This weekend I went down an internet rabbit hole about what life was like in American prisons after wondering if and how inmates get to brush their teeth. A useful resource I found on YouTube was a documentary in which a British journalist stayed in a Texas prison for five days. Here I got my answer--yes, they get one and a dab of toothpaste delivered in a plastic glove. Not every prison in America is the same, but instead of looking at larger trends, I want to get a glimpse at what daily life might be like for inmates. Below are notes that stuck out to me.
Meals are in small portions, look terrible, and reportedly taste just as bad.
The cell was a small cement box. Each of the two mattresses in the bunk bed was thin and stained. A scratchy sheet and blanket completed the modest bedding setup. One of the lights in the room turned off, but the other always remained lit, even at nighttime.
12 hours each day are spent in the cell. The rest of the time is spent working or in the communal area, which looks like the world’s worst school cafeteria.
Inmates appeared to pass the time mostly by playing cards, talking, and reading.
All these details are from the low-risk inmates unit. Many coming in lie about their mental health and background because they know other units in the county prison could be worse even though they offer “treatment.”
Many of the inmates spoke of their struggles with mental health, particularly anxiety and depression. They can see a counselor and receive medication, but for many this treatment is not enough.
The section of the prison for suicidal inmates was completely inadequate. Each person wore a “smock,” which was an article of clothing they could not hang themselves with, and sandals. They spent their days in one large room full of cots with guards monitoring them. They could meet with a psychiatrist and receive medication. I don’t know how much help that does when their daily living space would looks like a place that would make anyone sad or anxious. Overall, prison seems like a terrible place for someone with mental health issues.
Lastly, the staff is aware of all the shortcomings of their prison. The problems persist because they are not given the resources to address the issues; it looked like much of the staff was trying their best to help the inmates with what they had and to protect both the inmates and the staff from any threats.
But that’s just one prison of thousands in the country, and I only got a glimpse of what life was like for some within the prison system. I’m going to continue learning about life inside prisons--seeing what prisoners go through daily serves as a strong reminder that they are humans and not just numbers and statistics. I encourage you all to do the same. See you next week!
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