit their calls. But he can smoke there _shrug_ as you can’t smoke in MA. Kill yourself with nicotine but you can’t call your sister without giving her a triple digit phone bill?! ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/102 "2003-02-15T04:38:24Z")
Page 3! Alright! I’m glad to see this is so popular. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*May I ask how you got along with the other guards? > \*\* So-so. Not much to say on this one. It was like any other job with regard to co-worker relations. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/103 "2003-02-15T04:59:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tanookie \* > **The letters from him are horribly depressing… I want him to get punished enough that he wakes up and learns how to make a life for himself… but not so much that he turns into a career criminal… _sigh_** I wish I could say something here to help, tanookie, but each man is unique. Making some kind of ill informed generalization wouldn’t help. But my sympathies go out to you and I hope everything turns out for the best. > [@](#): > > \*\*Hard to believe we both grew up in Hotel Hell the way our lives have taken such different tracks. \*\* I’m curious about the “Hotel Hell” reference. Can you explain? > [@](#): > > \*\*you can’t call your sister without giving her a triple digit phone bill?! \*\* This is outrageous. My first thought is that there must be some other way to do it that is cheaper. Maybe you can talk to a prison official about what the restrictions definitely are and what they aren’t, and then figure out if there is way around using collect. You definitely should contact[The Campaign to Promote Equitable Telephone Charges](http://www.curenational.org/~etc/index.htm). Their main focus is on eliminating the restriction to collect calls. They may have RI specific info for you. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/104 "2003-02-15T13:10:47Z")
Hotel Hell is how I refer to my childhood home… To explain would probably take a really long post. Lets just say my parents should never have had children. That’s a great link… I’ll have to send it to my mother… her phone bill suffers the most. Didn’t mean to hijack your thread!!! Thank you though… it is an interesting thread… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/105 "2003-02-15T14:48:32Z")
Thanks for your response. Did you eat the prison food while you were working, or bring your own? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Herrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jay\_Herrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Herrick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/106 "2003-02-15T17:13:49Z")
Very interesting thread. Is prison loud at night? How is money handled by cash or a prison bank? ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/107 "2003-02-15T22:26:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > **Did you eat the prison food while you were working…?** Never, never, never, never! Some did, but I was much too conscious of the hygiene of some of the kitchen workers to eat their food. In fact, it got me thinking … what kind of job is an ex-con going to be able to get? Flipping burgers? Washing dishes? I pretty much gave up eating in restaurants back then, too. :dubious: Hmm. Thanks for reminding me about that. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/108 "2003-02-15T22:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jay Herrick \* > \*\*Is prison loud at night? > > How is money handled by cash or a prison bank? \*\* It is quiet as a church at night. Of course, it is an enforced silence. Except in the “hole” where since they’re in their cells 23 hours a day, they sleep when they want and yell when they want. Fine. Let 'em. Part of the punishment is having to listen to all that yelling. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/109 "2003-02-15T22:35:42Z")
Oh, yeah. The money. Everything is done on a credit system. Cash is considered contraband. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/110 "2003-02-17T14:40:39Z")
I, too, was wondering about all the dopers 🙂 in prison. You said in an earlier post that you made no effort to find out why inmates were in prison, but I would think that guys who were in prison for selling and smoking pot (and nothing more) would be different in temperament and outlook than guys who were in for knocking over convenience stores, raping, murdering, etc.? Ever notice any kind of difference along those lines? Or was it a case that most dopers were in minimum and medium security while the violent inmates were in maximum security, so you had two fairly well segregated populations? ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/111 "2003-02-17T15:09:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Captor \* > **I, too, was wondering about all the dopers 🙂 in prison. You said in an earlier post that you made no effort to find out why inmates were in prison, but I would think that guys who were in prison for selling and smoking pot (and nothing more) would be different in temperament and outlook than guys who were in for knocking over convenience stores, raping, murdering, etc.?** The majority of convicts under drug charges were not there for a first offense and were _career criminals_. As such, they were typically self-centered, amoral bastards capable of just about anything. Especially the gang-bangers. Those guys had a deep pessimism and no sense of the consequenes of their actions. And as career criminals, more than likely they had actually committed crimes worse than those for which they had been arrested. Those who had perpetrated extreme crimes like murder, rape or child-molesting were often the least likely to pose any trouble. Their crimes were crimes of passion, or they were driven by a pathological but specific sick fantasy that found no place in prison. In short, their conviction had little correlation with their behind-bars behavior. > [@](#): > > \*\*Ever notice any kind of difference along those lines? Or was it a case that most dopers were in minimum and medium security while the violent inmates were in maximum security, so you had two fairly well segregated populations? \*\* Which status an inmate was assigned was more influenced by their behavior in prison than what brought them there. It was also based on their likelihood to try to escape. To determine that, they had some kind of formula that depended on factors like their crime, time left to serve, age, previous escape attempts, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/112 "2003-03-01T06:20:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Welcome to the boards! A frequently discussed topic here, especially in the Pit, how often does prison rape occur and do the guards ever “just look the other way”? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/113 "2003-03-01T06:26:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Welcome to the boards! A frequently discussed topic here, especially in the Pit, how often does prison rape occur and do the guards ever “just look the other way”? \*\* My wife is the regular poster here, but she brought this to my attention and I felt that some of the answers here were a bit lacking. I have been wokring, and am currently, working in prisons. I have been a social worker, unit manager, investigator, labor relations officer, unit management administrator and an administrative assistant to the warden. I am currently the individual in charge of all inmate activity, programs and behavior. Now, my resume is done, I will answer these questions. Prison rape is a serious problem. My former colleague pointed out a well established notion that “punking out” is an serious phenomenom. However, he indacted that “punking out” is not rape. Regrettably, I believe he is incorrect in this notion. Rape is the use of force, or coercion, to gain sexual access. In a prison setting, many of the “old cons” who punk out youth are guilty of coercion. I have personally investigated four rape cases in prison and I typically find that a young man was induced into sexual behavior out of fear or concern about their own safety. That, is rape. I would estimate that a significant amount of individuals are raped in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/114 "2003-03-01T06:31:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Did people ever try to bribe you with cigarettes? \*\* Cigarettes are not always the bribe. It is a common miconception that cigarrettes are the only economy. Indeed they are a part, but do not ever think that cash money is also used. Cash money can be transferred via actual hand-to-hand (yes it is in prisons) or families usually transfer money to the corrupt staff member. An inmate will instruct their family member to send money to a staff member instead of sending it to them. This money will be used to induce corrupt behavior. In my time as investigator, (2 years) I removed 26 staff members. The breakdown is roughly as follows: 10 fell in love with an inmate (yes, men and women) 4 conveyed narcotics or engaged in criminal acts 10 violated rules that did not relate to corruption (or repeatedly violated them) 2 were found guilty of inappropriate supervision of inmates (mistreatment) Yes, against popular belief we HEAVILY monitor abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/115 "2003-03-01T06:34:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*What is the stupidest escape attempt you have ever witnessed? Also, how many prisoners have been successful at escaping (at least until they’re reeled back in after being fugitives?) > > I had a prisoner that escaped, led police on a high speed chase, which I joined in the later stages, when it entered the parking lot of the prison. That was pretty stupid. > > How much access do prisoners have to information on what’s going on in the outside world? I know they have access to TV and newspapers, perhaps the Internet, but are there restrictions imposed on what they can and can’t view? \*\* Yes, we have screening committees for all incoming mail, periodicals and movies. Anything subversive, dangerous to the community, or deleterious to rehabilitation we ban. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/116 "2003-03-01T06:40:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Suppose you are a middle-class guy who has never been in prison…how do you: > -make clear to the prison “boss” that you don’t want to be placed with a 300 lb. prisoner called “jamal X” > > You can’t. Our staff are trained to treat people equally. Unless you have corrupted one of my staff, expect equal placement and treatment. AND, you never know where the true threat lies. “Jamal X” might be the nices guy, but Good McTooshoes might be the baddest dude in the world. We use complex systems to classify inmates and make multiple contacts to test the efficacy of those placements. Get ready to get along. REMEMBER this one fact. Most medium security prisons are dorm style. 240+ inmates living in a giant room. No walls, no privacy, just bunk beds lined up in compliance with fire codes. Welcome to the big house. > -secure a nice jon (like cleaning the warden’s office) > > We don’t have people working in those areas (warden). Clerks were eliminated years ago in our system. My colleague is correct, get to know the work crew supervisors, behave and you may get a good job. > -get out of prison withoput being raped. > > Stand up for yourself and pray to god. Prison is a place with immense evil. People target innocence. It is a sad reality and you must face it. > > What kind of bribes do you have to pay to get all of this? \*\* > > Against popular beleive, over 99% of priosn staff cannot be bribed. We monitor that so closely it would make your head spin. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/117 "2003-03-01T06:47:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pool \* > \*\*Whats the most horrible or violent thing you ever saw whether it was a conflict between just convicts, or convicts and guards? > > I saw a man stabbed 96 times by two inmates (after effect on that one). Actually the worst thing I ever saw was the inmate who died in front of me by hanging himself. It was the most tragic thing ever for me because I was his unit manager and I still carry the burden today. You second guess yourself, but I realize there is nothing I could do to save that poor man’s life. > I have seen violence and hate, sickness and depravity, but nothing prepares you for a man who has lost hope. > > Oh, for the prurient interest, we once caught a man using the mop handle ringer of a mop bucket to anally penetrate himself. That was pretty sick. > > Did you ever personally get into any potentially life threatening situations? \*\* Yes, two. One was a hostage situation in maximum security. Two of my officers were pinned down and I led a team of 4 officers, and L.T. to get em out of the pod. four on one, but we made it. It was intense. Then, I was caught on the second range of GP dorm (about 120 inmates) with me and another guy. We were scrapping with about 7 inmates when a mass brawl took off. About ten inmates jumped in on my side, ironically enough, and saved my partners life when a 270 pound monstrosity had a locker box over his head preparing to throw it down on my partner when another inmate tackled him. Just because they are in prison, does not make them amoral. Don’t count on it though. I was lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/118 "2003-03-01T06:55:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*Do you believe in the death penalty? > > That’s a tough question. I used ot say absolutely not. But, then I was on the execution team for an inmate and I saw the absolute hatred that this man had for his victims family. His lack of remorse made me very sad and I felt some of the pressure that society exhibits to expect absolute retribution. However, I still cannot get over the reality that society should be on the right side always, and that the death penalty puts us all in the same boat as the offender. It is a horrible dichotomy. Seeing a man die, by lethal injection, was one of the most horrifying things of my life. I don;t know what else to say… It’s just not something you want to think about, but as long as it is the law, it is my duty as a public servant to exercise the will of the people. > What was the worst crime any prisoner you knew was convicted of? > > 1. I had an inmate who was part of “death squade” during a riot. He was on death row. He had led a team of inmates down the “PC” (protective control) range and beat each inmate to death. The thing that haunts me is the man in the next, or last cell, that heard the end coming and had to anticipate it. > > The other inmate was a man who raped babies. Yes, babies. His youngest victim (he had 20) was 6 months. he killed the baby while engaging in intercourse. > > Does anyone in prison ever admit to being guilty? \*\* Although they may admit some guilt, most of them have an excuse or reason for their crime. One of the biggest obstacles to rehabilitation is getting them inmate to see the harm he has caused. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/119 "2003-03-01T06:56:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Is it true what they say happens to child molesters? \*\* No, most child molesters exist in prison without any major negative sanctions. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554/120 "2003-03-01T06:58:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiteboy \* > \*\*Who’s the top gang in your prison? \*\* The Aryan Brotherhood or other white supremacists are the top gang in all of the prisons. Next, I would have to say are the BGD, Black Gangster disciples and the radical wings of black muslims. this depends on your state. You of course still have the crips, blood, folks, etc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-former-prison-guard/153554.md?page=7)