The Truth About Prison - What Really Goes on Behind Bars

Not only does the truth hurt it has consequences. Having said that let me say this. To preclude accountability of all following events mentioned, I'll be using fictitious names. All incidents discussed are first hand knowledge from being in a state penitentiary. Several articles will be used to complete my story of "The Truth about Prison".

I would like to say that some of my story will sound like officer bashing, but I assure you it's not intended that way. For many reasons, being an officer is a very difficult job. It can be either rewarding or very substandard. If you put good people in a bad situation, they'll do bad things, to explain some of the apparently inexplicable things that people do.

Have you ever seen the documentary film crews taking a tour through the middle of the institution? Everyone wants a chance to get there story on tape, if only to show themselves in uniform being as professional as they can be. What would really be interesting is if you could be a fly on the wall before the film crew arrived or better yet after they have left. With that in mind, I was hoping I could be your fly on the wall, and shed some light on the subject.

I've seen dignified officers go corrupt because of some naive gratification they thought needed to be fulfilled. I'm not just talking sexual in nature, although not excluded. I'm also speaking of drug use, bribery (of all kinds), threats, and physical and mental mistreatment (some ending in death). These events I will be describing were instigated from both officers and inmates, with some unintended outcomes.

The first incident of article I "The Truth about Prison" I would like to describe for you happened between Sergeant Smith and inmates Johnson, Henderson, and Rivera. Sgt. Smith arrived for work with a box of doughnuts in hand; he stated was for his fellow officers. Sgt. Smith reported to his assigned "H Dormitory" to relieve the previous shift. H Dorm is used for housing youthful offenders

After everyone has settled in for the night, and the first security checks were completed, Sgt. Smith sent Officer Taylor to retrieve inmates Johnson, Henderson, and Rivera from there cells and escort them to the officer's station. Once they were escorted, Sgt. Smith sent Officer Taylor outside for a smoke break. Sgt. Smith then let said inmates perform sexual favors on him. Afterward the inmates were rewarded with the box of doughnuts that was brought in by Sgt. Smith.

This went on for a short time before another officer from a close by dorm came by for a security check and then caught Sgt. Smith with his pants down. The officer did the right thing and reported it to the O.I.C. which then had Sgt. Smith escorted of the compound. After a long investigation proved the details of the incident report to be true, Sgt. Smith's employment was terminated and the inmates transferred.

This is just one of many events that happens behind those razor wired fences some inmates call home. Once someone makes the inevitable mistake of doing something bad, not only can it not be taken back, but it usually falls into someone else's hands.

With that being said, this is the conclusion of article I "The Truth about Prison". In the next article, I will be spending more time elaborating on the specifics of more events.