My prison has over 100 rehab programs and the like amount of recreational programs. Anger management, stress management, interview skills, computers, GED etc… Then there is mental health. Recreation includes basketball, football, softball, shiffle board, all sort of board games, card games, weights, pool, volleyball etc…
Priosn is only a revolving door because society does not want to become involved. The criminal justice system is reactive, not proactive, we cannot solve problem, we just deal with them. Thus, recidivism is extremely high because, quite frankly, the common citizen does not want these men back.
We have inmate industries, but we do not compete in our state with other vendors. Inmates, on the average, earn about $20 a month for working about 30 hours a week.
We have something called critical incident management. A program adapted from the US forest service. We have action plans for almost every possible scenario. We hold fire drills, tornado drills, everything you can think of.
A totally over sensationalized depiction of prison life. Do not beleive a single thing. Even if it is true, the hollywood corruption had destroyed any possible reality.
Big question. But the general ropes are eat, sleep and you know what. We hold orientation for every inmate that enters the system. Utilizing the system of unit management, they meet with at least 3 staff members who guide them through the entire operation. We are also available 7 days a week, with an open door policy, for adjustment questions.
Yes, we try to have every inmate with a job. Idleness is deadly.
A prison is a small city, anything you have, besides red lober, we have also. Gym, mail room, commissary(store), barber shop, hospital, psychiatirc unit, movie theater, “police stations”, library, food service, 7 factories (we make chairs, trucks, mattreses, tourist packets etc…)
You cannot deter them. Legal eagles are everywhere in prison. Some of them have legitimate gripes and I personally support access to the courts. regrettably, the typical inmate lawyer, is a serious criminal (rapist/murderer) and he uses the law like he used his weapon or sexual organ. He uses as an expression of power and dominance. Robbed of any ability to hurt others, many of these inmates resort to the legal system to try and hurt and control others. They try to gode staff members into making mistakes and getting angry so they can file a lawsuit. A prison worker mus be very careful about this. Never let an inmate “take you off your game” as I always tell my staff. Inmates will sit there and tell you, “I will take away your money and your family will be paying the bills for years. I own you etc…” After you lock them up for disrespect, you just have to walk away. They will make it personal, you never can let them win.
6 a.m. morning count. Lights come on ranges, no cell enforcement. After count, breakfast. Inmates are called to chow in order based upon how clean they kept their dorm.
8 a.m. open yard. Inmates go to work, school, programs. Inmates with nothign to do can watch TV, play cards, lift weights, play sports etc…
11 a.m. Count. All inmates in. Inmates are once again released for lunch in order.
12:30 back to work, school, etc… Access to commissary to go shopping, or go to the barber shop, things like that.
3:00 Mail call
4:00 Count. Released for dinner in order.
5:00 p.m. Mostly free time. Some programs, lots of recreation. On weekends they can watch one of three movies.
8:45 Standing count. All inmates must be standing.
11:00 TV’s off, unless in rooms, right after news. Except on weekends.
12:00 count
2:00 count
4:00 count
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We offer a wide variety of religious services Christian (catholic, lutheran, non-denom), Muslim, Jewish, Native American, Wiccan etc…
Trying to figure out the attraction to prisoners is a complicated issue. Remmeber, it is not just women on men, or men on women, but it is also men on men/ women on women. It is my personal theory that the majority of illit relationships are sowaned from individuals who are loney, have low self-esteem and seek control of relationships. It is my opinion that the contro, of a relationship is one of the biggest factors. If you think about it, a person with a low self-esteem and inability to establish meaningful outside relationships will be more vulnerable. But, if they were an abused individual, or even if they were perceiving they were abused, having a relationship with a man behind bars is very alluring. You control the interaction. he can’t call you, or show up at your house. You feel, whether you are or not, that you are in control. This man makes you his life. He centers everything around you and you have complete control. You decide when and where you will interact. It is exciting. I think the “bad boy” mentality plays well to.
Corrections Officers in my state make about 40k a year, plus a benefits package of about an etra 10k. This is after 5 years. As an administrator, I make around 75k a year pluc bennies.
Racial is about 55% white, 45% black. Small amount of hispanic and other.
Usually they just come from our state unless there is an interstate compact agreement. These usually only happen for high profile cases or protective custody. Alot of witness protection as well.
yes, there are gay involvements. About 10% of my cases were that.
Drugs are a major problem, but I am proud to say that my prison keeps it at about 1-2%
We do lockdowns and “clear outs” for contraband. Plus we bring in K-9’s.
There are a ton of informants. There is no such thing as the no snitch code anymore. I would say that we have at least 300 informants in a 2500 man prison. We have a hotline they can call from unit phones.
That is a tough issue. Altough banning smoking may have a significant effect on climate, we must weigh that with obviuos fiscal benefits. The medical hazards associated with smoking cost taxpayers millions of dollars a year for prisoners. It is a fact that some prisoners get better medical care than a poor citizen and that makes smoking cessation programs much more appealing.
Police are typically placed in protective custody. Areas designed for safety and isolation if they so desire.
Many of our inmates are there because of the drug laws in america. I studied them quite intensely while receiving my masters. In fact, my thesis was on them. There is no doubt that the war on drugs has dramatically increased prison population. Probably 30% of our offenders are drug related. Alfred Lindesmith predicted in the 60’s that if drug laws did not change, prison population would be increased so dramamtically it would overflow. He was right. Most of our prison expansion is because of the war on drugs. You draw your own conclusions from that.