Thoughts from the Heart
Smith, Joseph
2012. March. 13
0900hrs::::

STANDING UP
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The writer just left the MTC Institutional Inspector office. The encounter with the person who is duly charged with ensuring that the rights of those confined here are not violated, and if so, to remove those violating. But it came to no surprise to the writer that North Central Correctional Institution is no longer a prison: but rather a "business" and those here are all business partners – and are not going to let anybody or anything come between the partnership or their business. Case in point: The writer filed a grievance against their business partner in medical. Pursuant dept. of corrections rules and policies – in which MTC still must follow to the letter of the law – no gray area here. Grievances must be answered within a 14 day period. And this is calendar days. Not working days. It took the MTC inspector, who is paid by MTC and is protecting their interests, 36 days. To answer the writer's grievance at best she could ask for 14 more days. That would take it to 28 days. Not 36. So when the writer asked what took so long, her response was to attempt to engage the writer in a verbal fisty-cuffs match. The writer held his peace, said nothing. Walked out of her office. Not soon after, the writer's living area was shook down – or should I say ransacked. Not a problem. The writer keeps nothing but what he needs, not what he wants. But that is what they do, because they can. The writer's only recourse is to file to the dept. of corrections headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Don't really see anything coming out of it but one must follow the rules first, before filing a 1983 civil right complaint witht the federal government. The writer is not afraid of those people. Parole is no longer an option. I'm being released in 15 months no matter what. As one great writer once said: "The pen is mightier than the sword." Will keep you abreast of the situation for all that are reading this blog. Pray for us here. Since the state entered into a contract with MTC, the private prison operator, the place is not safe. Security is a joke. The gangs are beginning to take back over – the violence here is on the rise. It's going to be a long, long hot summer. Pray for us...