by Sam Dodson | May 4, 2009 |
Wednesday, April 29:
Yesterday was a great day. Nothing all that eventful happened, but I was given a pair of reading glasses from one of the other prisoners. I could read before, but it was slow going. In the proces I’ve rediscovered the joy of learning by reading books.
I’ve been listening to audio books over the last few years with very little reading. Over the last couple of days I read Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. He led a very interesting life, and I see a lot of parallels to my own.
I was also able to browse the titles in the library at the last clothing change. I picked out a book on Chinese cooking (I’ve decided to learn how to cook), the basics of book editing, a book on script writing, and a couple more biographies.
Nothing much happens on the typical day, and that’s perhaps the saddest part of all this. The routine? Lights out/lockdown at 11pm. Breakfast is either at 6, in which case they re-lock the cages until 7am, or breakfast is served after 7 some days. Lunch is around noon, dinner is around 5pm. Druggie buggie is two times a day. Clothing changes, where everyone is issued clothes worn by who knows who, are changed 3 times a week. Razors for shaving are offered every other day. A few days a week we go outside into a caged area for 45 minutes. A few times a week there’s bible study for those that want to go. Visitation Wednesday and Saturday; commissary orders on Monday are delivered Thursday or Friday (what do you expect from a government run store?). That’s it, week after week.
Most of the prisoners skip breakfast or return to sleep afterwards. They start getting up around 10-11am, with everyone up for lunch. To fill the gaps they watch TV, play cards, write letters or sleep.
To suggest that “corrections” or rehabilitation in any way shape or form is happening here, I can only label a bold faced lie. The prisoners here blame their circumstances, many lack basic communication skills, and their dispute resolution skills are centered on violence. There have been two fist fights in the showers (out of camera view) since I’ve been here.
If you think about it, the state is teaching them to be slackers! Sleep till noon, sit around watching TV (or playing video games), no job and expect someone else to supply your room and board.
What’s worse, propbation terms are set up so that even contact with a government police officer is a violation. That’s right, get pulled over as a passenger in a friend’s car, and they will throw you back in jail.
This system is set up with one primary purpose, to extract money from taxpayers, “criminals,” their friends and families, to feed the state. It’s no surprise some states are now charging the prisoners $40-60/day they incarcerate. Wouldn’t it be easier to restitute the victim and make them whole again? Of course not! That wouldn’t feed the ever growing monster that is the state, and its fascist corporate prison monopoly n so called “justice.”
There is a better way…
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | May 2, 2009 |
Tuesday, April 28:
Today at breakfast we were only given one half cup of milk today instead of the usual two. Given that milk is all I’m drinking, and I did my full set of stretches along with 2/3 of a yoga workout, my body needed it. One of the other prisoners named Brandon is lactose intolerant, and breakfast was was two pieces of burnt toast and dry cereal that resembled Froot Loops. When Brandon asked how he was supposed to eat that, the guard told him to use water. They were out of the substitute as well.
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by Sam Dodson | May 2, 2009 |
Monday, April 27:
I get up early in the morning to take a hot shower. The hot water for a group of about 20 lasts long enough for two showers. With my body lacking protein from the hunger strike, the cold is almost unbearable.
The shower of course models government’s flawed “one size MUST fit all” methodology. It has an on/off button with no temperature control. So when the water first comes out it’s well over 110°, causes my skin to turn bright red, and burns my scalp if I put my head under it. So I let it run for about 5 minutes to cool off. It gives me time to kill the gnats flying around the shower. (more…)
by Sam Dodson | May 2, 2009 |
Monday Morning, April 27:
My spirits are up today. I received a huge stack of mail, from Friday! Apparently the guards lied to people who called to find out my visitation days. They were told Sunday when it’s Saturday at 1:00pm, and Wednesday 7:00-9:00pm.
Do they not realize doing so only encourages more outrage? Perhaps they hope to break me with their deceptive tactics. It’s been a common theme. Sumpreme Court motion for write of Habeas Corpus is getting filed today. We should have an answer in 3 days.
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | May 2, 2009 |
Sunday, April 26:
I was fast asleep after finishing my 2 glasses of milk for lunch when I was awoken suddenly by the other prisoners shouting “Sam! Sam! The protestors are back.”
The area used to imprison us has a day room with a TV, a couple of tables, 3 empty double bunkbeds, a few plastic chairs, and a toilet in the corner. Off the day room are 2 hallways with 6 cages. 2 cages hold 4 bunks, the other are single bunks. The prisoners here recall as many as 7 people locked out on the day room. Right now there are 5 empty bunks and no one in the day room.
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by Sam Dodson | May 2, 2009 |
Sunday, April 26:
Yesterday afternoon was a rough day. Mail was delivered and visitation came and went. I felt alone and forgotten. My mind kept wandering to the life I lead; to all the things put on hold; to all the people enjoying their freedom blissfully unaware of the injustice and tyranny they fund.
Who knows, perhaps both arrived yesterday They have held my mail, delivered it separately, and continue denying me access to council. The C.O.s have violated their word of honor on more than one occasion, demonstrating a complete lack of integrity. I’ve filled out 3 requests to use the law library computer, all have been ignored. (more…)
