Date: 21 Sep 25
Subject: *NOTE TO M...

*NOTE TO MY READERS*

To better understand the minor transformation you are about to perceive in the form of my writing, I suppose I should inform you that you have reached the point of my story where the term "memoir" changes in definition. If you remember correctly, the first definition explained that a memoir is: "An account of the personal experiences of the author."

Hence, the chapters were more related to my... Well,... personal experiences. However, I wish to share with you a few somewhat interesting issues of prisoners as a whole -- a couple of which I am rather opinionated about. So now I need you to take into consideration the second definition of the term memoir: "The reports of the proceedings of a learned group of humans broadly distinguished from other humans by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions, and a common culture."

That may sounds like a rather impressive group of people, but as you continue... Well, just keep reading.

(Beginning of: "Close Custody vs Open-bay." Sept. 22, 2025)

Before comparing these two different models of prison dorms, I suppose I should first be sure that you even have an idea as to what an "Open-bay" dorm consists of. I'm quite sure the majority of you my readers have only had the opportunity to view prison by way of television, movies, or perhaps you've read some books that described it all with words. However, I myself cannot recall having ever watched or read about a prison scene that took place in an open-bay dorm. And, after asking a few other prisoners, have come to the conclusion that the occurrences are few and far between. So there's a good chance that many of you are ignorant to this OTHER for of residence that we prisoners are subject to serving our time in -- at least here in the state of Florida.

Walking into an open-bay dorm is much like walking into a military barracks. You have a wide open room where all the bunk beds and single bunks are located (my present one being 41' x 44' that houses 46 prisoners). Then there is the bathroom area that consists of... Well, we'll get to that later. And then of course the day room, for watching T.V., on playing games.

So the only bars a prisoner is going to come across are the ones just outside the windows. And the only thick metal doors he'll come across are the ones at the entrance/exit way.

Naturally, this less restricted type of living facility is not permissible for all prisoners. It can depend upon the crime for which the prisoner was arrested, or his behavior since he arrived in prison. As we all know, there are some guys out there (or should I say in here) who just don't seem to get along well with others -- perhaps even having the same behavioral patterns as that of some type of psycho. Hence, it's mandatory that they be housed in at least a close-custody dorm, or perhaps even a solitary confinement cell.

Now granted, I'm not considered to be some type of psycho (unless I'm experiencing one of my epileptic seizures), but due to my charges it was requirement that I be housed in close-custody dorms. However, after about 15 years of showing myself to be a good little boy, guess what the prison system did? They lowered my housing level, which in turn made it possible for me to live in an open-bay dorm. Then, in less than two weeks, I was told to pack it up and was relocated -- not by choice -- to an open-bay dorm. So I've been living in open-bay dorms on and off for the past eight years.

I would imagine to some of you this would appear to be a nice change, and for some prisoners it actually is. After all, a close-custody cell is only about 7' 6" x 10' 6" in size. Also, between the hours of 10 P.M. and 5 A.M. the doors remain locked closed -- as well as during each of the 4 count times that take about thirty minutes. So it's not much of a desirable atmosphere for your more claustrophobic crowd, or for those who are in dyer need of some attention.

Now that I have familiarized you with the less publicized design of prison dorm, let's take a look at a few of the main issues to consider. It would seem like quite a number of issues would come to mind during the process of analyzing a place of residence. However, considering the fact that in this case the address is a prison camp, there are going to be some limitations. So let's just consider this: What are three activities that we feel more comfortable doing in our own homes? For me it would be:

1.) Sleep.
2.) Use the bathroom. And...
3.) Do my own thing without an audience.

Obviously, the enjoyment of getting some sleep is going to be much easier to achieve in a two-man cell with one cellmate, rather than in a dorm with around 50 roommates -- TRUST ME. So I'm not even going to waste your time and my paper on that subject. If you doubt me, just stop and think of any sleep depriving habits ONE prisoner might do while his cellmate is trying to take a snooze, and then multiply that times 50 (If you can't think of any, keep reading. I'll share a few with you in a little bit).

Next, there is the use of the bathroom. Now this can become a real sticky situation in either location. As you read back in one of my earliest chapters, my five cellmates in the county jail really had no objections to leaving the cell when they were told I was about to do a #2. And fortunately, it's been no different throughout my years in close-custody dorms with only one cellmate... IF THEY CAN GET OUT.

(Well, I guess it's time for me to go now. Be sure to check next week for the continuation of this chapter, and don't hesitate to leave any opinionated messages. They're always welcome. See ya later.)

Date: 28 Sep 25
Subject: (Continuation of: "Close Custody vs Open...

(Continuation of: "Close Custody vs Open-bay." Sept. 29, 2025)

Yeah, I'll admit, there's been a few times when, even though the door is unlocked for 15 hours out of a 24 hour day, Mother Nature just has to choose one of the other 9 hours to call the wrong number (that number being the number 2). I know in my case, if I'm the one who can no longer contain the contents of his colon, the most difficult part is putting up with the embarrassment of it all. Especially if I miss coordination the timing between my thumb, located on the flush button behind my head, and my pelvic muscle which is located... Well, I'm sure I don't need to explain all that. At any rate, things can just sound real tacky if the activiation of the two... "flushing apparatuses" does not occur at the EXACT same time.

Naturally, a discharge of this kind is going to be a little difficult for the one-man audience as well -- although for different reasons I'm sure. I know in my case, when I'm the one who's not doing the #2, I have found it most convenient to just lie down on my bunk, while facing the wall. Then, after burying my face under my pillow, just holding my breath for ten minutes. Unfortunately, the holding of my breath for that long tends to grow a bit difficult after only one minute. Also, I've discovered that things can grow quite perplexing if I try to hold my breath for just one minute, ten consecutive times in a row. So I have found that if I just relax, and keep my face muffled in my pillow, then everything usually goes without much of a... Stink?

Now, please understand, thanks to our body's ability to adjust to the timing of our daily routine, what I've just described to you is something that rarely ever occurs. It's not like some weekly -- or even monthly -- event that one must endure while living in a close-custody dorm. Hence, those... "Mandatory Movements" are easy to put up with. Especially when you take the time to balance out the benefits of having a toilet and sink right there in your cell that you only have to share with ONE other individual. In fact, the only bathroom device that you do have to share with more than one person is the shower. However, they are "single man" showers (although the married men are allowed to use them as well). Now these showers are much larger than the coffin size ones that I mentioned earlier in the county jail. The butterfly dorm I mentioned earlier had 7 showers for it's 64 residents. Hence, there were about 9 guys per shower. If that doesn't sound very sanitary for some reason, just wait till I get to the open-bay...

(Writer quickly rereads previous information regarding close-custody bathroom usage.)

You know something, I've pretty much finished describing to you the positive and negative consequences of bathroom usage in a close-custody cell, and the possible... outcomes. At any rate, let's get started with the consequences of bathroom usage in an open-bay dorm.

Here's where the numbers can start getting real ugly. In my present open-bay location there are 46 prisoners, all of whom use them same bathroom area that consists of:

4 sinks.
3 toilets.
2 urinals. And...
6 open area shower heads (only 3 of which actually get used, so as to allow enough room between each person).

Now, if you calculate all that out, you'll realize... OH, ALRIGHT ALREADY!!! I'll do it for you. Why does everybody hate math so much?

Okay. First of all, please just allow your mind to visualize the aftermath as I share with you these realizing estimates.

1.) Each sink gets used by 11 guys.
2.) Each toilet gets used by 15 guys.
3.) Each urinal gets used by 23 guys. And...
4.) Each shower head gets used by 15 guys.

While the reality of all the probabilities continues to expand within your mind -- regarding things like convenience, privacy, and sanitation impossibilities -- please take into consideration that this cleaning facility is being used by the very same individuals who are more than likely in prison because they couldn't handle the responsibility of maintaining a real job out on the streets. So obviously the last thing one would expect of them is to work at helping to keep a clean bathroom.

I realize that the whole idea of "Doing my own thing without an audience" sounds rather frivolous in some place like a prison dorm. Fact is, whether a prisoner is living in close-custody or an open-bay dorm, he's still living his life amongst a multitude of other prisoners. This is easily observable in an open-bay dorm, because he'll always have 2 to 5 within reach neighbors. Then, there are all the other 40 something neighbors who are within his senses of sight and sound. I don't even want to bring up the sense of smell in this chapter. However, don't forget to let your mind expand with probabilities, so as to fully grasp my viewpoint.

Now, let's take a look at this viewpoint from a close-custody dorm. Granted, a prisoner still has the multitude of other prisoners around him. However... HOWEVER, all but one of them is on the other side of at least one block wall that is 8" thick -- separating all the two man cells. Then, if it's not count time, he also has the convenience of being able to pull the +/- 200 pound metal door to an almost locked position, which operates very effectively as a producer of privacy.

(Hope you all are starting to get a clearer picture of the different scenes in here. I'll be back next week with possibly the conclusion of this chapter, so be sure to check it out.)