Nothing unusual stands out, as I reflect over the day. It has been a somewhat slow day all in all, prison is like that. I did begin the Phase-I Substance Abuse Program today. I don't know why I have to take this crap - nothing in my so-called crime involves any substance, or abuse of substance. It's just another way for the institution to drain money from the state budget. I say this because I spoke with the program coordinator, and he made it clear to me that the state pays $2,500 per inmate to participate in this program, which is only 12-days duration...have you heard of legitimate drug counseling that fixes a junkie in less than 2 weeks? By Jove, it's a miracle! Everyone should know about this!
On top of all this, the program is facilitated and instructed by an inmate! I assume that some staff member down the line is getting a nice kickback. I already completed this class at another institution, but somehow someone thinks I need to take it over again. The governor is crying about not having the funding to support the state prison system, it's been announced that Michigan is one of four states to spend more on prisons than on college, new crimes are invented every day and new inmates are pouring into the prison system by the hundreds every day. We are literally packed in here like sardines in a can, and when you have so many people in such close proximity its dangerous (not to mention uncomfortable).
I don't understand how the Department of Corrections is getting away with such flagrant violations of our civil and constitutional rights. I have written many "love letters" (aka Grievances) on the matter to no avail. Prisoners are written off as nobodies, only a number worth $35,000 per year (I just read something that breaks it down to $200,000+ per supervisee per year).
Your Tax Dollars, Watching TV:
A funny thing happened on the block a few days ago...I was going past the officer's station and noticed that one of the guards was standing in the TV room watching television, completely abandoning his post. I couldn't restrain myself from poking him a bit:
Me: Gee I wish I could get paid $50,000 per year to watch TV!
Guard: (Laughing) Yeah man, good observation, you got down on me that time!
The guards really hate it when a prisoner catches them breaking a rule. Like the time I had to remind another guard about the policy on tobacco-free living environments within government facilities.
Guard: You guys are not supposed to be smoking in the Block, and you know it!
Me: Oh yeah, does that include chewing tobacco?
Guard: That goes for any and all tobacco products!
Me: You mean even that big hunk of snuff you got stuffed in your mouth?
Guard: (crickets chirping)
Me: Right – that’s what I thought you meant.
There is a state law which prohibits smoking in government buildings (Executive Order 1992-3) and it applies to state employees for the most part, but the Department of Corrections is violating it by improperly applying it to prisoners.
I can’t speak for other jurisdictions, but in Michigan MCL 333.12601(2)(b)(c)(d)(e) states:
(e) Rooms or facilities serving as the living units of individuals (such as prisoners in state correctional facilities, patients in state mental health facilities, inhabitants of the State Technical Institute and Rehabilitation Center, members of state veterans' homes, residents of group homes and other dwellings leased by the Department of Mental Health, and the like) in state government facilities and a strictly limited number of designated areas in other portions of such facilities as determined appropriate by the department directors or agency heads (such living units and designated areas hereinafter collectively referred to as "exempt areas") shall be exempt from the provisions of this Executive Order. Department directors and agency heads who operate or control such exempt areas shall develop written plans for the implementation of this exemption in consultation with the Departments of Public Health and Management and Budget by June 15, 1992. At a minimum, such plans shall prohibit smoking by employees of state government in such exempt areas and shall provide for smoke-free living units for nonsmoking prisoners, patients and other inhabitants of state government facilities to the degree feasible and consistent with the security and operational needs of the department or agency.
I would like to think that I do understand the legislative intent of the foregoing Executive Order, and I believe that it makes any prisoner exempt from the provisions of the prohibition on smoking in government facilities, so long as said prisoners are within the boundaries of their designated living areas. Further, it prohibits state employees (i.e. corrections officers) from smoking or using tobacco products in all areas within government facilities. The irony of it all is that we have staff members writing misconduct reports on prisoners for smoking in their living areas, but they violate the rule that specifically prohibits their smoking in the same facility! But maybe I’m wrong, and perhaps I'm not properly construing what seems to be plainly stated in the above quote. Until someone can show me that I’m wrong, I remain steadfast in my belief that the Michigan DOC is wrong to sanction prisoners for smoking in their designated living areas. I agree with my ‘mans&nems,’ Chuck D. and Flava Flav of Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”!”
I’m outta here!
R
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