Insanity (by Shane)
Shane - Denied psychiatric medication by ValueOptions, Shane turned to illegal drugs financed by burglaries. For stealing a few hundred dollars worth of goods, he was sentenced by Judge Ron Reinstein to eleven years. Shane is the author of the blog Persevering Prison Pages.
The sound of the heavy steel barred cell door slamming shut echoed throughout the antiquated cellblock – a sound tucked away permanently in my mind.
“One time! Charlie run!” a prisoner shouted this warning as a guard began a security walk into the inmates’ living area.
Approaching the last cell on the run, the guard noticed the cell front had been covered with a bed sheet to conceal its occupant. Rapping on the front with his Maglite, the guard said, “Take down that sheet!”
There was no answer.
“Rack number C7!” The guard told the other in the control cage.
“Racking Charlie-7!” the control-room guard warned, just before unlocking and hand- cranking the door open.
Yanking down the sheet, the guard was startled by what he discovered in the cell: a naked convict. Jimmy was a mammoth of a man, one of the biggest convicts on the yard. He had never caused the staff any trouble, and had always been silent and introverted. He was towering before the guard, his naked skin glistening with a bright golden-yellow coat of hair grease. His blank stare sent a shiver through the guard.
Reaching for his pepper spray, the guard didn’t take his eyes off Jimmy’s bare body. He pulled his spray, aimed, and sprayed Jimmy in the face. “Shut C7!”
Before the door was secure, Jimmy managed to rush past the guard, knocking him out of the way. Eyes burning, mucus running from his mouth and nose, Jimmy grabbed out in confusion and pain, ripping the guard’s shirt, flinging him to the ground. Crying out in pain, pacing back and forth over the guard, Jimmy rubbed his eyes, and mumbled incoherently.
“Help me!” the guard yelled to his co-worker.
His shout spooked Jimmy, who stomped down on the guard, breaking his clavicle. Minutes later, the cellblock was saturated with guards who overpowered Jimmy.
Prisons are full of the mentally ill. Overcrowding has left many of them among the general prison population. They can be found on every prison yard across the state. It’s only when one acts uncontrollably that any attention is given. Often times, too late.
The problem isn’t those responsible at the unit or complex level. Some C.O.’s, sergeants, lieutenants, go out of their way to help the mentally ill – to no avail. The problem lies with the administration, the Arizona Department of Corrections policymakers, Governor Brewer and Arizona lawmakers. Budget cuts to ADOC have been minimal compared to other state agencies; however, cuts have been directed at already fragile and broken areas such as medical care and security.
Click here for Shane’s own blog
Some of Shane's prison stories:
What Comes Around
Convict Justice
Fighting For No Good Reason
Our friends inside appreciate your comments
Post comments for Shane below or email them to writeinside@hotmail.com To post a comment if you do not have a Google/Blogger account, just select anonymous for your identity
Shaun Attwood
Shane - Denied psychiatric medication by ValueOptions, Shane turned to illegal drugs financed by burglaries. For stealing a few hundred dollars worth of goods, he was sentenced by Judge Ron Reinstein to eleven years. Shane is the author of the blog Persevering Prison Pages.
The sound of the heavy steel barred cell door slamming shut echoed throughout the antiquated cellblock – a sound tucked away permanently in my mind.
“One time! Charlie run!” a prisoner shouted this warning as a guard began a security walk into the inmates’ living area.
Approaching the last cell on the run, the guard noticed the cell front had been covered with a bed sheet to conceal its occupant. Rapping on the front with his Maglite, the guard said, “Take down that sheet!”
There was no answer.
“Rack number C7!” The guard told the other in the control cage.
“Racking Charlie-7!” the control-room guard warned, just before unlocking and hand- cranking the door open.
Yanking down the sheet, the guard was startled by what he discovered in the cell: a naked convict. Jimmy was a mammoth of a man, one of the biggest convicts on the yard. He had never caused the staff any trouble, and had always been silent and introverted. He was towering before the guard, his naked skin glistening with a bright golden-yellow coat of hair grease. His blank stare sent a shiver through the guard.
Reaching for his pepper spray, the guard didn’t take his eyes off Jimmy’s bare body. He pulled his spray, aimed, and sprayed Jimmy in the face. “Shut C7!”
Before the door was secure, Jimmy managed to rush past the guard, knocking him out of the way. Eyes burning, mucus running from his mouth and nose, Jimmy grabbed out in confusion and pain, ripping the guard’s shirt, flinging him to the ground. Crying out in pain, pacing back and forth over the guard, Jimmy rubbed his eyes, and mumbled incoherently.
“Help me!” the guard yelled to his co-worker.
His shout spooked Jimmy, who stomped down on the guard, breaking his clavicle. Minutes later, the cellblock was saturated with guards who overpowered Jimmy.
Prisons are full of the mentally ill. Overcrowding has left many of them among the general prison population. They can be found on every prison yard across the state. It’s only when one acts uncontrollably that any attention is given. Often times, too late.
The problem isn’t those responsible at the unit or complex level. Some C.O.’s, sergeants, lieutenants, go out of their way to help the mentally ill – to no avail. The problem lies with the administration, the Arizona Department of Corrections policymakers, Governor Brewer and Arizona lawmakers. Budget cuts to ADOC have been minimal compared to other state agencies; however, cuts have been directed at already fragile and broken areas such as medical care and security.
Click here for Shane’s own blog
Some of Shane's prison stories:
What Comes Around
Convict Justice
Fighting For No Good Reason
Our friends inside appreciate your comments
Post comments for Shane below or email them to writeinside@hotmail.com To post a comment if you do not have a Google/Blogger account, just select anonymous for your identity
Shaun Attwood
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