Chapter 11
First 48 Hours
It will
take anywhere from six to twelve months to adjust to prison life.
However the first two days to two weeks will set your reputation and how
staff and fellow inmates perceive you.
Whether you
arrive at your designated facility by self-surrender or through the prison
transportation system, you will be watched very closely.
Who you are seen talking to will be analyzed as much as what you say.
What you do
will be noticed and how much time you spend at a particular spot will be a topic
of many clandestine discussions does the new guy spend a lot of time in the
chapel praying and reading the bible or reading the newspaper?
What does he read at the library?
How long does it take him to read a book? What does he get at the
commissary?
Inmates
watch each other closely, new arrivals are scrutinized even more. In the
beginning it is best to say as little as possible.
Stay close to your dorm/cell block.
As time passes you’ll blend in and the bulk of attention will turn to the
next new arrivals.
There was an inmate from Missouri who was sent to a facility in the south.
The south is covered with fire ants.
After a good rain the fire ant beds can be two feet high.
At the slightest disturbance tens of thousands of fire ants scurry out of
the nest in aggressive defense.
Fire ants get their names because of their burning sting that will leave
an itchy festering welt for several days.
This new inmate poked a stick in one such fire ant bed then watched in
amusement for several minutes. The
inmate picked up the stick to observe these little creatures more closely.
An hour later he was called into the office and asked if he was really
eating ants.
Of course
he wasn’t, but it is typical of how someone can be perceived or misrepresented
by other inmates (or staff). Be
mindful you are being evaluated.
Mind Your Own Business
There is a
lot of inmates shenanigans going on in prison. Some of it is minor like sneaking
an apple from the dining hall. Some of it is major like possession of a cell
phone.
While all
eyes will be on you, it is better that you see nothing, hear nothing, and most
importantly, say nothing. Keep your
eyes, ears and mouth closed.
Activities that don’t affect you should not concern you.
The staff
knows what goes on and they have a pretty good idea of who is doing what. They
tolerate a certain amount of it. The
cost and effort to stop it would be far greater than the benefit.
Story after
story is told of snitches who were thrown “blanket parties”.
That is one party you do not want to be the guest of honor.
An inmate was sentenced to six
months at a comp for probation violation.
He was originally sentenced to three years probation for a FEMA Fruad.
Before he made his bed he
starting ranting about civil right violations and lawsuits.
By that evening he had written a letter to the President.
After that he wrote tow cop-outs to the warden requesting a meeting.
The next morning he took several
more cop-outs directly to the unit manager.
One explaining there needs to be more guards because there wasn’t enough
security!
A few days later he said the
unit manager said she “was seeing waayyy too much of you!” When asked how many
times had he been by the replied, “Three times…today.”
The vast majority of inmates at
this camp never see the inside of the unit manager’s office.
This was not a good way to start with the staff or inmates.
The next day at A&O he persisted
in asking question after irrelevant question prolonging an already boring
session. To top it all off when the discussion of contraband such as cell phones
came up he asked how he could help! Needless to say he won no friends at A&O.
That weekend he went to his case
manager with a handful of cop-outs reporting which cubes in his dorm had cell
phones and which had tobacco. The
entire conversation being over heard by inmates in the hall.
Word spread rapidly, he was
ostracized and made the butt of jokes through the entire camp. When he sat at a
table during meals inmates would not-so-non chalantly move. At every opportunity
his locker would be raided.
The ignore and harass treatment
continued to the point of feces on his pillow and thrown in his locker.
Not just the work of one, but of many.
At this point the unit manager
made a broadcast statement, “HE IS NOT A SNITCH, JUST STUPID.”
Usually when something like this
happens the victim is put into “protective Custody,” in other works put in the
hole. He talked them out of putting
him in protective custody.
That evening he shouted through
the dorm, “PRAISE THE LORD. I’D LIKE TO THANK THE COWARDS WHO DID THIS. NOW I
HAVE A LARGE LAWSUIT FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND RELIGIOUS PROSECUTION.” He
could barely be heard over the boos and jeers.
His self-inflicted misery is a
textbook case of what not to do in prison.
It is way it is important to stay quiet and learn your surroundings
before venturing out or offering information.
Do Not Discuss Your Financial Situation
Absolutely
nothing positive can happen discussing your family finances.
If you have access to a little or a lot, it is nobody’s business in
prison.
Extortion
at medium security facilities is more than a myth, it is common practice.
Most inmates at medium security
facilities are serving long sentences with nothing to lose.
Some
extortionists are direct. Pay up or
else. Most are not so bold.
They will be very nice to you at first even though you may not have
anything in common. They will ask
question about your family that in the outside world are harmless.
They are
trying to ascertain how much they can get from you.
Soon they
will ask to borrow things of little value or maybe get something from the
commissary. Gradually they’ll ask
with more expectation than politeness.
How far you
let it go and what happens when you try to stop it is unique every time.
Some are serious and some is false bravado.
The BOP
staff is unlikely to take serious action against either type of extortionist
until something happens to you. They
will probably talk to them, that creates a new set of problems.
Once you
have fallen into their trap you are on your own to get out.
The best
thing to do is hide your wealth.
Any display
of wealth can invite Robin Hoods as these characters steal from the rich to help
their poor-selves. They feel
entirely justified; after all you can afford it.
As far as
inmates are concerned, tell a story a life of poverty. Limit the amount in your
locker and lend as little as possible.
Eat
A large
portion of new inmates reported losing a substantial amount of weight in the
first six months. The stress of
prison life rather than the availability of decent meals was the largest stated
factor.
Most who
lost weight felt much better after they started eating again. The Club Fed diet
is a proven method of weight loss. However prison is a terrible, terrible place
to get sick.
Starving is
proven to dramatically lower the immune system at a time when you are being
introduced to unfamiliar germs and viruses and a high degree of stress.
Don’t Borrow Anything….
You will
probably be greeted on your first day by an inmate welcoming committee.
Most will offer to loan you basic items until you can get them for
yourself.
Before you
accept anything find out what the return conditions are.
Do not accept anything under the “we’ll work it out later” deal.
That usually means you’ll pay dearly!
You may
receive a church welcome packet that has shower shoes and other basics not
provide by the BOP. It is considered
rude not to accept it even if you are not of the faith.
Some
inmates have acquired extra clothing or dishware from departing inmates.
They kindly loan these items until new arrivals can get them. Usually
they just want the items returned in a reasonable time.
Some inmates run little stores. They charge premium for sodas or sweets. Make sure you understand the terms and can pay them back as promised
48 Hour Checklist
·
Write home
·
Make sure money is in your account
·
Eye and Dental appointments
Write Home
The first
couple of days can be overwhelming with all that is going on you mustn’t forget
about contacting family. It may take
some time to get e-mail and telephone clearance nevertheless write a quick note
to family letting them know you’re okay.
Even if you
can call or e-mail, write home anyway.
It is therapeutic and there is just something special about getting a
letter.
Make Sure Money is in Your Account
Your
commissary account balance is accessible through the e-mail computer.
When you are in the system you can add money to your telephone account
and start using e-mail. Of course
you will also need money to buy things at the commissary.
Eye and Dental Appointment
It is
difficult to get into these services.
Therefore put in for an appointment in the first couple of days.
It still
may be several months before you get into actually see them.