Today is the third day of this "lockdown" and search...
Yesterday, a company of several dozen Correction Officers (guards) came into the cellblock and set up their portable command post on the lower floor. They then paired off in teams of two, and each team went to a cell to begin their search. My cell was searched from top to bottom. No contraband was found, so I'm okay. However, when they left, I had to put all my property back in order.
Maybe by tomorrow this lockdown will be over, and the prison will return to its normal routine and rhythm. Nevertheless, most of the prisoners came through the search with "No Contraband Found." But some did get busted for various rule violations. One man in a cell near mine was found with a "shank" (a handmade knife). He was immediately taken to the "Special Housing Unit," infamously known more by inmates and guards as "The Box."
Yet, as I mentioned in my June 26th journal entry, these lockdowns provide me with the chance to catch up on things. In spite of the noise and chatter, and having to breathe in a lot of secondhand smoke - these guys get bored being cooped up and so they smoke like crazy - I did manage to get a number of letters finished. I also did a lot of reading.
So all in all, this lockdown turned out to be a physical and spiritual respite from the day-to-day movement and motion of prison life. Many of the inmates feel the same as I do. It's a chance to rest and unwind, to take a breather from our day-to-day pressures.
D.B.
Maybe by tomorrow this lockdown will be over, and the prison will return to its normal routine and rhythm. Nevertheless, most of the prisoners came through the search with "No Contraband Found." But some did get busted for various rule violations. One man in a cell near mine was found with a "shank" (a handmade knife). He was immediately taken to the "Special Housing Unit," infamously known more by inmates and guards as "The Box."
Yet, as I mentioned in my June 26th journal entry, these lockdowns provide me with the chance to catch up on things. In spite of the noise and chatter, and having to breathe in a lot of secondhand smoke - these guys get bored being cooped up and so they smoke like crazy - I did manage to get a number of letters finished. I also did a lot of reading.
So all in all, this lockdown turned out to be a physical and spiritual respite from the day-to-day movement and motion of prison life. Many of the inmates feel the same as I do. It's a chance to rest and unwind, to take a breather from our day-to-day pressures.
D.B.