Blog Post: Another Day, Another Fight
Today was interesting and horrifying at the same time. The weather was nice enough to go out yesterday (overcast but not raining) so a lot of people were in the main open outdoor area called compound. Of course, this lead into a huge fight over someone's girlfriend and jealousy that almost turned deadly. The one girl beat the bejesus out of the other girl with some hard object (heard it was either a rock or a lock) and that girl was sent to the Dallas hospital because of the severity of the hits to her face. She had to get an MRI done. They brought her back and of course put both of them in the shoo. From what I hear, she will be ok but her entire face is black and blue, she has wounds and her mouth may never be the same. Nice place to live huh?
Blog Post: The rules don't apply to anyone but me
On a totally unrelated subject, I decided that today was the day I was going to take over a washer when someone wasn't washing and was late. The rule is if you are more than 5 minutes late, you lose your wash time. The wash time was at 645, I found the washer at 657 empty. I put my stuff in there and start washing. About 710, someone is screaming in the common area, who took washer 3? I fessed up quick and they were like, I was running late. Ok.. so then they ran complaining to the person who assigns the wash time about how they lost their wash. So began the lecture on ME that I should not have done that and it's not acceptable. Ummm... she was 12 minutes late, where is her lecture????
She officially lost that wash. I explained, I needed to wash clothes desperately as my lack of clothing + 1245AM ONCE per week wash time was not enough especially being assigned to the smallest washer. I haven't been able to wash my blanket or sheets since I got here cause of this issue. They let me finish the wash and dry my clothes but it was definitely under anger. Again, the ONE time, I take advantage of the rules, I get yelled at. The lady who was late got no repercussions. I was told never to just grab a washer. Really?? The Hispanics who CHARGE people to wash their clothes do it ALL the time. Against the rules but that's how they get commissary money.
Have I mentioned how much I hate this place?? In total, we have 3 washers for 300 people. Everyone with a job (which I don't have yet) gets 2 wash times.. All others get one. That would be fine EXCEPT for the lack of clothing that I have (mentioned in an earlier post). You want me to wash one time per week but ONLY assign me 5 pairs of underwear and 4 shirts!!!!
Monday, March 5, 2018
Entitled Starvation at Carswell by Inmate #1
I have to track down that nutritionist this week. In all seriousness, the food situation needs to be resolved. Lunch today was powdered eggs, oily baked potatoes and pancakes. I did not go. All I would have been able to eat was the eggs.. Half a cup of cold powdered eggs is not worth the walk let alone the stress of standing in line. The line most times takes 15 to 20 minutes because of the people who cut in front of you with no regard for what they are doing wrong. On average, 30 people cut in front of me in the line EVERY meal. You cannot say anything for risk of a fight.
You tell the guards and they don't give a f--k. Apparently it takes 3 of them at the front of the line to check if you have your ID with you but not one of them can be bothered to do their actual job which is patrolling the line. That would of course take them away from their conversation amongst each other. Do you flipping job!!! In all seriousness, all you are as a guard is an overpaid glorified babysitter and you cannot even get that right.
Dinner was roast beef. I was given ONLY one piece that was 50% fat (no exaggeration) and razor thin. The strip I ate was about 4 inches by 1.5 inches. Side dish was a half cup of green beans and a cup of rice. I didn't eat the rice. I am flipping starving!!!! My meal ended up being less than 100 calories. This is ridiculous and not sustainable. I now need to cook something from my commissary pantry to supplement this meal like I did lunch. I looked ahead for the rest of this week and there is not a day that does not contain large amounts of beans!!! I cannot eat those. So frustrating.....
You tell the guards and they don't give a f--k. Apparently it takes 3 of them at the front of the line to check if you have your ID with you but not one of them can be bothered to do their actual job which is patrolling the line. That would of course take them away from their conversation amongst each other. Do you flipping job!!! In all seriousness, all you are as a guard is an overpaid glorified babysitter and you cannot even get that right.
Dinner was roast beef. I was given ONLY one piece that was 50% fat (no exaggeration) and razor thin. The strip I ate was about 4 inches by 1.5 inches. Side dish was a half cup of green beans and a cup of rice. I didn't eat the rice. I am flipping starving!!!! My meal ended up being less than 100 calories. This is ridiculous and not sustainable. I now need to cook something from my commissary pantry to supplement this meal like I did lunch. I looked ahead for the rest of this week and there is not a day that does not contain large amounts of beans!!! I cannot eat those. So frustrating.....
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Sanitation by Inmate #2
It seems amazing that during cold and flu season there is no visible means to combat germs. There are 2 sanitary hand dispensers in the cafeteria but one is empty. There are NONE in the units. People crouping, coughing and sneezing but no sanitary measures. There are no sanitary wipes available on commissary - no Lysol wipes, no Clorox wipes nor any off the wall brand.
So the contagion goes on and on from one person to another and one room to another. And if you go to sick call with the flu (and you have a fever) your entire room goes to the SHU for quarantine. And while you are gone nothing is done to sanitize the room to kill the germs that put you in the SHU to start with so you come back in 3 days with the same germs you left with.
Other medical facilities would be appaled and the sanitation of these units. While people are sick they wander around the unit coughing and sneezing and breathing on other people, using chairs and tables, facilities and all railings and walls that make up the unit with no way to sanitize the unit. Another amazingly stupid way things are done here.
So the contagion goes on and on from one person to another and one room to another. And if you go to sick call with the flu (and you have a fever) your entire room goes to the SHU for quarantine. And while you are gone nothing is done to sanitize the room to kill the germs that put you in the SHU to start with so you come back in 3 days with the same germs you left with.
Other medical facilities would be appaled and the sanitation of these units. While people are sick they wander around the unit coughing and sneezing and breathing on other people, using chairs and tables, facilities and all railings and walls that make up the unit with no way to sanitize the unit. Another amazingly stupid way things are done here.
Duct Tape and Cardboard by Inmate #1
My housing unit has many many inmates with walkers and wheelchairs. Obviously, this makes walking around or rolling around difficult to say the least however there are obstacles put down by staff adds to the difficulty. Since it has been raining a lot this week, the entire entrance of our housing unit in the doorway has cut up boxes on the floor. They are unavoidable and you have to walk or roll on them when entering and exiting. Most of the time, they are wet and falling apart.
I don't understand how this is safe for either the able bodied inmates or the special needs one. If this was a corporate building and the same action was taken, then OSHA would be here in a heartbeat.
The other favorite solution to things here is duct tape. In the outside world, I love duct tape just ask my husband. If I need to fix something and duct tape may do the job, it is my first choice.
Here they use it to mark borders on the floor of where you can and cannot go and for some reason in the bathroom on the floor to cover cracks. The problem is that the duct tape is peeling and rolling up in places due to so many people walking on it daily. This is a OSHA hazard as people can trip easily on the duct tape. Sticky side up in places and your foot can stick.
Another hazard is when the ice machine freezes up. They take the entire front cover and leave it off which exposes ALL of the machinery. This was left like this multiple days for 6 hours plus at a time. Super crazy dangerous but not surprising for this place.
I don't understand how this is safe for either the able bodied inmates or the special needs one. If this was a corporate building and the same action was taken, then OSHA would be here in a heartbeat.
The other favorite solution to things here is duct tape. In the outside world, I love duct tape just ask my husband. If I need to fix something and duct tape may do the job, it is my first choice.
Here they use it to mark borders on the floor of where you can and cannot go and for some reason in the bathroom on the floor to cover cracks. The problem is that the duct tape is peeling and rolling up in places due to so many people walking on it daily. This is a OSHA hazard as people can trip easily on the duct tape. Sticky side up in places and your foot can stick.
Another hazard is when the ice machine freezes up. They take the entire front cover and leave it off which exposes ALL of the machinery. This was left like this multiple days for 6 hours plus at a time. Super crazy dangerous but not surprising for this place.
Recreation Classes by Inmate #1
At Carswell, they love to list all of the "fun" activities that they have going on in the recreation department. The list includes arts & crafts classes, outdoor tournaments, exercise classes etc. I just want to dispel the myth that any of these are actually what they seem. The arts & crafts classes are not actual classes.
I would classify them as time to use the arts & crafts classroom to do whatever the activity is. If you want to learn to crochet in the class, that is not possible but if you want to sit there while everyone crochets and listen to the radio, then you will be fine. Its like supervised activity time.
The exercise classes do run for the most part which is good but the outside rec activities suck. The tournaments never get enough players or for some unknown reason it gets postponed. All in all very disappointing.
I think they make the rec calendars to make themselves feel good and like they are offering something when the reality is polar opposite. Like everything at Carswell, it looks good on paper but the reality is not even close.
I would classify them as time to use the arts & crafts classroom to do whatever the activity is. If you want to learn to crochet in the class, that is not possible but if you want to sit there while everyone crochets and listen to the radio, then you will be fine. Its like supervised activity time.
The exercise classes do run for the most part which is good but the outside rec activities suck. The tournaments never get enough players or for some unknown reason it gets postponed. All in all very disappointing.
I think they make the rec calendars to make themselves feel good and like they are offering something when the reality is polar opposite. Like everything at Carswell, it looks good on paper but the reality is not even close.
Orientation by Inmate #1
I have been here at Carswell for almost a month now. One month down, five to go. I finally had what the call A&O which is basically a way to parade all the head honchos who run departments here in front of you to explain what they do, what they can help you with and some of your responsibilities. It takes 4 hours and our new class had 80 people. At the end of it, you sign a paper that you attended so that at some later date you break the rules, then they can pull this paper out and say that you signed stating you understood everything.
Most people in that room probably had no idea why they had to sign anything but being in the real world and corporate environments, I knew exactly why. Its like when you sign you read the corporate harassment policy and if you harass someone, they parade that paper out and fire you. Same kind of thing but instead of being fired, you would just be put in the shoo (aka lockup) and have privileges like commissary, email and phone taken away for 30 days..
I really wish these people had a reality check between what they think this facility is like and what actually happens. I almost burst out laughing when we were told that we are getting the best medical care. Really??? From what I hear, 1 in 10 people who come because of medical needs only actually die.. 1 in 10 and that's a statistic you think is good??
So many people every day that I meet and hear the horror stories of what this place has NOT done for them.. I think all of the head honchos should live here for one week in my dorm and get their medical care for them and their family for one year and maybe the light would go on about how horrible this place is. Don't preach your awesomeness to me - you are like one of those travelling evangelists who take peoples money by performing fake miracles. Same kind of hustle but with a different spin.
Most people in that room probably had no idea why they had to sign anything but being in the real world and corporate environments, I knew exactly why. Its like when you sign you read the corporate harassment policy and if you harass someone, they parade that paper out and fire you. Same kind of thing but instead of being fired, you would just be put in the shoo (aka lockup) and have privileges like commissary, email and phone taken away for 30 days..
I really wish these people had a reality check between what they think this facility is like and what actually happens. I almost burst out laughing when we were told that we are getting the best medical care. Really??? From what I hear, 1 in 10 people who come because of medical needs only actually die.. 1 in 10 and that's a statistic you think is good??
So many people every day that I meet and hear the horror stories of what this place has NOT done for them.. I think all of the head honchos should live here for one week in my dorm and get their medical care for them and their family for one year and maybe the light would go on about how horrible this place is. Don't preach your awesomeness to me - you are like one of those travelling evangelists who take peoples money by performing fake miracles. Same kind of hustle but with a different spin.
Laundry by Inmate #1
I have been here 22 days and lost almost 15 pounds. I am swimming in my shirts so I was told to go to laundry trade in. This takes place ONLY on Tuesday mornings at 6AM. I brought all my shirts (4) dress shirts and (4) tshirts to trade. They had NO dress shirts in my size and the the 4 tshirts, they did have a stack but not for trade. You have to be here 6 months to get those size large tshirts, we are out of all the other tradeable ones.
I was HEATED but I calmly took one of the dress shrits, put it on and asked, "so you want me to look like this?" My shirts look like I am wearing a circus tent. To add to the whole sutuation, I ONLY have ONE wash time a week (1245AM on Tuesdays) and only enough clothes total for 4 days of clean clothes. 4 shirts, 4 pants, 4 tshits, 5 pairs of underwear 4 pairs of socks and 3 bras.
The last time I checked there are 7 days in a week right???? You cannot get more clothes and are expected to always have clean clothes. We all wash our underwear in the shower so we can have clean ones everyday. WHAT THE F**K IS WRONG WITH THIS F***ING PLACE????
I was HEATED but I calmly took one of the dress shrits, put it on and asked, "so you want me to look like this?" My shirts look like I am wearing a circus tent. To add to the whole sutuation, I ONLY have ONE wash time a week (1245AM on Tuesdays) and only enough clothes total for 4 days of clean clothes. 4 shirts, 4 pants, 4 tshits, 5 pairs of underwear 4 pairs of socks and 3 bras.
The last time I checked there are 7 days in a week right???? You cannot get more clothes and are expected to always have clean clothes. We all wash our underwear in the shower so we can have clean ones everyday. WHAT THE F**K IS WRONG WITH THIS F***ING PLACE????
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