Well, things got interesting again last night. Right before lights out at 10:00 pm we got a call on the radio for all floor staff to report to the ready room. They had a cell fight in DSU (Disciplinary Segregation Unit) and they pulled all of our staff to go deal with it. They left one person to cover our whole building. At least we had everything done for the night, so it didn't matter so much, as long as we didn't have anyone get stupid. Fortunatley we didn't and they got the guys out in DSU with nothing more than a good dousing of pepper spray.
Then at just after 4:00 am we get another call. While doing the 4:00 am count, an inmate had attempted to kill himself. The way I heard it was he tied some string or a shoelace around his neck and used pencils to turn it like a tourniquet. When found he was unconcious. They called an ambulance and they again pulled two of our staff to go to the hospital with him. This left us with two people to feed breakfast at 5:oo am. Two people to serve meals to 150 inmates, it was going to be a late morning for us. Fortunatley some of the dayshift guys showed up early and jumped in to help feed, so it gone done only about 10 minutes later than usual. By the time I left, I hadn't heard anything about the guy that tried to kill himself. I am going in tonight to do an extra shift, so I will post in the morning if I hear anything more.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
April 19th
Last night was one of those great nights where everything happens at once.
Shortly after we got on shift, the lieutenant had to go to SMU. Smu is the Special Management Unit, our psych unit. We had just got our orderlies out to clean their respective units, when she called me and said she needed some staff up in SMU to assist with an inmate that was out of control. They were going to need a team to place the inmate in a restraint chair. The restraint chair is a chair that is low to the ground and on wheels that has straps for the arms, legs and chest to restrain an inmate that may cause self harm. So two of our staff left the building in a hurry to go help. We had to lock our orderlies back up, since we were now working with only two floor staff in the building, not enough to respond if we were to have a problem.
The two staff that went out to help made it as far as the foot gate. Our unit is entirely fenced in within the institution. There is a gate that we go through that is right under one of the towers, and that tower has a switch to open the gate to let us in and out. So of course, the lock failed. The Lt. is freaking out wanting those staff in SMU NOW, and they are stuck behind the gate trying desperatley to get out. They are finally able to get the gate to release so they can get out, but the lock is still malfunctioning, so they start trying to get someone out to fix it.
Then about ten minutes after this mess, while still running with just two staff in the building, I get a call from our transport unit. They are on the way to our unit in about twenty minutes with six new inmates for us from an institution in eastern Oregon. Now we don't have enough staff to bring these guys in, we don't have a lieutenant that can authorize the gate to be lifted to bring them in, and the gate still isn't fixed even if we did. They ended up having to bring them in through the visiting area for our unit, and they had to help bring them in. They were ecstatic over this news, as they were already running late and several hours past what should have been the end of their shift already.
Well, eventually, we got our new admits in and settled, they got the guy in SMU in the chair and settled down and the gate got fixed. It was getting late at this point, so the orderlies didn't get out to finish cleaning so they did what inmates do best and bitched, whined and complained for a while, but things finally calmed down and the rest of the night went pretty smooth.
On a happier note, looks like the weather is going to be kind tonight so I can ride the bike to work. What a way to spoil a good ride, having to pull in to work at the end of it. Oh well, I gotta be there, might as well enjoy getting there.
Shortly after we got on shift, the lieutenant had to go to SMU. Smu is the Special Management Unit, our psych unit. We had just got our orderlies out to clean their respective units, when she called me and said she needed some staff up in SMU to assist with an inmate that was out of control. They were going to need a team to place the inmate in a restraint chair. The restraint chair is a chair that is low to the ground and on wheels that has straps for the arms, legs and chest to restrain an inmate that may cause self harm. So two of our staff left the building in a hurry to go help. We had to lock our orderlies back up, since we were now working with only two floor staff in the building, not enough to respond if we were to have a problem.
The two staff that went out to help made it as far as the foot gate. Our unit is entirely fenced in within the institution. There is a gate that we go through that is right under one of the towers, and that tower has a switch to open the gate to let us in and out. So of course, the lock failed. The Lt. is freaking out wanting those staff in SMU NOW, and they are stuck behind the gate trying desperatley to get out. They are finally able to get the gate to release so they can get out, but the lock is still malfunctioning, so they start trying to get someone out to fix it.
Then about ten minutes after this mess, while still running with just two staff in the building, I get a call from our transport unit. They are on the way to our unit in about twenty minutes with six new inmates for us from an institution in eastern Oregon. Now we don't have enough staff to bring these guys in, we don't have a lieutenant that can authorize the gate to be lifted to bring them in, and the gate still isn't fixed even if we did. They ended up having to bring them in through the visiting area for our unit, and they had to help bring them in. They were ecstatic over this news, as they were already running late and several hours past what should have been the end of their shift already.
Well, eventually, we got our new admits in and settled, they got the guy in SMU in the chair and settled down and the gate got fixed. It was getting late at this point, so the orderlies didn't get out to finish cleaning so they did what inmates do best and bitched, whined and complained for a while, but things finally calmed down and the rest of the night went pretty smooth.
On a happier note, looks like the weather is going to be kind tonight so I can ride the bike to work. What a way to spoil a good ride, having to pull in to work at the end of it. Oh well, I gotta be there, might as well enjoy getting there.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
April 15th
OK, so I am a couple days late. It has been a busy week.
For starters, it turns out the fire at OSCI and the fight were not related. There was apparently just a small electrical fire. Then there was a fight that was unrelated. I never get much details other than that.
Nothing really exciting this week. I worked an extra shift Saturday night. I decided to ride the goldwing to work, despite the dark clouds. It was clear here when I left the house, but there were some ugly looking clouds up north. As I cruised north on I-5 I managed to stay just behind the rain. It had blown past before I got to it and the road was wet, but I didn't get rained on for most of the ride.
Then I got to an area that has some high hills just south of Salem. As I approached the hills it started to rain so I slipped into the slow lane and slowed a bit. As I got further up the hill it started to rain harder, then I hit a hail storm. It was just little hail, but as it started peppering my face at 65 miles an hour I decided it sucks just a little bit. Fortunately it didn't last long, and once I cleared the hills it was clear again. Oh well, it was still a nice ride.
For starters, it turns out the fire at OSCI and the fight were not related. There was apparently just a small electrical fire. Then there was a fight that was unrelated. I never get much details other than that.
Nothing really exciting this week. I worked an extra shift Saturday night. I decided to ride the goldwing to work, despite the dark clouds. It was clear here when I left the house, but there were some ugly looking clouds up north. As I cruised north on I-5 I managed to stay just behind the rain. It had blown past before I got to it and the road was wet, but I didn't get rained on for most of the ride.
Then I got to an area that has some high hills just south of Salem. As I approached the hills it started to rain so I slipped into the slow lane and slowed a bit. As I got further up the hill it started to rain harder, then I hit a hail storm. It was just little hail, but as it started peppering my face at 65 miles an hour I decided it sucks just a little bit. Fortunately it didn't last long, and once I cleared the hills it was clear again. Oh well, it was still a nice ride.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
April 12th
Sorry to those of you who actually read this rubish and look for more. It has been a while, I have been bad about keeping up.
There hasn't really been a whole lot going on lately, things have been pretty quiet, which is a good thing I suppose, all things considered.
This morning looked like it was going to be a real cluster, but it turned out not to be too bad. I was informed at 10 minutes to 5:00 am that we had an inmate we had to wake in our unit to be shipped out. I got this information from the guy working control in another unit. Thanks for passing along the info there LT. We feed breakfast at 5:05 am, so we didn't have much time to get him up, have him pack his belongings, and get him downstairs before breakfast was served.
THEN we got word that we were getting 5 new inmates from OSCI, another institution in Salem. The details are a bit fuzzy still, but there was something mentioned about a fire and some fights. I have no idea at this point if the inmates started a fire, or what exactly happened. I will find out tonight and post what details I can tomorrow.
We were afraid we would get these guys in just as breakfast got to the building. This has happened before, and can really throw a monkey wrench in the morning routine. The biggest being, we all get to go home late because everything gets delayed. Fortunately, they didn't get to us, so we were able to get breakfast served and split before they got there.
There hasn't really been a whole lot going on lately, things have been pretty quiet, which is a good thing I suppose, all things considered.
This morning looked like it was going to be a real cluster, but it turned out not to be too bad. I was informed at 10 minutes to 5:00 am that we had an inmate we had to wake in our unit to be shipped out. I got this information from the guy working control in another unit. Thanks for passing along the info there LT. We feed breakfast at 5:05 am, so we didn't have much time to get him up, have him pack his belongings, and get him downstairs before breakfast was served.
THEN we got word that we were getting 5 new inmates from OSCI, another institution in Salem. The details are a bit fuzzy still, but there was something mentioned about a fire and some fights. I have no idea at this point if the inmates started a fire, or what exactly happened. I will find out tonight and post what details I can tomorrow.
We were afraid we would get these guys in just as breakfast got to the building. This has happened before, and can really throw a monkey wrench in the morning routine. The biggest being, we all get to go home late because everything gets delayed. Fortunately, they didn't get to us, so we were able to get breakfast served and split before they got there.
Friday, March 30, 2007
March 30th
Well, got back to work this week.
12 hours makes for a LONG shift with my back still hurting, but with a little help from my constant companion, Vicadin, I am getting by.
Last night was interesting. There is an inmate that was unhappy with the meds he recieved from the nurse. He felt they were the wrong ones, or not enough or something. So he did what any normal person would do under those circumstances and took his balls hostage. Oh yeah, you heard me right. He tied something around his testicles and decided he was going to castrate himself.
Now I'm thinking, this will be fun, let's leave him be and check on him in the morning. We can't do that of course.
Sigh, things would be so much more fun if I were in charge.
So everyone has to suit up to do a cell extraction, because this clown is refusing to back up for restraints so they can check on him. And as usual, right after everyone takes the time to get suited up, he decides to cooperate and back up.
Here is another thing that would change if I were in charge. If I have asked you 3 or more times to back up and you refuse, and I have to take the time to pull all my staff in and suit up, we ARE coming in the hard way to get you. What's that?, you are willing to back up now? Oh, no can do my friend. That ship has already sailed, ready or not, here we come!
Anyway, he backed up, the hostages were freed, and the rest of the night was quiet.
The weather has been pretty nice the last couple days so I have been able to ride the motorcycle to work. It has been a bit chilly coming home in the morning, but still a nice ride. They are saying we will get a little rain this afternoon. I am hoping it is light and clears up so I can ride again tonight.
12 hours makes for a LONG shift with my back still hurting, but with a little help from my constant companion, Vicadin, I am getting by.
Last night was interesting. There is an inmate that was unhappy with the meds he recieved from the nurse. He felt they were the wrong ones, or not enough or something. So he did what any normal person would do under those circumstances and took his balls hostage. Oh yeah, you heard me right. He tied something around his testicles and decided he was going to castrate himself.
Now I'm thinking, this will be fun, let's leave him be and check on him in the morning. We can't do that of course.
Sigh, things would be so much more fun if I were in charge.
So everyone has to suit up to do a cell extraction, because this clown is refusing to back up for restraints so they can check on him. And as usual, right after everyone takes the time to get suited up, he decides to cooperate and back up.
Here is another thing that would change if I were in charge. If I have asked you 3 or more times to back up and you refuse, and I have to take the time to pull all my staff in and suit up, we ARE coming in the hard way to get you. What's that?, you are willing to back up now? Oh, no can do my friend. That ship has already sailed, ready or not, here we come!
Anyway, he backed up, the hostages were freed, and the rest of the night was quiet.
The weather has been pretty nice the last couple days so I have been able to ride the motorcycle to work. It has been a bit chilly coming home in the morning, but still a nice ride. They are saying we will get a little rain this afternoon. I am hoping it is light and clears up so I can ride again tonight.
Friday, March 23, 2007
March 23rd
Nope, I haven't left this to the wayside.
We moved over the first weekend of the month and didn't get the internet setup at our new house until yesterday.
Not a lot has been going on.
I managed to get through the move without hurting my back, and then the day AFTER we got moved I decided to get my computer set up. As I lifted my antique, massive old 19" monitor off the ground, my back went out. So I have missed the last week of work.
I went in Thursday morning and had pain block shots in my back. They use an x-ray machine and run a needle right in next to my spine and shoot me with a steroid that has anti-inflammatory properties. So far I still hurt like hell, but I think it is starting to ease off a little.
So when I get back to work next week I will be sure to start updating again.
We moved over the first weekend of the month and didn't get the internet setup at our new house until yesterday.
Not a lot has been going on.
I managed to get through the move without hurting my back, and then the day AFTER we got moved I decided to get my computer set up. As I lifted my antique, massive old 19" monitor off the ground, my back went out. So I have missed the last week of work.
I went in Thursday morning and had pain block shots in my back. They use an x-ray machine and run a needle right in next to my spine and shoot me with a steroid that has anti-inflammatory properties. So far I still hurt like hell, but I think it is starting to ease off a little.
So when I get back to work next week I will be sure to start updating again.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
March 1st
Not much going on this week so far.
It has been pretty quiet for the most part.
Did have a funny one when I did count the other night. There is a new inmate that was brought in to A unit. This is the unit where guys that first come into the building go. This guy started hollering at me as soon as I got on the tier wanting me to come to the front of his cell and talk to him. I told him I was doing count, and if he wanted to talk to do it while I was walking. He proceeded to yell out to tell me he wasn't a rape-o or anything and he wanted to be treated better. He wanted a pillow, he wanted a cell with running water, (He is in a water controlled cell), he wanted a better cell in general, he wanted to go to population, and on and on and on. He continued to rant the whole time I was walking the tier. As I finished and was walking out I looked at him and told him I don't know why he is telling ME all this, I am not the guy in a position to make it happen for him. THAT was it. He nutted up and started kicking his cell door and yelling that he wanted to see the Luietenant RIGHT NOW and demanded I make him come see him. And on and on he went as I left the tier to finish my walk. When I finished walking my count, I proceeded to the Luietenants' office and informed him that he was to stop what he was doing and IMMEDIATELY go talk to that inmate. We had a good laugh over it and moved on.
This inmate is going to be a pain in the ass, we can already tell. Last night he started to sheet up his cell. This is when an inmate covers the front of their cell with their blankets or sheets so the officer in control center can't see into their cell. An officer went in and was able to reason (read as, threaten) with him and get him to take them down. I suspect we will be dealing with this clown a lot over the next month or two.
I guess while I am telling stories, I should tell the one from last weeks count. I had forgotten about it until I wrote this. I was counting in B unit, and as I got to the last section (there are 3 sections in each unti) an inmate started making cat calls and whistling at me and just being an idiot in general. The Corporal was in the office of the unit as I finished, and I warned him I was going to stir the shit in section 3. He just looked at me and asked "Why do you have to stir up MY unit?" I just grinned at him and walked back out to section 3 and said loud enough for all to hear, "I don't know what you are yelling and whistling at me for. I read your chrono's (these are comments and information in our computer about the inmates crimes and their behavior since being inside) and from what I can see, I am the right sex, but about 35 years too old for you to be interested in me." That worked, the whole tier started ripping on the guy and giving him hell. I just grinned and went on to the next unit to continue my count, as the Corporal stood shaking his head.
Sometimes you just gotta make your own entertainment.
In other news, I guess they had another fight just outside the dining room last night at dinner time. I didn't hear any details about what it was about or who it involved. It sure seems like we are having an awful lot of fights lately, and this usually doesn't happen until summer gets here and people are hot and grumpy. It might be an interesting year.
It has been pretty quiet for the most part.
Did have a funny one when I did count the other night. There is a new inmate that was brought in to A unit. This is the unit where guys that first come into the building go. This guy started hollering at me as soon as I got on the tier wanting me to come to the front of his cell and talk to him. I told him I was doing count, and if he wanted to talk to do it while I was walking. He proceeded to yell out to tell me he wasn't a rape-o or anything and he wanted to be treated better. He wanted a pillow, he wanted a cell with running water, (He is in a water controlled cell), he wanted a better cell in general, he wanted to go to population, and on and on and on. He continued to rant the whole time I was walking the tier. As I finished and was walking out I looked at him and told him I don't know why he is telling ME all this, I am not the guy in a position to make it happen for him. THAT was it. He nutted up and started kicking his cell door and yelling that he wanted to see the Luietenant RIGHT NOW and demanded I make him come see him. And on and on he went as I left the tier to finish my walk. When I finished walking my count, I proceeded to the Luietenants' office and informed him that he was to stop what he was doing and IMMEDIATELY go talk to that inmate. We had a good laugh over it and moved on.
This inmate is going to be a pain in the ass, we can already tell. Last night he started to sheet up his cell. This is when an inmate covers the front of their cell with their blankets or sheets so the officer in control center can't see into their cell. An officer went in and was able to reason (read as, threaten) with him and get him to take them down. I suspect we will be dealing with this clown a lot over the next month or two.
I guess while I am telling stories, I should tell the one from last weeks count. I had forgotten about it until I wrote this. I was counting in B unit, and as I got to the last section (there are 3 sections in each unti) an inmate started making cat calls and whistling at me and just being an idiot in general. The Corporal was in the office of the unit as I finished, and I warned him I was going to stir the shit in section 3. He just looked at me and asked "Why do you have to stir up MY unit?" I just grinned at him and walked back out to section 3 and said loud enough for all to hear, "I don't know what you are yelling and whistling at me for. I read your chrono's (these are comments and information in our computer about the inmates crimes and their behavior since being inside) and from what I can see, I am the right sex, but about 35 years too old for you to be interested in me." That worked, the whole tier started ripping on the guy and giving him hell. I just grinned and went on to the next unit to continue my count, as the Corporal stood shaking his head.
Sometimes you just gotta make your own entertainment.
In other news, I guess they had another fight just outside the dining room last night at dinner time. I didn't hear any details about what it was about or who it involved. It sure seems like we are having an awful lot of fights lately, and this usually doesn't happen until summer gets here and people are hot and grumpy. It might be an interesting year.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
February 22nd
Not much to report today. It was a pretty routine quiet night for me.
It appears we have lost another staff member. According to the rumor mill, he lost his temper with his girlfriend and grabbed her by the throat and threatned her. He was arrested, and will now lose his certification and will no longer be able to work for any sort of law enforcement in the state of Oregon. The guy had like 10 years in and pissed it away over what? a stupid argument with his girlfriend? What a waste, and he was a good officer. This is all of course just the talk, so it may not play out exactly as I have heard so far, but he is definately banned from entering the institution until further notice, so obviously something happened.
It appears we have lost another staff member. According to the rumor mill, he lost his temper with his girlfriend and grabbed her by the throat and threatned her. He was arrested, and will now lose his certification and will no longer be able to work for any sort of law enforcement in the state of Oregon. The guy had like 10 years in and pissed it away over what? a stupid argument with his girlfriend? What a waste, and he was a good officer. This is all of course just the talk, so it may not play out exactly as I have heard so far, but he is definately banned from entering the institution until further notice, so obviously something happened.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
February 21st
I guess I have slipped a bit and it has been a while since my last post.
There hasn't been a whole lot going on, at least for me, at work the last couple weeks. It has been pretty much the same old routine. It has been a little different in general population this last week though.
On Tuesday the 13th they had a fight in the dining room during the noon meal. This fight was between an African-American inmate and a Caucasian inmate. It appears that there was quite a bit of racial tension when this happened.
Then that evening there was a fight between 2 Hispanic inmates in D block. These inmates had just been recently released from IMU. They did not respond when staff arrived and ordered them to stop fighting. They did not respond and break apart even after OC spray was used, and staff had to intervene and physically pull them apart.
Because we have had an increasing number of incidents such as this, the administration slowed things down once again for several days. They limited the number of areas they allowed out to the yard at one time, and slowed the running of meals to limit the number of inmates out at one time. As of the time I am writing this, things should be back to normal schedule. I have been on my weekend for the last four days, so who knows what has happened while I was gone.
There hasn't been a whole lot going on, at least for me, at work the last couple weeks. It has been pretty much the same old routine. It has been a little different in general population this last week though.
On Tuesday the 13th they had a fight in the dining room during the noon meal. This fight was between an African-American inmate and a Caucasian inmate. It appears that there was quite a bit of racial tension when this happened.
Then that evening there was a fight between 2 Hispanic inmates in D block. These inmates had just been recently released from IMU. They did not respond when staff arrived and ordered them to stop fighting. They did not respond and break apart even after OC spray was used, and staff had to intervene and physically pull them apart.
Because we have had an increasing number of incidents such as this, the administration slowed things down once again for several days. They limited the number of areas they allowed out to the yard at one time, and slowed the running of meals to limit the number of inmates out at one time. As of the time I am writing this, things should be back to normal schedule. I have been on my weekend for the last four days, so who knows what has happened while I was gone.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
February 7th
Well, grab yerself a cup'o'joe and kick back. This is gonna be a long ass post.
For starters, I will explain what IMU (Intensive Management Unit) is, since that is my new post starting this week. IMU is a prison within the prison.
When Inmates break rules they get sanctioned time in our DSU (Disciplinary Segregation Unit). This is basically a jail within the prison. They are locked down for most of the day, but do get to walk on the tier 5 days a week, and go to a secure outside yard, weather permitting. They don't get these privileges if they are on LOP (Loss Of Privileges). So if they break a rule they go to DSU. If they continue breaking rules and keep getting sent to DSU, OR the rule they broke was severe enough, like an assault on another inmate or staff for example, they get sanctioned to up to 180 days in DSU. Then they get sent to IMU. DSU is a disciplinary process and they can only be kept there a maximum of 180 days. IMU is a program unit, and they can be kept there pretty much indefinitely until they decide to do the program assigned to them so they can get out and be placed back in GP (General Population).
So IMU is a maximum lock down unit. They are kept locked up except to go to an inside yard area 5 days a week for 30 minutes. Then they get a 15 minute shower and go back to their cell. The only other time they get out is if they have school or a program to go to, or a visit. The amount of visits they can receive is cut back as well. When they do come out of their cells, they are always handcuffed with a set of cuffs that have a tether attached, and there are always at least 2 staff with that inmate. It is a very controlled, secure area. IMU is made up of 4 pods, or units. The inmates are housed in a different unit depending on how well they are doing and the progress of their program. The exception is C unit, which is where death row inmates are housed. This is one of the more stressful areas to work, because we get the inmates that can't behave in GP and are often the most disruptive and violent. We are not allowed to work in this unit for more than 2 years at a time. After that we have to bid out of the unit for at least 1 bid (6 months) to get away from the high stress environment for a while. The same 2 year rule applies to DSU.
Now the other thing different about IMU is that we work 12 hour shifts there. It is the only part of the prison with this sort of shift. It is a 3 week cycle. For 2 weeks we work 3 days on and 4 days off, and the 3rd week we work 4 days on and 3 days off. If you do the math, that equals out to 120 hours in the 3 week cycle, the same as doing 8 hour shifts 5 days a week.
Our work weeks run from Sunday to Saturday. Because my old post I had Friday and Saturday's off, my weekend was at the end of the week. When I bid the new post in IMU I bid a post that I work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights (From 0600 pm to 0600 am). Then on my long week I go in a day early and work Tuesday night as well. So I have Saturday, Sunday, Monday and 2 of every 3 Tuesday's off. Putting this together, I was looking at having a nice 6 day weekend going into the new bid. You with me still? That would have been Thursday (I got off work Thursday morning at 0800 am on the old post) Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night, and I would then go in Wednesday night at 0600 pm.
So I was sitting at home last night, planning on enjoying my last night of freedom before having to go back in to work tonight. At about 0605 pm my cell phone rang. I answer it and it is the swingshift lieutenant in IMU. The conversation goes something like this.
"So, Gary, were you planning on coming to work tonight?"
"Um, no, wasn't planning on it."
"Well, you're on the boards for tonight."
"What?!? I don't come in until Wednesday night."
"Well, this is Wednesday nights board. It is Tuesday night, but it is considered 1st shift (graveyard) so you are on tonight."
"I know how the boards work, I have worked 1st shift for a long time. But my post is actually Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which is actually 0600 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I only come in on Tuesday nights on my lo......
(Now at this point, with the Goddess as my witness, I SWEAR you could actually see a light bulb flicker to life above my head!)
....Aww SHIT lieutenant, what week are you guys on out there?"
(You see, the 3 week rotation doesn't re-set at the beginning of each bid. It just keeps cycling through.)
"Well, according to the board this is week 3."
"SON-OF-A-BITCH!! This IS my long week. I'll jump in the shower, get dressed and get there as soon as I can."
Ohhhh yeahhhhh, guess who was supposed to be at work by 0600 pm last night. So by the time I shower, get dressed and get to work it is 0730 pm. (I live about 45 miles from work, so it is almost an hour drive) Fortunately, the guy I was supposed to relieve at 0600 pm, decided that I could just pay him back the time instead of getting burned for being late. The lieutenant said that was ok with him, so now on my next long week, I gotta go in a couple hours early to pay him back for covering for me until I got in last night. What a great way to start the new bid.
Whew! WHAT?!? I warned you it was gonna be a long ass post.
Ok, one other thing to report. Apparently they had a pretty busy day on Monday, the 5th. They had 4 different fights during the day involving different groups of inmates. The first 2 happened within 11 minutes of each other in the dining room during lunch time. The first one involved 3 Hispanic inmates. The second one involved 6 African American inmates. The third one happened a couple hours later as the inmates were returning from the recreation yard back to the housing units. It involved an African American and a Caucasian inmate. The fourth was about 5 hours later in the evening and happened by the inmate's canteen exit door. At least three of the four fights are believed to be gang related, but they are all still under investigation.
Because of these fights, the line movements of inmates (including meals) was slowed down Tuesday to allow staff to better observe and control the inmates that were out at different times throughout the day. It sounds like everything went ok, but tensions will probably be running high, so it may be pretty volatile for a while.
OK, that is enough for now. I need sleep.
For starters, I will explain what IMU (Intensive Management Unit) is, since that is my new post starting this week. IMU is a prison within the prison.
When Inmates break rules they get sanctioned time in our DSU (Disciplinary Segregation Unit). This is basically a jail within the prison. They are locked down for most of the day, but do get to walk on the tier 5 days a week, and go to a secure outside yard, weather permitting. They don't get these privileges if they are on LOP (Loss Of Privileges). So if they break a rule they go to DSU. If they continue breaking rules and keep getting sent to DSU, OR the rule they broke was severe enough, like an assault on another inmate or staff for example, they get sanctioned to up to 180 days in DSU. Then they get sent to IMU. DSU is a disciplinary process and they can only be kept there a maximum of 180 days. IMU is a program unit, and they can be kept there pretty much indefinitely until they decide to do the program assigned to them so they can get out and be placed back in GP (General Population).
So IMU is a maximum lock down unit. They are kept locked up except to go to an inside yard area 5 days a week for 30 minutes. Then they get a 15 minute shower and go back to their cell. The only other time they get out is if they have school or a program to go to, or a visit. The amount of visits they can receive is cut back as well. When they do come out of their cells, they are always handcuffed with a set of cuffs that have a tether attached, and there are always at least 2 staff with that inmate. It is a very controlled, secure area. IMU is made up of 4 pods, or units. The inmates are housed in a different unit depending on how well they are doing and the progress of their program. The exception is C unit, which is where death row inmates are housed. This is one of the more stressful areas to work, because we get the inmates that can't behave in GP and are often the most disruptive and violent. We are not allowed to work in this unit for more than 2 years at a time. After that we have to bid out of the unit for at least 1 bid (6 months) to get away from the high stress environment for a while. The same 2 year rule applies to DSU.
Now the other thing different about IMU is that we work 12 hour shifts there. It is the only part of the prison with this sort of shift. It is a 3 week cycle. For 2 weeks we work 3 days on and 4 days off, and the 3rd week we work 4 days on and 3 days off. If you do the math, that equals out to 120 hours in the 3 week cycle, the same as doing 8 hour shifts 5 days a week.
Our work weeks run from Sunday to Saturday. Because my old post I had Friday and Saturday's off, my weekend was at the end of the week. When I bid the new post in IMU I bid a post that I work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights (From 0600 pm to 0600 am). Then on my long week I go in a day early and work Tuesday night as well. So I have Saturday, Sunday, Monday and 2 of every 3 Tuesday's off. Putting this together, I was looking at having a nice 6 day weekend going into the new bid. You with me still? That would have been Thursday (I got off work Thursday morning at 0800 am on the old post) Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night, and I would then go in Wednesday night at 0600 pm.
So I was sitting at home last night, planning on enjoying my last night of freedom before having to go back in to work tonight. At about 0605 pm my cell phone rang. I answer it and it is the swingshift lieutenant in IMU. The conversation goes something like this.
"So, Gary, were you planning on coming to work tonight?"
"Um, no, wasn't planning on it."
"Well, you're on the boards for tonight."
"What?!? I don't come in until Wednesday night."
"Well, this is Wednesday nights board. It is Tuesday night, but it is considered 1st shift (graveyard) so you are on tonight."
"I know how the boards work, I have worked 1st shift for a long time. But my post is actually Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which is actually 0600 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I only come in on Tuesday nights on my lo......
(Now at this point, with the Goddess as my witness, I SWEAR you could actually see a light bulb flicker to life above my head!)
....Aww SHIT lieutenant, what week are you guys on out there?"
(You see, the 3 week rotation doesn't re-set at the beginning of each bid. It just keeps cycling through.)
"Well, according to the board this is week 3."
"SON-OF-A-BITCH!! This IS my long week. I'll jump in the shower, get dressed and get there as soon as I can."
Ohhhh yeahhhhh, guess who was supposed to be at work by 0600 pm last night. So by the time I shower, get dressed and get to work it is 0730 pm. (I live about 45 miles from work, so it is almost an hour drive) Fortunately, the guy I was supposed to relieve at 0600 pm, decided that I could just pay him back the time instead of getting burned for being late. The lieutenant said that was ok with him, so now on my next long week, I gotta go in a couple hours early to pay him back for covering for me until I got in last night. What a great way to start the new bid.
Whew! WHAT?!? I warned you it was gonna be a long ass post.
Ok, one other thing to report. Apparently they had a pretty busy day on Monday, the 5th. They had 4 different fights during the day involving different groups of inmates. The first 2 happened within 11 minutes of each other in the dining room during lunch time. The first one involved 3 Hispanic inmates. The second one involved 6 African American inmates. The third one happened a couple hours later as the inmates were returning from the recreation yard back to the housing units. It involved an African American and a Caucasian inmate. The fourth was about 5 hours later in the evening and happened by the inmate's canteen exit door. At least three of the four fights are believed to be gang related, but they are all still under investigation.
Because of these fights, the line movements of inmates (including meals) was slowed down Tuesday to allow staff to better observe and control the inmates that were out at different times throughout the day. It sounds like everything went ok, but tensions will probably be running high, so it may be pretty volatile for a while.
OK, that is enough for now. I need sleep.
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