I was so excited yesterday morning. The Recreation Center was open in the morning and I could
take my 7:00am Yoga class! After almost 2 weeks of classes being cancelled due to intermittent
Recreation Center closings, I could finally enjoy the class. The recent snowstorm as well as
construction and installation of a new transformer, have led to multiple scheduled and
unscheduled Recreation Center and Education Center closures which has created frustrations
for both inmates and staff.
Everyone present at the Yoga class was so happy to be there, and it was a great class. Many of us
waited for the 8:00am move call to return to our unit; I had actually planned to go to the
Education Center. The move call never came. A few of us ventured outside, only to find the gate
leading to the housing units was closed. There were no officers on the compound. Very strange.
Rather than sit around until the next move at 9:30am, I worked out a bit on the weight machines
and with some free weights. I also watched some people play billiards and marveled at their skill.
At 9:30am, the move was called and I returned to my unit.
It was in my unit that I found out why there was no 8am move: There was a fight in my unit.
Fights are definitely not tolerated at all in this facility, nor is bullying. Zero tolerance. Two
gentlemen involved in the fight were immediately cuffed and taken to the “SHU”, the special
housing unit – or solitary confinement. This all happened at around 8:00am which is why the
move was cancelled. All the officers were deployed to the fighting two men.
We were allowed to go to lunch as scheduled, but for the remainder of the afternoon, until
dinner, the entire compound was placed on lockdown as a “punishment” for the two gentlemen
who were fighting. I’m very confused as to how punishing everyone for the misdeeds of two
serves any purpose. At 8:00am on a Sunday morning, most people were sleeping, and those who
weren’t probably were at the Recreation Center. The two men who actually broke the rules were
certainly being punished – why were the rest of us?
Many of the inmates were gossiping and complaining. I’ve learned to try and ignore
those”negative energy” behaviors. I decided to use my time productively and spent the afternoon
reading and taking a short 30 minute nap.
After dinner, everything resumed to normal. Lockdown was over and the Recreation Center and
Chapel were all open as scheduled.
As I reflected on the day, it pleased me that there is zero tolerance for violence here and that the
apparent response of the officers was very prompt. I have always felt safe here and this helps
reinforce my feeling of safety.
