The Dynamic Duo

Funny thing about Prison CO’s, like our Lieutenant. They are rather like little demi-gods with the prison as their realm. This one is very hard-nosed and an autocrat, but is also doing some good things, as far as I can tell. The prison was pretty run-down, and he has obtained the money and the authorization to renovate. A lot of painting and tiling is being done. The word is that our store will get a re-tiling job, as well as obtaining an extra storeroom, once the area is no longer needed for a renovating-supply cache. Of course, all of this takes some time, and the gym is totally shut down this winter. If an inmate wants some exercise, the weight benches are outside. Forget basketball or handball. The phone booths have also been moved. Instead of being in front of the building, they are in the back. The word is they are directly under the eaves, in prime position for catching rain or melting snow runoff. So, if the benefits outweigh the inconviences may depend on your point of view.
I have had only a little contact with the LT, although his office is directly across from the store. But one day he had some news that let me know I was not forgotten. “Some training classes are being held in the big prison in Cedar,” he informed me. “They are every Thursday for the next 6 weeks, from 8 AM to 5 PM. You will attend.”
I had always know I would have to attend some mandatory training at some point. Aspects of working in a prison such as “How to Spot Con Games” and “How to Spot a Set-Up” would be covered. The previous storekeeper had told me of her experience: “I went for a week, and they put us up in some kind of dormitories. It was kind of fun.” Well, apparently, the days of “get-it-over-with-all-in-one-week” are over, at least for non-custody prison personnel.
“It is a 348 mile roundtrip, 2 1/2 hours drive each way,” I was informed in response to a volley of panicky questioning, “You can drive the camp vehicle. It is stick shift. Yes, the tires are good. Sure, you can drive your own car if you wish, but you will not be paid for mileage if you do.”
Well, this was a pretty kettle of worms! I stewed about it all weekend, and finally put in a call to the big boss in my department. He agreed with all of my concerns; ie Winter Road Conditions, Don’t Like to Drive After Dark, Wait Til Later in the Year, etc, and promised to see what he could do. Apparently what he could do wasn’t very much, although the dept would reimburse me for mileage, even if I drove my own car, and give me a generous meal allowance. The LT’s concession was that I could miss a day if the weather was bad. Thank goodness for small favors.
The next Thursday, I obediently set out about 5 AM. The drive is all interstate, but goes over a couple of passes that can be kind of scary if there is much weather going on. Fortunately this trip was clear sailing. The training actually ended up being rather interesting. Our class consists of 4; besides me, there are two people who work in culinary and one nurse. All but me work in Cedar Medium Security Prison, but one has an hour commute from a town I pass through. We agree to try to meet up the next time and travel that hour together. Our instructor is a 60ish woman who reminds me of a combination of Angela Lansbury,one of my training supervisors from the bank, and my kids’ high school counselor. She has a lot of experience in this field, having retired from the California Police Dept, and now working on her second retirement with the Nevada Dept of Corrections. She clearly has rather a high opinion of herself, but is still knowlegable and approachable. With only 4 in the class, we are able to cover material quickly. We discuss Sexual Harrassment, Customer Service and Games Inmates Play, ie. Con Games. We will go into this deeper in classes to come. We are there on a good day; a potluck lunch is being held to say farewell to a departing warden and welcome to a new one. The other students attend legitimately, having brought a covered dish to contribute. I sneak in with them. I am thrilled to get out earlier than planned. The instructor tells us that if we wish to bring our own lunch and have class straight through the day, we can get out early each week. Of course, we all agree. It is so nice to make the drive home in mostly daylight.
This institution is a lot different from my little home-town prison. You surrender your car keys to the officer on duty at the desk, and sign in. You and belongings pass through a metal detector. When you are clear, a gate is unlocked, and is locked behind you as you enter. Now you are inbetween two locked gates, and the second is never opened until the first is securely shut. The prison is an austere gray complex out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by scary looking wire. The most prominent building is the high guard tower. Near the front gate is a large sign reading “NO BLUE”.
Now, in most jobs there is a dress code of sorts, and this job is no exception. Many of the same restrictions apply that I have experienced with other jobs: no shorts, no revealing clothing. Sandals are frowned upon, as are sleeveless shirts. But this rule, I daresay, is unique to the corrections industry:No Blue. Why not? Well, the prisoners dress in blue. In our camp, they can also wear white, as in t-shirts and socks, but mostly its blue. The powers that be want to be able to tell at a glance who lives there and who is only there for the paycheck. Of course, the officers wear uniforms, but the non-custody personnel are, in fact, encouraged to dress in bright colors. I find this is becoming a consideration when I go shopping: blue is my favorite color, but blue purchases can not be worn to work. I consider how I would like to wear ONLY blue, and decide I prefer the variety.
The next week, a big storm is predicted. The instructor calls me to cancel class. With only four in the class, she will cancel if inclement weather is predicted. How nice for me not to have to decide for myself how bad is bad enough not to make the drive.
That was several weeks ago. I now have three classes under my belt. It has worked out very well to carpool a bit of the drive, and to get out early by working through lunch. We have talked about a lot of things, some boring, some that seem rather unrelated to my situation, and some that really make me take notice. I pay close attention to the “Blood-born Pathogens” the “Inmate Con Games”, and “Hostages”. The team building exercise is fun, but probably not very useful. Our instructor has “been around” and has a lot of true-life incidences to relate. She will condense the last three classes into two, so I am more than half-way done. And when I mention the rainy, foggy, drive early this morning, she decides we can start class 1/2 hour later. Very considerate.

And so, life goes on. Prison is defintely a whole new world for me. Hopefully, for you as well.
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