The graveyard shift at our institution is called first shift. First shift starts just as the inmates are sent to bed and ends just as they are getting ready for breakfast. There just isn't much to do on first shift. They may search the day rooms and do random UAs but unless something out of the ordinary kicks off, there isn't much to do.
People can get pretty desperate when bored and COs are no exception. One particular night, someone brought in Carolina Reapers. If you haven't heard about Carolina Reapers, you are in for a treat. They are hotter than hot peppers considered the hottest in the world. They were created specifically for their heat. Here is a video of people trying it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiyCa6HoppA
Anyway, so an officer decided to bring some in and see how many other officers he could get to try them. He not only had all the staff in his unit, but also started gathering them from other areas of the prison including those meant to respond to emergencies. Problem. The officers willing to try the pepper had the expected result. Many were throwing up for hours and some were in such bad pain that they stayed huddled in a ball for hours. Luckily, no emergency happened. Can you imagine what would have happened if a fight broke off or there was a medical emergency? They break off at a moments notice and we could have had the majority of our staff out of commission. To make matters worse, this particular unit is our max unit where the majority of emergencies come from.
I understand the boredom and all but you really got to think these things through. Don't risk you job or the lives of others for entertainment. You have a job to do. If you can't handle the boredom without doing something stupid, find a new job.
Sleep walking
We had two offenders from the same cell with injuries. When the offenders were questioned, one said he had a bad dream and woke up to find himself fighting with his cellmate. He claims he was sleepwalking. When his cellmate was questioned, he said he woke up to find himself fighting his cellmate and was also sleepwalking. Really? You expect us to believe that? Some of the excuses they come up with are so laughable. If you are going to lie, at least make it believable.
There is no privacy in prison, even as a Sgt
I was working front desk again and bored out of my mind. There really isn't much to do when you work front desk other than letting visitors into visitation. During the time that visitors were beginning to enter, a little old lady asked if she could use the restroom cause she really had to go. I let her back into the area where the restroom is located and saw that it was in use so I just asked her to wait until whoever was in there was done and then headed back to my post.
A few minutes later a Sgt comes rushing out looking very upset. I asked him what was going on as he is pacing back and forth with obvious frustration. He then tells me that he headed up front to use the restroom so he could poop in private. Just as he settles in, this little old lady begins pounding on the door and asking him how long he is going to take. Then she asks him if he is almost done. She continues to knock and bug him until the poor guy gives up and comes out. He was so livid that it just made it that much better. I wish I could have captured his face on camera for you. He won't be living this one down anytime soon!
A few minutes later a Sgt comes rushing out looking very upset. I asked him what was going on as he is pacing back and forth with obvious frustration. He then tells me that he headed up front to use the restroom so he could poop in private. Just as he settles in, this little old lady begins pounding on the door and asking him how long he is going to take. Then she asks him if he is almost done. She continues to knock and bug him until the poor guy gives up and comes out. He was so livid that it just made it that much better. I wish I could have captured his face on camera for you. He won't be living this one down anytime soon!
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| "You done yet?" |
Did he just say fat chicks?
Inmates come in all shapes and sizes. We have one particular inmate that is just tiny. I am talking like 4 foot 5 and probably 60-70 lbs. He is known for his tiny size. As I was holding the door for mass move yesterday, he walked off the tier with a buddy of his and they were talking. All I heard from him was, "Fat chicks. I love fat chicks! The fatter, the better." I think my jaw probably hit the floor and I had to contain my laughter as I am picturing this tiny guy with fat chicks. Wow. Not exactly what I expected but to each their own I guess.
Oopsie Style
Many people know that the now popular style of wearing your pants really low, like your butt is hanging out low, came from prison. Though it now doesn't hold the same meaning (I am available for sex), inmates still wear their pants too low. In order to do that, they get pants that are a couple of sizes too big. The problem with that is that they aren't allowed to wear belts here so in order to keep their pants up, they tend to stick their hands in their pants and just leave them there. Strange, but true. It is extremely common.
So yesterday I am working in a unit that is no exception and has a ton of guys with the same style. I am escorting the nurse to each of the tiers to give the inmates their medications when an inmate is walking across the tier near the nurse. He then forgets that he has to leave his hands in his pants and takes them out for a second and realizes too late what a mistake that is; his pants now laying on the ground. The whole tier, including the nurse, bust out laughing. He put his head down and headed in his cell out of embarrassment. I guess wearing low riders isn't always so cool.
Bullying in prison
Most people know that bullying goes on in prison. The endless teasing and put downs as well as trying to force others to do what you want regardless of the consequences. What most people don't realize is its not just the inmates. The officers can be just as bad.
I have not had the bullying focused on me but I see it in others all the time. It often reminds me of middle school. In middle school, I was more mature than most my age so I wasn't a bully or bullied. I was just there. The same happens here. I see the "popular" officers putting down the overweight, not as good looking, and those with disabilities. I see the pretty girls putting each other down, jealous of one another, and even starting rumors about each other.
I have watched as someone sneaks onto another officers computer and sends obnoxious emails to someone else and embarrassing the officers involved. I see as officers have called others snitches, narcs, etc. These are behaviors I expect from the inmates but we are supposed to be better than that. We are supposed to teach these guys how they should be treating others, how to live their lives. We should be showing them something to live up to.
As peace officers, we are held to a higher standard, as it should be. When my kids deal with bullying in school, I can't tell them it stops when they become adults. I can tell them it does get better, but it doesn't fully go away; even in professions such as this. How can we expect our children or inmates to behave better if we don't? It really is sad. I expect so much more of my fellow officers and I will not stand by and allow bullies to destroy my profession. I am speaking up and hopefully others will have the courage to do is as well.
I have not had the bullying focused on me but I see it in others all the time. It often reminds me of middle school. In middle school, I was more mature than most my age so I wasn't a bully or bullied. I was just there. The same happens here. I see the "popular" officers putting down the overweight, not as good looking, and those with disabilities. I see the pretty girls putting each other down, jealous of one another, and even starting rumors about each other.
I have watched as someone sneaks onto another officers computer and sends obnoxious emails to someone else and embarrassing the officers involved. I see as officers have called others snitches, narcs, etc. These are behaviors I expect from the inmates but we are supposed to be better than that. We are supposed to teach these guys how they should be treating others, how to live their lives. We should be showing them something to live up to.
As peace officers, we are held to a higher standard, as it should be. When my kids deal with bullying in school, I can't tell them it stops when they become adults. I can tell them it does get better, but it doesn't fully go away; even in professions such as this. How can we expect our children or inmates to behave better if we don't? It really is sad. I expect so much more of my fellow officers and I will not stand by and allow bullies to destroy my profession. I am speaking up and hopefully others will have the courage to do is as well.
Overcrowding
I think just about everybody has heard about prison overcrowding at some point. Generally, communities aren't very willing to pay for more prisons. After all, that is money that could be going to schools, roads, or community centers. In my state, the solution they have come up with is to try to get the inmates back on the streets as soon as possible. That can be a good thing when you are talking about some of these guys that made a stupid mistake but are generally a pretty good citizen. Keeping them here longer than necessary can actually be a bad thing.
However, it seems to be happening more and more that the dangerous ones are let out too early. We have had multiple guys being released early lately that immediately went out and murdered people. One in particular shot two police officers and a K-9. It seems to be these guys getting out more than the harmless guys.
Personally, I think if they have gang affiliation, that should be a HUGE red flag. If they have murdered before and seriously harmed someone, especially a police officer, that should be something that would almost guarantee they don't get out early. There are so many cases that I have seen that should be obvious that that particular inmate is a serious threat to society still yet they let them out any way. They are so desperate for room.
Some would say to start by caring for the kids before they turn into criminals. I agree. However, what do we do until then? How do we have room to house prisoners while trying to get our numbers down? It all seems to come down to money and as I stated before, who wants to give more money to prisons when it could go elsewhere? After all, most of these guys (about 97%) will be getting out someday and will become our neighbors. How they are treated effects how they will treat us when they get out. So, what is the answer? Will we ever find it? This is a discussion we need to have, yet rarely talked about but things will not get better until it is.
However, it seems to be happening more and more that the dangerous ones are let out too early. We have had multiple guys being released early lately that immediately went out and murdered people. One in particular shot two police officers and a K-9. It seems to be these guys getting out more than the harmless guys.
Personally, I think if they have gang affiliation, that should be a HUGE red flag. If they have murdered before and seriously harmed someone, especially a police officer, that should be something that would almost guarantee they don't get out early. There are so many cases that I have seen that should be obvious that that particular inmate is a serious threat to society still yet they let them out any way. They are so desperate for room.
Some would say to start by caring for the kids before they turn into criminals. I agree. However, what do we do until then? How do we have room to house prisoners while trying to get our numbers down? It all seems to come down to money and as I stated before, who wants to give more money to prisons when it could go elsewhere? After all, most of these guys (about 97%) will be getting out someday and will become our neighbors. How they are treated effects how they will treat us when they get out. So, what is the answer? Will we ever find it? This is a discussion we need to have, yet rarely talked about but things will not get better until it is.
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