Courtesy of the State

More Stupid Rules

I talked to one of the guards today about an issue that has been puzzling me  for quite some time now. There is a rule that says prisoners are not allowed to have books in their desks because it is considered a fire hazard. However, I notice that the staff keep all kinds of books, papers, files, etc., in their desks. They contend that the rule does not apply to them, but I was inclined to ask the guard:

R: Why the hell did you give us desks, if we can't put anything inside them?

Guard: Well, the fire marshal says it's a fire hazard

R:    Well, do you think that the fire will be able to tell the difference between a prisoner's desk, and a staff member's desk?

Guard: Hey, I don't make the rules, I just enforce them!

R: Yea, I suppose that fire is pretty intelligent, and perhaps it will say, Well, this is a staff member's desk, I can't burn this, so let me go down the corridor and find a prisoner's desk and burn that!"

Guard: I know, it’s a stupid rule, but the warden says that we are to enforce it, and so I do what I'm told!

R: You people can save the whole country from all of us dangerous criminals, but you can't run a prison for shit!

I wonder what kind of stupid rule they'll come up with next?

Things that make you go hmmmm!

R

Tags: Prison Life , Prison Rules , Rehabilitation , Auto Biography .

Hello again

It's been a long while since a post on Courtsey of the State, and I hope to get something up every day from now on. Prisoner R - my husband - has been turned down for parole, because he didn't have a class that he asked to be in and Psychological Services told him that the didn't need, and they wouldn't give him. That was in August.

When I began calling and making noise about getting him into the class, Prisoner R was transferred from Mid-Michigan correctional facility, to Pine River (literally, across the courtyard), and one week later, to Cooper Street Correctional facility. Sound like punishment to you? Now remember, you can't complete a class or get into it if you're transferred out before they even get the request.

Although from a visitor perspective, Cooper Street seems like a dream compared to the facilitites in the middle of the state - ie professional, courteous staff versus smarmy, openly contempteous hicks, attractive grounds versus a cattle like round-up atmosphere, parking that is close to the visitor center, as well as well-drained versus the hike through a swamp at the other places. Unfortunately, the actual visitor room leaves a lot to be desired - no cards, games, books, weird arrangement of seats that makes private conversation impossible, and lest I forget, visitors that arrange to have photos done (which is they're right, I'm not complaining about them) interrupt your visit, because of where they shoot the photos.

However, from a prisoner perspective, as I am informed by Prisoner R