IN THE LIFE OF A CONNECTICUT PRISONER Vol.2 No.5
By Richard Stevenson

GREETINS FREE WORLD! Well, we are still locked down twice
per week (staff training) in addition to the various codes.
Even though we only get 2 hours per day for recreation they
somehow couldn't find the time to train 2 or 3 officers a couple
of hours out of the day.
They also can't seem to to find the time to give those
of us in South Block-2, who slave for the state making license
plates, work showers. Our day ends at about 2pm but we must
wait until 8:30 om or 9:30 om to shower. This mean we only get
a half an hour to try and get to a phone and call our families.
These types of issues aren't knew to us. you see, it's
contract negotiation time. The more they can make us flip out
the better position they are in for negotiations costing the
state millions.
Let me tell you how good they have it here. Recently, we
asked permission to play flag football. They wouldn't have to
pay for any of the equipment. The recreation director denied
us saying that the guard's union are afraid that they would
have to respond to fights on the field. First, isn't that what
hey get paid to do? Second, in the 20 years I've played flag
football at the other facilities there has never been a fight
over the game or on the field.
So please, if you ever gear about anything jumping off
at a Connecticut prison, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! They spend
a lot of energy trying to get us to act out to justify their
positions and budget.
Also know this, when you hear about cuts in the D.O.C.
budget, be aware that it ALWAYS hit the prisoners well before
staffbenefits and pay are touched. They'll cut programs, inmate
pay, inmate work hours, clothing allotments (we currently only
get 2 pairs of pants and shirts ea.!), food, (99% of all the
meat they give us has soy filler in ti), et al.
No wonder the recidivism rate in this state is so high!
#HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE!

Rich.