Well this will be the first new post of the New Year. So, Happy New Year everyone. Work has been a learning experience every day and i expect that to continue as new things happen and i see things in a different way. The second and third weeks in Unit 3 were mostly the same as the first week. Inmates were still trying to understand me as a person. They wanted to know what they could get away with and what they couldn't. They would ask me things knowing what the correct answer was just to see if i knew it, or if i was gonna pretend like i knew what it was. I mostly just said i don't know if i didn't. They continued to ask me the kinds of things that i liked to do and what kinda sports i liked if any. That is their way of trying to connect with you on a personal level. Something they remind you over and over again about not doing too much. Its ok to socialize with them a little bit but you cant tell them too much. These guys have limitless resources due to the state giving them anything they need except computers. The more info you give them, they more they will eventually be able to use to find out more about you.
Inmates are a very rare breed of people in the way they act. Many of them have been locked up for so long they can read lips and they have impeccable hearing. A great example is the other night we were up front at the desk talking abut an inmate on the phone. He was at the back of the block and was watching us. Without talking very loudly his name came up. As soon as we hung up the phone he came up and asked us why we were talking bout him. It wasn't because he heard us but because he was able to read the officers lips when saying his name. You see crazy stuff like that all the time. And inmates love to look out for certain other inmates. They are called "hawks", because they will stand up top on the mezzanine and warn the inmates that are doing something bad when the c/o is coming so they won't get caught. This was the case just last night. One of the known gay guys was down at the end of the block giving a favor with his mouth to another inmate. Every time we would get up to get down there, one would jump up and go one way and leave the other one behind so we wouldn't catch them in the act. They cant be written up for something if we don't see them in action. But seeing as how every time he jumped up he was heading to the bathroom covering his mouth, it kinda gave it away. Finally we left them alone, and 10 minutes later that same guy was walking to the bathroom wiping his mouth off. Yeah its pretty gross i know, but it does happen. Unless we catch them in the act there is nothing we can do.
Last night was also my first experience with an inmate testing my honesty. It really caught me off guard because i was definitely not expecting it. I honestly hadn't even thought about it. I walked over to the closet to unlock it for an inmate. He had to get some trash bags out of it and we keep pad locks on everything. So after i unlocked it and he was reaching inside, he leaned over and with a really low voice said "you still gonna do that for me, right?" I was caught off guard and quickly responded with "i'm not getting anything for you". That was all he wanted to know and walked away. People don't realize that most of the contraband that gets into facilities is brought in my correctional officers. Some officers are looking to make a few extra bucks from the inmates. But, to make a few extra bucks isn't worth losing my job and serving 2 years in prison. It's not like they have anything to lose by asking so that's why they keep asking.
Ill try and continue on tomorrow morning. I still have plenty to talk about. Happy New Year!
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