Category: Prison for Dummies

In a previous post, I talked a little about the different custody levels. When you arrive at Perryville you have a certain number of points assigned to you. Age, the length of your sentence and what you are charged with are all factored in. For instance, each year under 30 that you are adds points. Don’t ask me why, I can’t explain it. If you have a high-level felony conviction or you are considered a ‘violent’ offender as opposed to a ‘non-violent’ offender- more points. And points determine whether you are assigned to a minimum, medium or maximum custody yard. But here’s the rub. You can be ‘re-classed’- happens all the time. Just because you start out in a minimum custody yard does not mean you will stay there. Officers can issue ‘tickets’ for a variety of offenses, large and small. And each ticket adds points to your score, anywhere from 3 to 40, like the way it works with traffic tickets and your driver’s license. Fighting, getting caught with drugs or alcohol, those are what you’d expect to be penalized for. But how about your shirt not being tucked in or your pants hanging over the top of your shoes? Or being late for work, school or a medical appointment? And my favorite- hanging your wet clothes on a makeshift clothesline to dry! Yes, we have to wash our own clothes, but it’s against the rules to hang them up to dry. Who thinks up this stuff anyway? There

There are, as you may or may not know. three levels of custody here at Perryville, minimum, medium and maximum. To be classified as minimum, you have to be considered not dangerous and have 5 years or less to serve. Medium and maximum depend on your crimes, but the amount of time doesn’t matter. There is a point system which I’ll discuss in more detail in another post, but I will just say that you get tickets for certain infractions which carry a penalty, a ‘point’ as it’s called. There are also three ‘phases’ which was someone’s idea of an incentive program I suppose. When you arrive, everyone starts out as a Phase One. Phase One allows you one 15-minute phone call a day and one 4-hour weekend visit. There is a $60 limit when you shop the store. Keep in mind that before you can make phone calls or receive visits, someone on the outside has to fill out an application, pay a $25 fee for visitation privileges and wait about 60 days to be approved. Phone calls are also not free and have to be paid for by the person calling from the outside or the inmate can pay for them as well if they are fortunate enough to have any money. Which phase you are on also affects how much you are paid for various jobs on the yard. After six months, if you have no tickets and have passed your mandatory test (more on that later)

Here are some basic tips if you ever find yourself facing time on the inside- Of course the best tip is just to avoid getting sent here in the first place!  But if worse comes to worse… First and foremost be aware of your surroundings.  Don’t ‘get caught slippin’ which just means letting your guard down.  And project the right attitude- a little stand-offish with a ‘don’t mess with me’ look without being aggressive or mean.  Be polite but not too friendly or sweet because you will be thought of as naïve or weak and will get bullied. Always choose your words very carefully. Remember- respect is a big deal!  These guidelines are especially important when you are new and have no idea who to trust. “Neither a borrower or a lender be.” If other inmates offer to ‘help’ you by giving you things (shampoo, coffee, etc) don’t take it!  At some point, they will come back and want something in return and if you don’t have it, then you could be in trouble.  And don’t ‘feed the strays’ as they say here, which means if someone asks you for something, simply say ‘Sorry, I can’t.”   For instance, if you give one girl a cigarette, she will then point others in your direction and if you don’t help them too, it becomes an argument or a fight. (The respect thing again).  It’s sad that the system doesn’t lend itself to kindness or camaraderie but it is what it is. One

The prison here is divided up into sections called yards, each with various buildings and outdoor exercise area. There are three minimum security yards, with populations ranging from 225 to almost 2,000 women and two medium yards which house about 1,500 each. Then there’s San Pedro. It is the medical yard where anyone with a chronic illness gets sent- if you are on any type of medication you also will go to Pedro. Lumley is the maximum-security yard (the Bad Girls’ Club as it’s also called). And last and worst-a fenced off section for death row inmates who are literally locked in cages 23 hours a day. Like a dog pound, but with people in it.