Florida prison videos

I’m currently waiting on more blog entries to arrive from Ted.

This particular video is an introduction to Florida’s prisons for those interested in entering the correctional officer field. The buildings are clean and pristine. There are no dirty cells crawling with bugs, no bloody mattresses and certainly no correctional officers beating and kicking the inmates.

FL DOC Video

The following video on YouTube is a stark contrast to the one touted by the Florida DOC. It shows the abuse of Justin Caldwell at the Aurthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, on February 11th, 2007 and it was caught on at least three video cameras.



The video can also be found on YouTube here.

The images begin at 17:48 or 5:48 p.m.

17:48:12 Dozier ISP Front Bunks – Scroll to 17:52:50. Watch the calmness of the scene. Suddenly, at 17:53:17, without warning or apparent provocation, a guard appears to hit Justin below the chin and throw him backward to the floor.

17:50:17 Dozier ISP Common Room (Facing South) – Scroll to 17:53:17. There is another glimpse of the violence in the guard’s seemingly unprovoked attack on Justin.

17:54:30 Dozier ISP Common Room (Facing North) – At 17:54:30, Justin is walked to the back corner of the Common Room where he is seen to collapse and is then dragged from the corner.

While there are two sides to every story, according to his father, Mark Caldwell, Justin initially began his DJJ incarceration at 13 after being found guilty of theft.

Mark Caldwell said it was a series of "petty accusations" that prolonged his son's stay at various DJJ facilities, ultimately landing him at Dozier School.

He alleges that a guard’s accusations of battery were made to cover up an incident that occurred later that day, which involved a different guard, Alvin Speights.

Speights was accused of battering Caldwell and the incident in question was caught on surveillance footage.

After reviewing testimony and the surveillance footage, a Jackson County grand jury exonerated Speights, saying "Speights was justified in the use of force required to insure the protection and safety of himself and others and that no criminal charges are warranted against him.”

On November 27, 2007, the Jackson County Floridian reported that Justin Caldwell was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of battery on detention facility staff.

For more on Justin Caldwell, visit here.

No privacy

I’m so tired of being incarcerated. There’s never a moment when I can have some privacy. There are always other people around me. I just wish I could have 10 minutes alone in silence, but that’s impossible in prison.

After awhile, you get used to it and if you concentrate hard enough, you don’t notice there’s a room full of people around you. I can tune other people out really well, especially when I’m reading or writing. My concentration never lasts though. Someone always wants to come talk to me about something when all I want to do is forget they’re there.

I’ve always been really quiet and shy when I’m around a lot of people, but for some reason I get along with almost everybody.

It’s not that I don’t like people – it’s just that I like to be alone sometimes. Well, I only have to deal with it for seven more months and I’m done. Then I can have all the peace and quiet I want.

Ted tells me the toilets in the dorms are all in the open - there are no stalls. He usually tries to wait to go to the bathroom when he works in the kitchen, which does have a closed toilet.

Canteen

I'm waiting on some new letters from Ted. Here is an entry he sent a while ago.

Items in canteen that I know about:

Ramen noodles
Honeybun
Different kinds of cookies
Photo album
Paper
Pen
Pencil
Cigarettes
Rolling papers
Lighter
Sodas
Soap
Shampoo
Deodorant
Hair grease
Brush
Kool-Aid
Hamburger
A-1 barbeque sauce packet (my favorite)
Burrito
Bear claw
Tuna
Chili
Beef stew
Envelopes
Stamps
Fireballs
Jolly Ranchers
All kinds of candy bars
Chips
Pickles
Radio
Lotion
Shoes
Shower slides
Thermals (shirt, pants)
Crackers
Chili dog
Folders
Cheese Squeeze
Cinnamon roll
Slim Jims
Property bag
Plastic cup (no bowls)
Spoons
Padlock

There’s more, but I don’t know what else there is. There isn’t a list like in County Jail.

At visitation, there’s a list on the wall for visitors and the inmates to order from. Small packets of sugar, creamer and condiments sell for a few cents each. (Aren’t we lucky to get it for free on the outside?) Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pizza, and similar sandwiches are frozen and must be heated in one of the three microwaves in the visitation room. Ted particularly has a fondness for the Snickers ice cream bars but can hardly eat them because of the pain in his tooth.

The Keefe Group is a supplier for correctional facilities. A list of their items can be found here.

Drug search

Earlier today as we were sitting in the dorm playing cards and just hanging out, the lieutenant and a K-9 dog and his trainer came in. They told everyone to sit on their bunks and face away from the CO’s office. I sleep against a wall, so I had a brick wall in my face and couldn’t see anything. We weren’t allowed to turn around until they were done with their search.

The trainer let the K-9 off his leash to run around the dorm to smell for drugs. After the dog ran around for 5 to 10 minutes, the trainer opened all our lockers and had the dog sniff each locker. Then when he was done with all the lockers, he brought the dog to each individual bunk to sniff. When the dog came to a bunk bed, he had to stand on his two hind legs to smell the top bunk. The whole search lasted about 30 to 40 minutes and no drugs were found.

Ted has told me that drugs do indeed get smuggled into prisons via visitations. Visitors are patted down and their coats and belongings are searched. Visitors to Lancaster are allowed to bring in up to $50 in cash, a single car key with no electronic key openers (unless a car cannot be opened without one), a photo ID, an unopened pack of cigarettes and a lighter in a clear Ziploc bag or see-through plastic pouch.

I’ve noticed that visitors with young children are allowed to bring in a transparent bag containing diapers, formula, bottles and toys, and that seems to be the most likely way to smuggle in any contraband. Items can also be hidden in the visitation rooms to be picked up later.

The penalty for smuggling drugs into a prison constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in Florida Statutes 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084. Translation: Up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Repeat offenders can get more time and a higher fine.

For the complete visiting rules, see Florida Statutes Chapter 33-601.711-737 or the Florida Statutes State Correctional Code. Specific references for what may or may not be brought to visitations are addressed in FS 944.47 (see below).

944.47 Introduction, removal, or possession of certain articles unlawful; penalty.

(1)(a) Except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, or to take or attempt to take or send or attempt to send there from, any of the following articles which are hereby declared to be contraband for the purposes of this section, to wit:

1. Any written or recorded communication or any currency or coin given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

2. Any article of food or clothing given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

3. Any intoxicating beverage or beverage which causes or may cause an intoxicating effect.

4. Any controlled substance as defined in s. 893.02(4) or any prescription or nonprescription drug having a hypnotic, stimulating, or depressing effect.

5. Any firearm or weapon of any kind or any explosive substance.

6. Any cellular telephone or other portable communication device intentionally and unlawfully introduced inside the secure perimeter of any state correctional institution without prior authorization or consent from the officer in charge of such correctional institution. As used in this subparagraph, the term "portable communication device" means any device carried, worn, or stored which is designed or intended to receive or transmit verbal or written messages, access or store data, or connect electronically to the Internet or any other electronic device and which allows communications in any form. Such devices include, but are not limited to, portable two-way pagers, hand-held radios, cellular telephones, Blackberry-type devices, personal digital assistants or PDA's, laptop computers, or any components of these devices which are intended to be used to assemble such devices. The term also includes any new technology that is developed for similar purposes. Excluded from this definition is any device having communication capabilities which has been approved or issued by the department for investigative or institutional security purposes or for conducting other state business.

(b) It is unlawful to transmit or attempt to transmit to, or cause or attempt to cause to be transmitted to or received by, any inmate of any state correctional institution any article or thing declared by this subsection to be contraband, at any place which is outside the grounds of such institution, except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(c) It is unlawful for any inmate of any state correctional institution or any person while upon the grounds of any state correctional institution to be in actual or constructive possession of any article or thing declared by this section to be contraband, except as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(2) A person who violates any provision of this section as it pertains to an article of contraband described in subparagraph (1)(a)1., subparagraph (1)(a)2., or subparagraph (1)(a)6. commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In all other cases, a violation of a provision of this section constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

A rethink on young offenders

A St. Pete Times editorial in print Sunday, January 3, 2010 (see bolded portion)

Florida needs a strategy for fighting juvenile crime that is more effective and sustainable than shipping teenagers to adult jails and prisons. There is no need to throw away so many young lives or to waste tax dollars to build more prisons. A Miami-Dade County program is a national model for how to keep young offenders from committing new crimes. Hillsborough County should adopt that approach while state lawmakers reassess Florida's juvenile justice laws.

A recent analysis by St. Petersburg Times staff writer Colleen Jenkins found that Florida sends more children to adult jails and prisons than any other state. State lawmakers enacted a series of get-tough laws in the 1990s to respond to a spike in juvenile crime, making it easier for prosecutors to divert anyone under 18 years old into the adult system.

Florida transfers about half as many juveniles to adult court as it did at the peak in the 1990s. But the 3,592 juveniles sent to the adult system in the 2007-08 fiscal year represent a 45 percent jump since 2003-04. And Jenkins found a disparity in how the caseload was handled. Hillsborough transferred more juvenile cases to adult court than any other county that year. While six Tampa Bay area counties — Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Manatee — sent 1,410 juvenile cases to adult court, seven counties in Florida sent no young people to the adult system. Something appears to be out of whack. Florida is one of just 15 states to give prosecutors the authority to "direct file" juvenile cases to adult court, and that discretion could be easily abused by elected prosecutors.

Florida law requires that juveniles be charged in adult court for some violent offenses, such as murder. And adult court may be appropriate for some young repeat offenders. But the state needs to reassess whether the discretion to charge is being applied fairly and uniformly, and whether it has helped or hurt in controlling juvenile recidivism.
More communities also need to adopt the Miami-Dade model. For 10 years, officials there have routed juveniles to the behavioral, substance-abuse and other support services they need. Miami-Dade has cut its juvenile arrest rate by half, seen an 80 percent reduction in repeat offenders and saved some $20 million a year in costs to police, probation officers and the courts.
Pinellas adopted the model in April. Officials say 500 juveniles have avoided a criminal record and have received the services they need to turn away from crime. Hillsborough, which is looking into the program, should adopt it, too. About 25 percent more juveniles are arrested in Hillsborough than in Miami-Dade, even though Miami-Dade has twice the population. State Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, chairman of the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee, held a workshop recently on ways to cut court costs. He should look to Miami, where they have been doing it for years.

The kitchen

I love working in the kitchen. Even though I just scrub pots and pans all day, it’s still a great job.

Of course, the best thing about the kitchen is the food. There’s always too much food for all of us to eat.

To me, though, that’s not why I like the job so much. I enjoy it so much because everyone in the kitchen is easy to get along with and we all just joke around. Sure we do our jobs, but we have a long break from about 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and during that time we eat, drink, go outside and just hang out.

If I didn’t get along with the people in the kitchen, I obviously wouldn’t want to work there. Oh yeah, and the COs are cool too. As long as we follow the rules, they stay away from us. What more could I ask for?

Ted currently works from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the kitchen, except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays - his days off. He hopes he can become a cook, which would provide good training for a possible future job.

I forgot my ID

This morning started out like every other morning. I woke up, made my bed, brushed my teeth, shaved, then sat down and waited to go to breakfast. Even though I’m used to this morning routine, I forgot one thing. To bring my ID to breakfast.

Everywhere we go, we’re supposed to bring our IDs. I made it all the way to the chow hall before I realized my mistake. I knew the CO inside was going to notice and he did.

He asked me where my ID was. I said, “I forgot it in the dorm, sir.” Well, he didn’t look happy. He told me to go ahead and eat then added, “When you’re done, come see me.”

I got back in line, grabbed my tray and sat down to eat. When I finished my food, I put my tray away and went back to the CO. He said he was going to go easy on me. “Give me 50 pushups now and then later I’m gonna bring you something.” So I did my 50 pushups and left.

About an hour later, the CO came to my dorm and woke me up. He handed me a large piece of paper that simply said in big letters “MY ID” and told me to come outside.

I got dressed and followed him. He said, “Okay, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to hold this piece of paper that says “MY ID” at your chest and march around the compound yelling ‘I will not forget my ID’ over and over. Just keep marching until I tell you to stop.” So I did.

Keep in mind it’s about 6:30 in the morning and I’m barely awake. I marched around the compound three times and he finally told me to stop. He said, “Okay, you’re done for now, but if I ever ask you for that piece of paper that says “MY ID,” you’d better have it. I don’t care if it’s a week from now.” Then he let me go back to my dorm.

I felt so humiliated, but at least I’ll never forget my ID again!

Learning the hard way

I saw the funniest thing I’ve seen since I’ve been in prison today. This morning I woke up early, made my bed and went outside to get in the canteen line.

When I got to the canteen line, I turned around and there was an inmate with his bed in the middle of the yard.

Literally his whole bed.

It turns out he didn’t make his bed right, so the COs made him drag his bed rack outside and made him make and remake his bed over and over for two hours straight. It was so funny. On top of that, it looked like it was going to rain all morning, but lucky for him it didn’t.

A trip to the dentist

Every institution I’ve been to, I’ve had to go to the dentist about my two back teeth and every dentist I’ve seen says I’m fine and my teeth don’t need any work done.

Well last week I decided to try to talk to the dentist here at Lancaster with the hope that I’ll finally come across a dentist that actually knows what they’re doing.

Today I got called to the dentist and when I got there, I walked in, sat down and they took x-rays of my two back teeth. I fully expected that just like all the other dentists, they would say my teeth are fine even though they hurt.

When the dentist called me back in, she said, “You do have a cavity, but I don’t think that’s what your problem is. From what I can see, your wisdom tooth is coming in at an angle and pushing the tooth in front of it.”

I couldn’t believe she actually admitted there was something wrong with my teeth. So right then, she gave me two [temporary] fillings for my cavities and told me that if my pain was bothering me in a few days, to fill out another dental call out and they’ll have to ship me back to Lake Butler to cut my wisdom tooth out. I’m just glad something is finally being done.

Ted has been in a lot of pain since he wrote this entry. He’s trying to put it off as long as possible because he really doesn’t want to go to Lake Butler, even if it’s just for a few days. There’s no way he’ll be able to avoid it though.

Funny punishment

Here at Lancaster work camp, they have an inside ground work crew and their job is to walk around and pick up trash, cigarette butts and pretty much whatever it takes to keep the compound looking nice.

Well yesterday, the sergeant sent eight people around to pick up trash during recreation. Out of those eight people, seven went and sat on the bleachers and decided they weren’t going to do anything and just hoped that the COs wouldn’t notice. Well they did.

Now normally, the COs would make them do push-ups, jumping jacks and other physical training, but instead, the sergeant made those seven people get in a circle and hold hands and walk around in circles (just like ring-around-the-rosie) for about an hour.

Every one of those seven did it with his head down. They were all so ashamed that they couldn’t even look at all the people laughing at them. I have to admit – I was laughing too.

Lodging near Lancaster

I’m waiting on more entries to arrive from Ted. Meanwhile…

Visitation at Lancaster work camp is on Saturday and Sunday (and major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lancaster C.I. is located in Trenton, about 10 minutes from Chiefland, Florida.

There are three small motels in Fanning Springs, six miles from the prison: Suwannee River Inn, Park Inn and Crystal Inn. In Chiefland, there are two hotels: Holiday Inn Express and Best Western Suwannee Valley Inn.

I first stayed at the Suwannee River Inn and the nightly rate is $49. The room includes a air-conditioning/heating unit, a refrigerator and microwave and two queen beds. Unfortunately, there were also six cockroaches in the room with me – two dead and four live ones.

The next time, I stayed at the Park Inn. The sign out front advertised a rate of $32. The rate with tax was $35. The woman who checked me in was friendly. Two weeks later, I again decided to stay at the Park Inn. The proprietor, an older Indian man, informed me the rate was $45. When I informed him that was a $10 difference from the previous time, he brought the rate down to $40. When I went back outside, I noticed the former rate of $32 was no longer advertised on the sign in front. The Park Inn also has an air-conditioning/heating unit, a refrigerator and microwave and two queen beds, and thankfully, no bugs were in evidence.

The third motel, the Crystal Inn, is for sale. There is an unheated pool out front and a Chinese restaurant right next to the motel. I called for the rates and found out that a single room is $38 and a double is $42.

All three motels have showers only, no bathtubs. They also have cable TV, but no Internet access.

The rates in Chiefland are much higher, but the amenities are better. Chiefland is about 13 miles from the prison. The rates for the Holiday Inn vary from $75 - $110. The Best Western Rates range from $71 - $93. Book through the Internet to get cheaper rates for both hotels.

Park Inn
17850 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-2069

Suwannee River Motel
17210 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-7563

Crystal Inn
16951 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-7214

Best Western Suwannee Valley Inn
1125 N. Young Blvd, Chiefland, FL 32626
352-493-0663
Pool, satellite TV with Starz movie channels, microwaves and refrigerators in every room, with free continental breakfast.

Holiday Inn Express
809 NW 21st Avenue, Chiefland, FL 32626
352-493-9400
Pool, whirlpool, continental breakfast, high-speed Internet, laundry facility, coffeemaker and hairdryer in each room.

Photos: Park Inn, Park Inn room, Suwannee River Motel, Crystal Inn

First week at Lancaster work camp

I have now been here at the work camp a week and I’m starting to get settled in.

This place is way better than any of the other institutions I’ve been to. Even though it’s a pretty laid back camp, I spent my last week observing my surroundings. It’s a habit I’ve formed from being transferred a lot in the last several months.

Anyway, one thing I’ve noticed is there is still gang activity, but not much. They pretty much stick to themselves because it’s too sweet here and they don’t want to leave. Of course, there are a few of them though that don’t seem to care and I can just tell that they won’t last long.

I’m hoping that for me, though, these last seven months will fly by without incidents, but this is still prison and you just never know.

Photo: Entrance to Lancaster work camp

Moved to Lancaster work camp

After two weeks being in orientation here at Lancaster, I was finally moved across the street to the work camp. It feels so good to be here and off the main compound.

Here at the work camp, we get to go to rec (recreation) three times a day, and not many people here do anything stupid to get in trouble because everybody wants to stay here.

I’ve already been assigned a job. I work in the kitchen, the job a lot of people want because you get to eat all day. I got really lucky with that job. I’m not sure when I start yet, but I hope it’s soon. I can’t wait.

Another good thing is you can buy canteen (commissary) every day. That’s good considering that your stuff may be stolen if you don’t have a lock for your locker. So far, nothing’s been stolen from me since I’ve been at Lancaster, but hey, this is prison.

Overall though, I’m happy I finally made it to the work camp and now the days should start to fly by.

Photo: Google Earth aerial photo of Lancaster work camp (Click to enlarge)

A time bomb waiting to happen

A little while ago, I wrote about a fight that was four bunks away from me in the orientation dorm. It was the one where a guy had someone else pinned down while he just kept hitting him in the face until they were both gassed.

Well, anyway on my last day in the dorm, both people who were involved moved back into the same dorm at the same time. Not only that, they were assigned bunks literally right next to each other! I couldn’t believe it. I would have thought that they would have wanted to keep them as far apart from each other as possible, but instead, they couldn’t have moved them any closer together than they are now. I just don’t understand why they’d do that.

Already the guy who got beat up is looking like he wants revenge and just like last time, I’m just going to sit back and watch.

Sign language

Here in prison, there are going to be times when you’re unable to talk. For instance, if you’re in class or walking in line, whatever. Another form of communication that I’m working on learning during times like that is sign language. It’s not complete sign language, but just the letters of the alphabet, but that could still come in handy for me.

So far, I’ve learned the alphabet. I’m just working on being able to sign and read sign language at a reasonable pace. Right now I’m still getting certain letters confused with one another. I say give me another month at the most and I’ll have the hang of it.

I think when I get out of prison I might take a class to learn how to do more than just the alphabet. I never thought sign language could be fun, but it is.

Photo: American Sign Language alphabet. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Late night fight

Right now I’m housed in an open bay dorm. So everybody sleeps in one big room. There’s about 40 – 60 people in here on average.

Anyway, last night as I was asleep, I woke up to somebody screaming “What the &%$*. Help me, Help!” So I jumped up and looked.

Four beds down from me, this big white guy had another littler guy pinned down and he just kept hitting him in the face over and over. Nobody even tried to stop him. He must of hit him at least 30 times in the face without the other guy being able to block his shots.

Finally, the CO ran in and gassed both of them. Their spray is so strong it affected EVERYBODY in the dorm. I kept choking on it.

When the guy who got beat up finally stood up, he was unrecognizable and covered from head to toe in blood. I don’t even know how he was conscious, let alone able to stand up.

I have to say that was one of the worst beatings I’ve ever seen in my life. After everything was over, nobody could figure out why he even beat the other guy up. Those two people never argued once. They actually seemed to get along.

I’m just waiting to see what will happen next.

Ted told me that at Brevard, a correctional officer told him that a kid was stabbed 22 times one day during the last week he was there. Ted hasn’t heard if the kid survived.

Finding friends

One thing I’m making sure I do is pick my friends out more carefully.

Being in prison, I’m surrounded by people who have accepted their way of living and feel like nobody can tell them what to do. I’m not one of those people.

Sure I could become their friend, but I know that would only drag me back down to their level, and I’ve been there way too many times.

So now I’ve started picking the people I hang around with more wisely. All the people I put myself around are trying to fix themselves just like I am. Too bad there aren’t more people like that, but I have found three good people to be around. We all pray for each other and we all need it.

Unfortunately, I’m the only one going to the work camp, so I’m going to have to leave them behind to find new friends and that’s the hard part. If worse comes to worse, I’ll stick to myself, but I’m sure I’ll be okay no matter what.

A long week

I’ve now been at Lancaster exactly a week. Now I know that’s not long, but it feels like I’ve been here a month. My whole body hurts from having to PT every day and marching.

The march to chow alone is about ¼ mile there and another ¼ mile back. Plus I have HUGE holes in my shoes. I might as well be marching barefoot.

On top of that we PT every day. Depending on how people in our dorm act, depends on how much we PT. Since most of the people in here have that ‘I don’t care’ attitude, we do a lot of PT.

It’s kinda funny though because the CO will tell everybody to shut up and stop talking and not more than two seconds later, people are talking again.

Also another thing I noticed. The same people that in my dorm tell everyone to be quiet are the main ones that talk. I still haven’t figured that out.

Well, only one more week to go. Hopefully!

A fight at the chow hall

Last night as we were getting up to put our trays up from eating, somebody from two tables away from me got up and walked calmly up to somebody at my table. He then just started punching the guy in the face and hitting him with his tray.

I immediately ran and stood along the wall because I knew the COs were coming and they were going to gas people. The gas they use is a very strong pepper spray that burns even more when you try and wash it off with water.

I guess the COs took into consideration that people were still eating, so they didn’t gas anybody, but they did throw the guy who punched the other guy onto the ground. They kicked him in the ribs a few times, then handcuffed him and put him in the box.

Orientation

Orientation here at Lancaster is physically and mentally exhausting. We wake up at 5 a.m. every morning. We get up and make our beds. There can’t be any wrinkles in the sheets or blankets. There must be an eight-inch fold at the head of the bed and at all corners of the blankets you have to have a perfect 45-degree angle.

After we make our beds, we shave and brush our teeth. Then we line up and go to breakfast. On our way to breakfast (or any other meal), we have to march in step and sound off. It’s a pain! That’s why our shoes only last a week through this two-week orientation.

After breakfast, we come back and sit quietly on the floor until the first count time. When count time comes, we all have to get up and run to the wall and quickly line up in four rows facing the wall. During this count, shift change also occurs. After count time, we go outside and PT (physical training) for about 45 minutes. It’s not so bad right now since it’s starting to get cold outside.

After PT, we go back inside and sit on the floor all morning without talking until lunch. When lunch time comes, we march just like we did at breakfast. When we come back from lunch, we go right back to sitting on the floor.

For the rest of the day, up until lights out at 9:30 p.m., all we really do is sit on the floor. The only thing that even happens in the day is about 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m., the CO will give you a clean set of blues (uniforms) and pass out mail. Also right before lights out, we get to take showers. So for the first two weeks, you can’t do anything and it’s so boring, but after being in the box [in Brevard] where I couldn’t do anything if I wanted to, this should be easy or at least easier.