"Prison pulls the masks away from men. You can’t hide what you are, in prison. You can’t pretend to be tough. You are, or you’re not, and everyone knows it."
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
I’m not ashamed to say it—“I feared getting hurt.” I envisioned my teeth knocked in, an assortment of ceramic and wire cutting into my gums. I had followed protocol. My students entered the classroom exchanging ID cards for pencils—except Prisoner JB. He walked in and announced how he would not be attending class today, he was returning to his unit.
After everyone was seated, I filled out an absence slip: Prisoner JB, 04-018T, 0735 hours. Twenty minutes later he returned. “I’ll beat the living shit out of that whore ass bitch Samuelson!” He was referring to my coworker, a female school officer. And for what, locating his whereabouts, making sure he attended school?
His peers listened attentively, curious to see how this unfolded. Before I could speak, he snapped, “You don’t know where I came from, do you?” I held my ballpoint pen like an ice-pick, concealed under my desk. “I’m Level V,” he continued. “I’ve assaulted staff before.”
I stood up as slowly as possible, trying to stay calm, my weapon conveniently tucked in my trouser pocket. I made my way to the door, made myself visible to the hallway camera. “I need you to step out here,” I said. He complied. I stayed an arms-length away. “Start walking toward the officer’s podium.”
Once we reached our destination, I said, “Why don’t you tell Officer Riser here what you told me.”
He wouldn’t speak.
I killed the silence. “Keep him away from me,” I said to Officer Riser. “I’ll explain later.”
It didn’t take long to sort this out. Not too long afterward, Prisoner JB was handcuffed and taken to segregation, while I prepared a “Threatening Behavior” ticket. The real irony behind all of this was that when I spoke to Corrections Officer Samuelson, thinking they had a verbal confrontation, she said, “I never spoke to him today, never saw him.”
Another coworker looked up Prisoner JB’s rap sheet: breaking & entering, home invasion, and assaulting a police officer. Two year sentence. From what I had gathered, he wanted to lock-up in segregation; he grew tired of his bunkie pressing him for sex.
13 comments:
Another mind blowing account, JR. I feel like I say the same thing to you every week, because I'm constantly amazed at how you do it. His bunk mate pressing him for sex? Eesh. I guess I can understand why he'd want segregation. But all my sympathy goes to you and not him. That must have been scary as hell.
If I were ever in prison I would pray to be put in solitary confinement.
Very clever of him, indeed. Still, ~shudder~
Well handled. I am so very glad you were not hurt and that it was a ploy for segregation. I do have to hand it to you, you have one helluva a lot of courage to keep going back and doing your job!
I think his bunking became a boinking. No rest for the weary. I wonder if that home invasion was worth giving up his rump on a daily basis.
19 years old was just a dream come true for Buba. Thanks for sharing. Huck
Don't they get time added for that kind of behavior? Or Good time taken away. You know Jim there are only 3 adult males on my block who do not have a felony conviction with more than a dime served. It does seem that while they don't contribute much to the overall good of society they at least mellow out some once they get out AND hit 40.
JR-My God! I would be found out for the wimp that I am within moments. Despite boxing twice a week, I would still cave. Be careful....
That was edgy, but so well told, JR. I'm voting you as "most likely to write a meaningful, best-selling novel." So there.
Edgy really. Perhaps notoriety does has its advantages. Isn't it ironical!
Your young friend did what he had to do. He saved face in front of his peers and saved is Ars...literally. Although you were nervous on the inside, I know you were cool on the outside. Life is perception, and you are percieved as unshakable. An important skill to own in your line of work. I cast my vote for the meaningful, best-selling novel as well. If it means anything to you. Good read.
“I’ll beat the living shit out of that whore ass bitch Samuelson!”
Me too.
Ever take economics?
I only got 63 per cent.
Blame it on Samuelson.
Wonderful Economics texbook.
But I never quite got it. Still poor.
Throw the texbook at somebody. :)
I knew a guy in Canada who'd get arrested every fall just to avoid being on the streets through the Winter.
Wow. I know that feeling all too well. And I don't miss it at all.
/s/Library Lady
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