ROBERT BLANDA? (ROBERT)
4-3-9-9-7-1. ERIC ROBERTSON? STERLING LAVIGNE? 9-5-5-4-2. (NARRATOR)
HUNT CORRECTIONAL CENTER
20 MILES SOUTH OF BATON ROUGE. IT'S A MONDAY MORNING
LIKE ANY MONDAY MORNING INMATES LEAVE FROM HERE
FOR PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE LOUISIANA
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. WE'LL HANDCUFF AND SHACKLE
YOU ALL. (NARRATOR)
WHETHER FOR THEFT, DRUG DEALING, RAPE, DRUNK DRIVING,
OR ARMED ROBBERY LOUISIANA'S SENTENCES
ARE THE HARSHEST IN THE U.S. (MAN)
THERE WILL BE NO TALKING
EXCEPT FOR ME. THE ONLY TIME YOU TALK IS WHEN
YOU GIVE ME YOUR DOC NUMBER. STERLING LAVIGNE? (STERLING)
9-5-4-4-2. (MAN)
COLBY BAXTER? 3-9-0-4-3-9. GABRIEL WILLIAMS? 1-8-8-8-2. ROBERT BLANDA? 4-3-9-9-7-1. ALL RIGHT, FELLAHS YOU GOT
APPROXIMATELY 45-MINUTE RIDE
AHEAD OF US. THERE WILL BE NO STANDING UP,
NO TALKING LOUD, NO SMOKING AT ALL.
YOU CAN LET YOUR WINDOWS DOWN. ALL RIGHT LET'S DO IT. (MAN ON SPEAKER)
LISTEN UP 40, 47. (NARRATOR)
IT'S A RARE GLIMPSE OF THE
FREE WORLD FOR THESE INMATES ON THEIR SHORT BUS RIDE
TO THEIR NEXT PRISON. THE REASONS FOR THEIR TRANSFER
ARE MANY. I WAS DOWN THERE,
ABOUT TWO MILES DOWN THAT WAY. (NARRATOR)
COLBY BAXTER IS BEING MOVED
CLOSER TO HIS FAMILY. JUVENILES ERIC ROBERTSON
AND ROBERT BLANDA ARE NOW FACING THEIR FIRST TIME
IN AN ADULT PRISON. FOR STERLING LAVIGNE
IT'S HIS SEVENTH TRANSFER IN 21 YEARS OF INCARCERATION. DESMOND JOSEPH
AND GABRIEL WILLIAMS, ARE SURPRISED
TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. FATE HAS THROWN THEM
ALL TOGETHER TO SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER
OF THEIR SENTENCES AT DIXON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE, LOUISIANA'S SECOND
LARGEST PRISON. LOUISIANA HAS THE HIGHEST
INCARCERATION RATE IN
THE COUNTRY. THE TYPICAL PROFILE
OF AN INMATE IS YOUNGER, MORE VILE, CERTAINLY UNEDUCATED, 97% OF THEM COME INTO PRISON
GET OUT OF HERE. GOOD MORNING, WARDEN,
ARE YOU DOING ALL RIGHT TODAY? DO WE WANT A MORE HARDEN,
MEANER PERSON LEAVING THESE PRISONS,
GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, OR DO WE WANT SOMEBODY THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE, A LITTLE BIT MORE RECEPTIVE
TO BEING BACK INTO SOCIETY AND TRY TO GET THEM BACK
INTO A JOB? (NARRATOR)
WARDEN JAMES LEBLANC
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 1,500 INMATES. 80% OF THE INMATES ARE BETWEEN
19 AND 44 YEARS. THE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN CONVICTED
FOR A SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH OR MORE TIME. THERE'S NO DEATH ROW, BUT 25 MEN
ARE SERVING LIFE SENTENCES. SIXTEEN YEARS, HUH? HI, BERNIE,
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, MAN? IS EVERYTHING GOING ALL RIGHT? (NARRATOR)
WARDEN LEBLANC IS BOTH MAYOR
AND SHERIFF OF A COMMUNITY COURT SYSTEM, SPORTS FACILITIES, AND A MULTI-FAITH CHAPEL. A WORLD ONTO ITSELF SECURED BY
13 MILES OF RAZOR WIRE. GUARDED BY 12 TOWERS, AND SUPERVISED BY 226
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. DOING ALL RIGHT TODAY? HOW MANY YOU GOT? I GOT EIGHT GUYS. WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST
POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK THAT HAS A
DIRECT IMPACT ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
IT HAS TO HAVE, PEOPLE BECOME DESPERATE.
THEY DO THINGS THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO.
AND THAT'S WHY SOMEONE WOULD
COME TO THE POINT TO TRY AND PROVIDE SOME SORT OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME INTO
THIS SYSTEM. (WOMAN ON SPEAKER)
DCI. (MAN)
BACK AT DCI WITH A 17 TRANSFER. (WOMAN ON SPEAKER)
10-4. (NARRATOR)
NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ANOTHER BLISTERING 95 DEGREE DAY
FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS. IT'S DAY ONE AT DCI
FOR ALL OF THEM. NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR
OR WHERE THEY'VE BEEN THEY ARRIVE WITH THEIR WORLDLY
POSSESSIONS REDUCED TO THE CONTENTS
OF A SINGLE PLASTIC BAG, AND A BLACK BOX FILLED
WITH THE RECORDS OF THEIR PRIOR INCARCERATIONS. COME ON. WELCOME TO DCI MY NAME
IS UDELL GREEN, I'M GOING TO ORIENTATE
YOU FOR THE DAY. FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T WANT TO
KNOW YOUR CHARGES. DCI POLICY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO
KNOW YOUR CHARGE. IT'S ONLY WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT,
YOU'RE STAY HERE AT DCI. IN A LITTLE WHILE
YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRESSING OUT. YOU GOT TO COME OUT
OF EVERYTHING EXCEPT YOUR BOXERS, YOUR SOCKS, T-SHIRTS, TOP SHIRTS, PANTS, EVERYTHING IS GONNA HAVE TO BE
HAVE DCI ON IT. EVEN YOUR UNDER SHIRTS
IF YOU HAVE ONE. (MAN)
COME OVER HERE. THE WHITE T-SHIRTS IT AIN'T
GOT DCI ON IT. YOU DON'T,
DON'T PUT THEM ON, NO? DON'T PUT IT BACK ON. I SHOULD OF STAYED IN SCHOOL
YOU KNOW OR I WOULDN'T BEEN HERE
RIGHT NOW. I COULD'VE BEEN A DOCTOR OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU KNOW, INSTEAD I'M IN A PENITENTIARY
AT 18 YEARS OLD. CHIN DOWN. TO THE SIDE. I HAVE A 49 1/2 YEAR SENTENCE, I'VE BEEN DOWN 21 1/2 YEARS. IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE, YOU KNOW,
AND I AIN'T GONNA NEVER WAKE UP. THE RULES AND REGULATIONS
THAT YOU LIVE BY THEY'RE CALLED INMATE
POST AND POLICIES. THERE'S 54 OF THEM, TELLS YOU
WHAT TIME YOU GET UP
IN THE MORNING, WHAT TIME YOU GO TO BED
AT NIGHT, WHAT TIME WE HAVE BREAKFAST,
DINNER AND SUPPER. WHAT DAYS YOU GET YOUR HAIRCUT. I THOUGHT MIDDLE CLASS
WHITE GUYS DON'T GO TO JAIL. YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, TIGHT WITH MY FAMILY, I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO WAY
I WOULD GO TO JAIL. IF I DID GET CAUGHT I WOULD JUST
GET PROBATION AGAIN. WE'RE GOING TO SHAKE
EVERYONE OF YOU DOWN. (MAN)
TAKE EVERYTHING OUT
OF YOUR POCKETS. WE DON'T KNOW YOU.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SECURITY. WE'RE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO DEAL WITH ON
A DAILY BASIS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
YOU WILL BE HERE, WE DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE, . THE ONES THAT WANT TO COME IN
HERE AND BE KNUCKLEHEADS, ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN TROUBLE THERE'S A SIX IN TEN CHANCE THAT
THEY'LL COME BACK TO US. SIX AND TEN.
WHICH GROUP DO WANT TO BE IN? (ERIC)
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN JAIL
AND I DON'T LIKE IT. I MISS MY FAMILY
MORE THAN ANYTHING. MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SISTER, MY BROTHER I JUST MISS
EVERYBODY. THE CHAPLAINS ARE HERE TO HELP
YOU TO DEVELOP A PLAN. AND WHEN YOU GET OUT WE'RE GOING
TO DROP YOU OFF AT
THE BUS STATION. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHECK, AND IT AIN'T A WHOLE
LOT OF MONEY. AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTED
TO SURVIVE. IT AIN'T GOING TO WORK
WITHOUT A PLAN. (GABRIEL)
THE WORLD DON'T BE EXISTING
TO ME AT TIMES. I JUST TRY TO KEEP MY MIND AWAY
FROM WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET ABOUT YOU
WHEN YOU BE IN JAIL. I I SAID IT'S THE ROAD
OF DESTRUCTION. IF YOU DON'T WANT
NOTHING IN LIFE THIS IS WHERE YOU COME TO. (NARRATOR)
LOUISIANA PRISON SENTENCES
REQUIRE HARD LABOR AND ALL INMATES MUST BE
ASSIGNED JOBS. SOCIAL WORKERS MUST FIRST
EVALUATE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND FITNESS FOR WORK. DO YOU EVER SEE THINGS
THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T SEE? LATELY, WHEN I BE IN MY CELL, THE BARS LOOK LIKE THEY MOVE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ME
OR WHAT. I SEE THE BARS MOVING SOMETIMES. THE BARS SEEM TO MOVE, HUH? HAVE YOU USED DRUGS OR ALCOHOL? YES. HOW OLD ARE YOU? TWENTY. OK, ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK
I NEED TO KNOW? OK, NICE TO MEET YOU GABRIEL. ALL RIGHT THIS IS WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO. OK, ROBERT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT YOU. SARGEANT LILLAM CAN YOU COME
HERE A SECOND. I'M BEGINNING
A MENTAL HEALTH OBSERVATION ON THIS INMATE CAN YOU LET
MAJOR BELL OR SOMEBODY KNOW. YEAH, I'LL GET WITH
THE CAPTAIN RIGHT NOW. OK, ROBERT YOU WILL NOT BE
GOING TO WORK OUT THERE OK. (WARDEN)
SOMETIMES WHEN THEY COME IN AND WE LOOK AT THEIR
MEDICAL RECORDS, THEIR NORMAL CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND BASICALLY SELECT
WHERE THEY LIVE, WHERE THEY GOING,
AND SO WE LET THEM KNOW RIGHT OFF THE BAT
WHAT WE EXPECT OF THEM. (MAJOR D.)
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SIZE
YOUR WAIST IS? YES, SIR. I CAN'T TELL. YOU GO BACK THERE
AND GET YOU ANOTHER PAIR
OF PANTS ON. MAKE SURE YOU GET
A PAIR THAT FITS YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TO USE THEM
HANDS TO WORK WITH. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? YOU DON'T WALK AROUND HERE
NO MORE WITH HANGING PANTS. YOU'LL BE IN MEDIUM CUSTODY. YOU'LL LIVE IN DORM "E", YOU'RE WORKING IN
THE PROCESSING PLANT PP28. THIRD TIME, HUH? THIRD TIME I'M HERE. YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS YOU LET ME
KNOW AND I'LL HELP YOU OUT. (WARDEN)
CORRECTION OFFICERS
AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORYS,
AND HOPEFULLY DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY
BECAUSE IT CREATES A LITTLE TO PERSONAL TYPE
RELATIONSHIP WHICH
SHOULDN'T EXIST. STERLING LAVIGNE, CHARLES VEDO,
WILLIAM BONADOTE. WHEN AN INMATE COMES INTO THE
SYSTEM THEY'RE ALL IN ALL EQUAL. AND IT'S UP TO THE INMATE
TO DECIDE. WHEN HE GETS ON HIS DORM
IT'S HIS DECISION WHETHER HE WANTS TO MOVE UP
IN THE SYSTEM OR MOVE DOWN IN THE SYSTEM. (NARRATOR)
MOST OF THE POPULATION
START OUT IN DORMITORIES. CELL CONFINEMENT IS RESERVED
FOR THOSE WHO BREAK THE RULES. (STERLING)
HE CAN'T DO NOTHING HERE THAT HAVEN'T HAPPEN TO ME
ALREADY. I'M GOING TO STILL BE IN JAIL, WHETHER I'M SLEEPING
IN THE DORMITORY OR IN A CELL. RIGHT OVER HERE
IN THIS TOP BUNK. MY TIME GONNA GO ON. (ROBERT)
BETWEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH
WITH MY MOM AND MY DAD YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF LIKE
MESSED UP IN THE HEAD YOU KNOW. I'M TRYING TO CHANGE MY WAYS,
CHANGE MY ATTITUDE. TRYING TO GET MY MIND
REHABILITATED. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
YOU TWO PAIRS OF PANTS. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
EVERYTHING YOU NEED. TOOTHPASTE, TOOTHBRUSH,
SOAP, RAZORS, SHEETS AND YOUR PANTS
WILL BE IN THERE. YOU'RE GOING TO BED 17
ON DORM "G." (GABRIEL)
GOT A SON OUT THERE NOW. I MEAN THEY'LL PROBABLY MAKE ME
WANT TO STRIDE TO STAY OUT
THERE NOW, KNOWING HIS MOM WILL PROBABLY
NEED SOME HELP. HIS NAME'S TIJUAN. HE'S SOON TO BE ONE IN OCTOBER
AND I AIN'T EVEN SEEN HIM YET. HE AIN'T GONNA EVER KNOW WHO
I AM WHEN I GET HOME. IT'S TIGHT. (NARRATOR)
HOME FOR ALL OF THEM IS NOW A DORMITORY ALONGSIDE
100 STRANGERS. (OFFICER)
PICK UP CLEAN UP
AROUND YOUR HOUSE. THE ONLY THING HANGING
FROM YOUR BED ARE TOWELS AND LAUNDRY SACKS. (NARRATOR)
DAY ONE COMES TO A CLOSE. TEN O'CLOCK AND THE NEWCOMERS
HAVE PLENTY TO THINK ABOUT. FIFTY-FOUR RULES TO BE MEMORIZED
ANOBSERVED. VIOLATIONS THAT COUND LAND YOU
IN A CELL BLOCK OR ADD MORE TIME
TO YOUR SENTENCE. (INAUDIBLE)
THE LIGHTS OUT. (NARRATOR)
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NEW
TRANSFERS FROM NOW ON DEPENDS HOW WELL THE SETTLE
INTO LIFE AT DCI. (WARDEN)
THIRTY SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS TO GO IN THE FIELD OR INTO THE POULTRY
PROCESSING PLANT. THAT'S KIND
OF A FIRST TIME THING WHEN YOU COME INTO THE SYSTEM AND YOU GET ADJUSTED
TO THE PRISON. GO TO WORK ON THAT CHAIN. (WARDEN)
LEARNING HOW TO GO TO WORK, LEARNING HOW TO GET UP
IN THE MORNING, GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER, SHAVE,
BRUSH YOUR TEETH. ALL THOSE LITTLE THINGS
THAT A LOT OF THEM JUST HAVE NEVER BEEN
ACCUSTOMED TO THAT'S AN ADJUSTMENT. THIS YOUR FIRST DAY
STAY IN BACK OF THAT LINE. THE CHICKEN PLANT.
IT IS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR MOST OF THE INMATES IN THAT THEY GO INTO AN
ENVIRONMENT OF VERY HARD LABOR. (MAN)
TODAY IS ALL YOUR FIRST DAY
IN THE PLANT. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO. WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU WHILE
YOU'RE IN THE PLANT. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT ALL YOU
KNUCKLE BELTS TO COME IN HERE
AND PAY ATTENTION. THERE'S A HARD PIECE
OF CARTILAGE, GRISTLE
AT THE END OF THE BONE. THAT HAS TO BE CUT OUT
OF THE CHICKEN BEFORE YOU
PLACE IT INTO YOUR LUG. OK? YOU CHECK YOUR CHICKEN UP,
DOWN, SIDE TO SIDE,
TOP TO BOTTOM. (WARDEN)
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RULES BE
STRONG AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT TO BE FAIR. IF THEY
DON'T ABIDE BY THOSE RULES THEY GET WRITTEN UP
FOR A RULE VIOLATION. THE FIRST COUPLE OF LUGS
I'VE CHECKED ALREADY HAD CARTILAGE AND BONE IN IT. (GABRIEL)
THE JOB THEY GOT ME DOING THEY GOT ME
CHECKING CHICKEN RIGHT, AND I GOT TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT
GOT BONES, KNUCKLES, OR
CARTILAGE IN IT. IF I DIDN'T,
THAT'S AN AUTOMATIC WRITE UP. YOU GET WROTE UP ON THAT THEY
TRY TO SNATCH YOUR GOOD TIME. CHECK THE CHICKEN CLEAN, MAKE
SURE THERE'S NO KNUCKLE BONES, CARTILAGE AND I CAN'T
STRESS THAT ENOUGH. WHEN THEY BREAK THE RULES
THEY CAN BE MINOR PRIVILEGES TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM, THEIR CANTEEN,
THEIR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND IT CAN BE MAJOR AS TAKING
GOOD TIME AWAY FROM THEM. AS MUCH AS 180 DAYS OF GOOD TIME
FOR ONE MAJOR OFFENSE. AND THAT MEANS SPENDING MORE
TIME IN PRISON. (LT. PETERS)
SOME OF THEM DON'T WANT TO CUT
CHICKEN. SOME OF THEM DON'T
WANT TO CHECK CHICKEN. THERE SOME THAT REFUSES
TO SKIN CHICKEN. PROBLEMS LIKE THAT WHEN THEY
DON'T HAVE TO MANY WRITE UPS. WE SEND THEM ON TO THE WORKING
WITH CELL BLOCK. THESE GUYS WORK OUT ON THE
FIELDS FROM 7:30 IN THE MORNING TO 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON. THESE GUYS ALL HAVE DISCIPLINARY
PROBLEMS, WRITE UPS, THEY'RE UNDER THE RIFLE. (NARRATOR)
FEIGNING SICKNESS TO AVOID WORK IS ALSO CONSIDERED
A DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM. BUT ERIC ROBERTSON INSISTS THAT THE CHICKEN PLANT
IS MAKING HIM FEEL ILL. OK, I'M GOING TO LET THIS INMATE
MAKE AN EMERGENCY SICK CALL. HE SAID THAT HE CANNOT STAND
THE SMELL IN HERE. HE'S GOING TO GO
TO THE INFIRMARY AND
THEY'RE GOING TO EVALUATE HIM. LET US KNOW
WHAT THEY OUTCOME IS. I WENT IN THERE AND I TOLD
THEM MY STOMACH WAS HURTING. THEY TOLD ME TO JUST STAY
IN THERE, SO AFTER THAT,
I STARTED THROWING UP. DRINK A LOT OF FLUIDS
SO YOUR SKIN WON'T GET
DEHYDRATED. IF YOU VOMIT TODAY
LET SOMEONE SEE IT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WITNESSED
BY SECURITY. HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER. (NARRATOR)
UNLESS HE HAS A SECURITY OFFICER
WITNESS HIM VOMIT, ERIC IS BACK IN THE CHICKEN
PLANT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ERIC HOW OLD ARE YOU? ARE YOU A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER? YES, SIR. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE? FIVE YEARS. (LT. PETERS)
YOU CAN GO FROM
THE CHICKEN PLANT ONE DAY AND YOU CAN BE IN
AN ORANGE JUMPSUIT WORKING
CELL BLOCK THE NEXT. GET READY TO SIT DOWN. (COLBY)
FIRST DAY IN THE CHICKEN PLANT THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE
IS THE SMELL. IT STINKS. YOU GET IN THERE AND YOU'RE
A NERVOUS WRECK BECAUSE YOU HEARD THEY'LL GIVE
YOU PLENTY OF WRITE UPS. EVERYBODY GETS WRITE UPS
IN THE CHICKEN PLANT. COME OUT OF YOUR BOOTS,
EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR POCKETS, HAIR NETS OFF YOUR HEADS, AVE
YOUR HAIR NETS IN THE PLANT. ONCE YOU COME OUT HERE
ON THE WALK. THERE'S NO NOISE, NO SMOKING,
PAD UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WALK. THIS AIN'T. I DON'T RATHER BE
IN NO DOC FACILITY. NO LOCKED UP PERIOD.
FIRST OF ALL THEY TALK TO YOU ANY KIND OF WAY.
I MEAN, WE'RE ALL IN HERE AND WE KNOW THAT GOT A THOUGHT
OVER US AND THEY JUST ABUSE IT. POINT BLANK. (LT. AUCOIN)
GABRIEL HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP
FOR AN AGGREGATED WORK OFFENSE. THE WORK OFFENSE
IN THE CHICKEN PLANT, IF HE DOESN'T DO
THE WORK PROPERLY AND THEY SEND OUT
THE DIRTY PRODUCT, THEN IT'S CUTTING DOWN THE EFFICIENCY
OF THE PLANT ITSELF. I MEAN IT LOOKS BAD
ON THE WHOLE FACILITY NOT JUST THIS ONE GUY. IT APPEARS THAT GABRIEL WILLIAMS
HAS AN "I DON'T CARE" ATTITUDE. HE HASN'T COPED WITH GETTING
LOCKED UP YET. 25 CAN YOU COPY BACK?
26, 27, 28 COPY BACK. 29, 30. I JUST GOT HERE
AND IT'S LOOKING REAL UGLY. SEE NOW THAT I'VE BEEN
IN THAT CHICKEN PLANT SAY, BRO, WHERE I'M AT
STICK OUT ACTION, BRO, KNUCKLE BELT, OH, NO. OH, NO I'M FITTIN' TO FILL OUT
A REQUEST FORM TO GO TO GED. MAN, I'M NOT FEELING HOW
YOU PEOPLE SLAVE ME FOR
NOT NARE NICKLE. (LT. AUCOIN)
IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE
FOR THEM TO ADJUST. YOU KNOW, ADJUST TO LISTENING
TO PEOPLE. PEOPLE TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO. (COLBY)
I WAS TALKING ON THE WAY
TO THE CHOW HALL AND SARGEANT GRIME SAID THEY
GAVE ME A VERBAL DIRECT ORDER TO STOP TALKING WHICH HE DIDN'T, BUT HE WROTE IT UP LIKE THAT
SO THERE'S NOTHING I COULD DO. (WARDEN)
IF THEY'RE WRITTEN UP,
THEN THEY GO TO COURT. RECORDING 8.7.2001. MAJOR DENNIS GRIME, CHAIRMAN,
MR. BUDDY HALL, MEMBER. (WARDEN)
THEY HAVE A LEGAL COUNSELOR
THAT REPRESENTS THEM IN COURT. AND ONCE THEY GET THROUGH COURT
THEY'RE EITHER FOUND GUILTY
OR NOT GUILTY. AND THEY HAVE TO LEARN
THAT THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE FOR MISBEHAVIOR. (OFFICER)
YEAH?! YOU PLEAD GUILTY, THIS
BOARD ACCEPTED TO GUILTY PLEAD. THE BOARD IS GOING TO SENTENCE
YOU FOR FOUR WEEKS NO CANTEEN, TWELVE DAYS ROOM CONFINEMENT
THAT WILL BE IMPOSED. (NARRATOR)
THE DCI DISCIPLINARY COURT RULES THAT COLBY MUST FORFEIT
HIS WEEKLY CANTEEN PRIVILEGES, AND BE CONFINED TO HIS DORM
WHEN NOT AT WORK. (COLBY)
I WENT TO CANTEEN YESTERDAY AND
I STOCKED UP ON THINGS I NEEDED. YOU KNOW, I GOT SOME EXTRA SOAP
AND STUFF LIKE THAT. TWO JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER
INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, BECAUSE I KIND OF PLANNED ON IT
I KNEW IT WAS COMING. VERY, VERY, VERY RARE DO YOU
BEAT A WRITE UP IN DB COURT. EVERYONE CALL IT THE KANGAROO
COURT, I MEAN, YOU GO IN YOU'RE GUILTY NINE TIMES
OUT OF TEN. KANGAROO COURT I DON'T THINK SO. I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE COURT HERE
WHEN THEY BREAK THE RULES. THAT IS NOT A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. THAT'S NOT ANYTHING
WE HAVE TO DO, BUT IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR THEM. I THINK IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM,
I THINK IT WORKS, AND I THINK AS YOU WALK
AROUND THIS FACILITY WITH THE ATMOSPHERE THAT YOU
CAN FEEL IN HERE IN THAT IT'S VERY SETTLED,
IT'S VERY STABLE, AND THE INMATES UNDERSTAND
THAT IF IT ISN'T THEN THEY'RE GOING
TO BE PUNISHED. (NARRATOR)
ELEVEN TIMES EVERY DAY
THE PRISON IS BROUGHT TO A HALT BY COUNT TIME. FIFTEEN HUNDRED INMATES
MUST ALL BE ACCOUNTED FOR. ALL RIGHT FELLAHS COUNT! RADIOS OFF, NO NOISE,
LET'S HAVE IT! RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING
11:30 COUNT. ALL INMATES ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE ON THEIR BEDS NO RADIOS, NO ACTIVITY, 11:30 COUNT THAT HAPPENS
DCI WIDE. COUNT CENTER. DCI TO DCI 38. LET'S GO CATCH THE BEDS. (WOMAN)
DCI TO DCI 38. (NARRATOR)
SECURITY MUST DOUBLE CHECK THAT EVERY INMATE
IS WHERE HE SHOULD BE. DCI 90 WE'VE GOT 28. COUNT FOR DORMS "E" AND "L". (OFFICER)
DORM "E," I HAVE 57. DORM "F," I HAVE 36. (CHAPLAIN)
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK,
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO IN YOUR LOCKER, YOU'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO
TO THE BATHROOM, YOU JUST SIT ON YOUR BED
UNTIL THE COUNT CLEARS. CELL BLOCK "B" IS CLEAR. (NARRATOR)
IT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE MORE
THAN 20 MINUTES FOR THE CONTROL CENTER
TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE NUMBERS ADD UP. NO, NO RECOUNT ON "E". I'VE GOT COUNTS FOR DORMS
3 AND 4. I GOT DORM 3 IS 50. FIFTY THREE. BOTH GOOD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. DCI ALL DCI UNTIL COUNTS CLEAR. (NARRATOR)
NO ONE HAS EVER
SUCCESSFULLY ESCAPED FROM THE PRISON COMPOUND. THE AISLES ARE CLEAR
FOR THE BATHROOM. ONLY TWO AT A TIME
FROM EACH DORM. GIVE ME DORM FIVE
FOR FIELD CALL. COUNTS CLEAR? (WARDEN)
THE INMATES,
MOST OF THEM ARE GUILTY AND IF YOU TALK TO MOST OF THEM
IN HERE RIGHT NOW FOR WHAT THEY'RE IN HERE FOR PROBABLY MOST OF THEM WILL TELL
YOU THAT THEY'RE NOT GUILTY. (CHAPLAIN)
I WAS FIRST ARRESTED
FEBRUARY 8, 1980, TWO DAYS AFTER
MY TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY AND I'VE BEEN INCARCERATED
EVER SINCE. I WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME. I WENT TO THIS GAMBLING HOUSE
ON FIRST AND ST. THOMAS, THERE WAS SHOOTIN', I GOT SHOT, TWO MORE PEOPLE GOT SHOT. NO ONE GOT KILLED.
NO ONE GOT KILLED, BUT I HAD A GUN ON ME. THE DUDES IN THE GAMBLING HOUSE
TOLD THE SECURITY GUARD THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT DID SOME
OF THE SHOOTING, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT. I JUST GOT CAUGHT UP. I WAS
CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED
ARMED ROBBERY. I WOUNDED UP GETTING
49 1/2 YEARS. MISS TATE,
I'M BACK FROM HARDWARE SHOP. WHAT DORM? (WARDEN)
IT'S KIND OF A FINE LINE BETWEEN
PUNISHMENT AND REHABILITATION. HABILITATION IS PROBABLY
A BETTER WORD. REHABILITATION IS BRINGING
A PERSON BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE AT ONE TIME. MEANING THEY AT SOME POINT
WERE HABILITATED. BUT THE MAJORITY
OF THE INMATES THAT COME IN HERE HAVE COME FROM SOCIAL ECONOMIC
DEFICIT AREAS THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN HABILITATED. (ROBERT)
MY MOMMA'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY
THEY'RE ALL CRIMINALS, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PENITENTIARY
ALL THEIR LIFE AND MY DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY,
YOU KNOW. THEY CALL MY DAD
THE BLACK SHEEP. BECAUSE HIS BROTHERS, ONE
OF THEM IS A CATHOLIC PRIEST. ONE'S AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON.
ONE'S A JUDGE. BUT HE AIN'T WANT TO SEE ME GO YOU KNOW,
IN THE DIRECTION HE WENT INTO. BUT I WAS STUCK ON STUPID,
YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER DO THE THINGS THAT I
WAS DOING BECAUSE IT WAS FUN AND GOOD
AT THE TIME WHILE IT LASTED. BUT YOU KNOW
IT DIDN'T LAST THAT LONG. (WARDEN)
DO YOU DEAL WITH
THE YOUNGER PEOPLE DIFFERENT THAN THE OLDER PEOPLE? I THINK WE GIVE THEM A LITTLE
BIT MORE TOLERANCE ON THE FRONT END
IN THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY. WE'LL PUT UP WITH A LITTLE BIT
MORE FROM THEM FOR A WHILE. (CHARLES)
WE HAVE A PROGRAM HERE
FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. NO, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. WELL, YOU COULD PROBABLY
GET INTO SCHOOL. SEE, THE, THE THING
WHY I DON'T WANT TO JOIN THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER, SEE YOUNG PEOPLE THEY,
THEY IMMATURE AND I'D RATHER BE AROUND
AN OLDER CROWD THAT DON'T GET IN TROUBLE. BECAUSE THE YOUNGER CROWD WILL
GET YOU IN TROUBLE A LOT EASIER AND I FOUND THAT OUT
A LONG TIME AGO. AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKED LIKE
TO ME YOU'RE DOING FAIRLY WELL. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND DISCONTINUNE THAT MENTAL HEALTH OBSERVATION, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN ASSIGN YOU
A JOB OVER THERE WHEREVER THEY WANT
YOU TO WORK, OK? SO IF SOMEONE STICKS THERE NOSE
IN YOUR BUSINESS TO MUCH AND YOU NEED TO GET AWAY FROM
THEM WHETHER YOU'RE
YOUNG OR OLDER. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO
YOUR TIME FOR YOU. WHAT CLASS YOUR IN, ERIC? TENTH. (NARRATOR)
ERIC ROBERTSON
THE OTHER 18 YEAR OLD HAS NOT DECLINED
THE YOUTH OFFENDER PROGRAM. HE HAS MOVED UP THE WAITING LIST
FOR THOSE WANTING TO FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. WE DON'T WANT HAVE YOU RELEASED
HERE AND NOT HAVE A GED. THAT'S ONE OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO HAVE YOU ACHIEVE
YOUR GOAL. (NARRATOR)
SUNDAY ON THE YARD. THE ONLY DAY WHEN PRISONERS
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WORK. (HARMONICA PLAYING) ♪ I'M JUST A STRANGER ♪ ♪ KNOCKING AT YOUR BACK DOOR ♪ ♪ SOMEBODY PEEPING THROUGH
YOUR WINDOW ♪ ♪ AND I DON'T WANT TO GO ♪ (GABRIEL)
I'M SAYING THOUGH YOU AIN'T WANT
TO GO TO SCHOOL ON THE STREET. THAT'S ON THE STREET. THERE'S A LOT I MISSED
I NEED TO LEARN THAT. SEE AT SCHOOL I BE SITTIN'
THERE LOOKING AT THE CLOCK I'D BE LIKE, MAN, YOU CAN'T BE
PAID IN NO SCHOOL. WHEN I USED TO ASK MY MAMA
FOR SHOES OR SOMETHING
THAT THEN CAME OUT, MY MAMA COULD NEVER GET IT
'CAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS A SINGLE MOTHER
AND SHE GOT OTHER KIDS AND SHE COULDN'T GET ME
THE THINGS THAT I WANTED, SO THEY NEED ME TO HUSTLE
RIGHT THEN AND THERE. WHAT I'M SAYING, GABRIEL,
YOU TURNED YOURSELF OUT, BRO. THAT'S ALL I KNOW. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE HONEST
TO GOD TRUTH. I AIN'T GOING TO SAY I'M GOING
OUT THERE AND GETTIN' NO JOB. I'M GONNA TRY. BUT I KNOW THAT AIN'T
WHAT'S HAPPENING. I SAY DRUG DEALERS, ARMED ROBBERS AND ALL THAT MAN, YOU CAN HELP 'EM RE-
HABILITATION IS REHABILITATION. IT'S NOT PRISON.
WE AIN'T KILL NOBODY. YOU FEEL ME?
NO, IT AIN'T NO MURDER. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING,
IT'S TRYING TO GET YOU. WE'RE DOING BAD OUT THERE. SO WE TRY AND GET OUT THERE AND
DO GOOD LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU GET SLAMMED DOWN BY THE MAN. ♪ THEY GOT US TRAPPED UP
IN THE SYSTEM ♪ ♪ MAN STUCK IN THE PEN
SURROUNDED BY YOUR THUGS ♪ ♪ KILLERS, VICS, AND OLD MEN
I JUST KEEP COOL ♪ ♪ AND TRY AND KEEP
MY HEAD UP ♪ (COLBY)
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, I NOTICED DCI
IS MOSTLY BLACK. I GET A WHOLE LOT OF YOU KNOW
HEY, WHITE BOY PEOPLE CALLING YOU WHITE BOY. THE OTHER PRISON THAT I WAS AT
HAD MORE WHITE PEOPLE. THEY CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME
RIGHT OFF. IT WASN'T TO MUCH
HEY, WHITE BOY WITH THAT. I HAD A FEW BLACK FRIENDS WHEN I
WAS AT HOME, BUT NOT MANY. WHEN YOU COME TO PRISON
YOU REALIZE THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE
AND BAD PEOPLE NO MATTER
WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. IF YOU COME TO PRISON
WHICH IS MOSTLY BLACK AND YOU CAN'T GET ALONG
WITH BLACK PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY,
VERY, VERY HARD TIME. WATCH IT, WATCH IT. (ERIC)
I NEVER WAS A FOLLOWER.
I DON'T LIKE FOLLOWING PEOPLE. IT WAS FOR THE MONEY TO ME. SO I COULD GO BUY NEW CLOTHES
AND EVERYTHING AND GOT ME A CAR. THE MONEY WAS SO QUICK AND EASY
I JUST KEPT ON DOING IT. AND AFTER THAT I CAUGHT A CHARGE
AND NOW I'M HERE. (NARRATOR)
SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS
FOR COCAINE DISTRIBUTION, ERIC SPENDS HIS SUNDAY SEEKING
LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE INMATE COUNCILS. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM
WHAT'S GOING ON? THE COURT SAID THAT I'M
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE THAT'S WHY I CAME OVER HERE. WELL YOU ARE. BUT BY LAW YOU CAN'T HAVE PAROLE
FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS. IT SAYS HERE, "FOR THE FIRST
FIVE YEARS IN THE SENTENCE "OUGHT TO BE SERVED WITHOUT
BENEFIT OF PAROLE, PROBATION OR SUSPENSION." BECAUSE I TALKED TO MY FAMILY
LAST NIGHT AND THEY SAID IF I CAN GET BACK IN COURT,
THEY'RE GOING TO GET ME
A BETTER LAWYER WHATEVER I NEEDED. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BE
HELPFUL TO YOU IS POSSIBLY JUST ASK THE JUDGE IF HE WILL
RE-SENTENCE YOU. THAT'S ONE THING THAT YOU'LL
HAVE TO REALIZE STAY
OUT OF TROUBLE. NO I AIN'T GET NO WRITE UPS. BECAUSE YOUR RECORD,
YOUR DISCIPLINARY RECORD IS DEFINITELY GOING TO EFFECT
YOUR OUTCOME. HOW MANY WRITE UPS
DO YOU HAVE NOW? NONE. I AIN'T NEVER GOT A WRITE
UP SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. YOU NEED TO STAY FOCUSED
ON THAT. YOU NEED TO STAY FOCUS ON
DOING WHAT YOU GOT TO DO. (JAMES)
THE YOUNG GUYS
COMING IN HERE NOW THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE TO WORRIED
ABOUT COMING TO PRISON LIKE I USED TO SEE. THEY USED TO COME IN
REALLY SCARED. I JUST TRY AND TEACH THEM
THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST RESPECT THE PEOPLE
AROUND YOU. YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S GOING TO
KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE. ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE SOME
OF YOUR ENERGY FOR WORKING OUT. I GOT PLENTY. HOW OLD ARE YOU? EIGHTEEN. PUT YOUR THUMB RIGHT HERE. ROBERT, WE CALL HIM RA RA BECAUSE HE'S NEVER BEEN
TO PRISON BEFORE. SO I'M KIND OF SHOWING HIM
THE DO'S AND DONT'S. GIVE ME EIGHT TO TEN. HE ASKED ME ABOUT GETTING
LOCKED UP AND WHAT TO DO STAY KEEPROM
GOING TO THE CELL BLOCK. IT'S ALL YOU. I JUST GIVE HIM A FEW POINTERS
AND KIND OF HUNG BY HIS SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WRONG
CROWD DIDN'T KIND OF
RECRUIT HIM IN. I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP SINCE MY SON
WAS BEEN SIX MONTHS OLD AND MY DAUGHTER WAS THREE.
THEY'RE EIGHT AND ELEVEN NOW AND I MISSED THEIR WHOLE ENTIRE
CHILDHOOD JUST ABOUT. THAT'S ONE OF MY
GREATEST REGRETS IS NOT BEING ABLE
TO RAISE MY CHILDREN. GOING TO THE LIBRARY. SPREAD YOUR LEGS. (ERIC)
SOME BAD LUCK SHOES, HUH? THESE ARE THE SAME SHOES
I CAUGHT MY CHARGE IN. I'M GOING TO THROW THESE AWAY. THESE ARE SOME BAD LUCK
SHOES RIGHT HERE. I DON'T NEVER TIE THEM
OR NOTHING. I WAS EXPECTING TO GO HOME
IN SIX MONTHS NOT DO THREE AND A HALF YEARS. I'M DOING WHATEVER
IT TAKES TO GO HOME. WHATEVER. ALL RIGHT COUNT TIME Y'ALL. IT'S TIME FOR US TO ROLL. LET'S GO,
THEY DONE BLOWED THE HORN. (OFFICER)
KNEEL DOWN. ON YOUR KNEES. ARRATOR)
IN SPITE OF HIS PROMISES, ERIC WAKES UP THE NEXT MORNING
IN A CELL. THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST RUN IN
WITH THE PRISON COURT SYSTEM. ERIC SWEARS TO
THE INMATE COUNCILS HE WAS MISTAKENLY ACCUSED
OF TALKING ON LINE. YOU'LL BE SUSPENDED FOR 90 DAYS
IF YOU PLEAD GUILTY. I AIN'T DID NOTHING. HOW DO YOU PLEA? MAKE YOUR STATEMENT. I WAS FIVE PLACES BEHIND HIM.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM. AND I WASN'T TALKING TO HIM
AND HE WAS TALKING TO
SOMEBODY ELSE. AND SARGEANT CALLED ME
OUT OF THE LINE. THE OTHER INMATE CAME AND
TESTIFIED, STATED THAT THEY HAD PULLED THE WRONG
PERSON OUT OF THE LINE. (INAUDIBLE)
YOU WERE FIVE PEOPLE BEHIND? YES, SIR. TWO THINGS HERE BASED
ON TESTIMONY GIVEN HERE. IN HIS STATEMENTS NUMBER ONE
WHEN THE PREVIOUS TESTIMONY THE INMATE STATED THAT HE WAS
APPROXIMATELY TEN PEOPLE BEHIND BUT HE WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. THIS HERE SAID FIVE
TURNED AROUND HE PLACES THE OTHER INMATE
BEHIND HIM, WHERE THE OTHER ONE SAID
HE WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIND HIM
GUILTY FIRST OF ALL BASED UPON
HIS STATEMENTS. (WOMAN)
I AGREE.
THIS INMATE HAD NO WRITE UPS. THIS IS HIS FIRST WRITE UP SINCE
HE'S BEEN AT DCI. (OFFICER)
THIS BOARD DOES NOT BELIEVE
THAT YOUR BEING TRUTHFUL WITH US THIS BOARD FINDS YOU GUILTY.
THIS BOARD SENTENCES YOU TO 12-DAYS ROOM CONFINEMENT
THAT WILL BE IMPOSED THE FOUR DAYS EXTRA,
WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR 90 DAYS. WHAT'S YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING
OUT OF HERE? (NARRATOR)
AT ANY GIVEN TIME
ABOUT TEN PERCENT OF THE INMATES ARE UNDERGOING MUCH MORE
SEVERE PUNISHMENTS. CONFINED TO CELLS
OFTEN FOR MONTHS. SEGREGATED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. YOU JUST KIND OF STAND BACK HERE
A LITTLE BIT THERE IF YOU WOULD. THE INMATE POPULATION USUALLY
KNOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S'S GOING ON
THAN THE STAFF, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE
24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU
TAKE THE TIME AND YOU LISTEN. WHERE YOU GETTING YOUR
TOBACCO FROM? SNEAK IT IN. WHICH PEOPLE ARE SNEAKING IT IN?
IS IT SOMEBODY ON THIS TIER? I'M NOT GOING TO TELL
WHO I GOT IT FROM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SARGEANT. IN THIS BUSINESS YOUR ONLY ONE
PHONE CALL AWAY FROM DISASTER. I MEAN, THAT COULD HAPPEN
AT ANY TIME ANY DAY. YOU KNOW WHEN THE PHONE RINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT,
YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN HAPPEN? I JUST COME FROM LOCK DOWN
FOR AGGRAVATING DISOBEDIENCE. THEY SAID I WAS TALKING IN LINE
AND I WASN'T. I'M NOT GOING TO GET
ANYMORE WRITE UPS. THEY JUST GET YOU
ON SOME STUFF THAT AIN'T TRUE. THEY DONE WROTE ME UP
ON SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T DO. AND NOW I'M GETTING PUNISHED
FOR IT. SOME BAD LUCK SHOES, HUH? I GOT TO GET 'EM OFF. HIS NEW MENTOR BOUDREAUX IS ABOUT TO INTRODUCE HIM
TO THE HOOK UP A TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVE
TO PRISON FOOD. UM, GIVE ME TWO FIG NEWTONS, AND WHAT OTHER KINDS YOU GOT? TWO SNICKERS AND TWO M & M'S. I'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF PACKS
OF COOKIES. GIVE ME FOUR FIG NEWTONS. I'M OUT OF HONEYBUNS. DO YOU WANT SOME MORE COOKIES? GIVE ME SOME MORE COOKIES,
THANKS. THERE YOU GO. NO MONEY IS EVER EXCHANGED
IN PRISON. INSTEAD IT'S DEDUCTED
FROM INMATES ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE MOSTLY SUPPORTED
BY THEIR FAMILIES. YOU EVER ATE OYSTERS
AND TUNA FISH TOGETHER? YEAH, I'VE ATE OYSTERS
AND TUNA FISH. WHERE DID THE NAME HOOK UP
COME FROM? YOU GOT ME. JOHN MIGHT KNOW? JOHN? JOHN. ARE YOU GOING TO EAT SOME
OF THIS STUFF WITH US TODAY? I'LL TAKE A SANDWICH LATER. DID YOU KNOW WHERE
THE NAME HOOK UP COME FROM? HOOK UP COMES FROM OLD
PENITENTIARY CONVICTS. WAY BACK. WAY BACK IN
THE THIRTIES, FORTIES THEY WOULD GET TOGETHER
AND HOOK UP DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY WOULD GET OUT OF
THE STORES AND SHARE THE MEALS. BUT IT'S THE WAY YOU HOOK IT UP
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT TASTE GOOD. IT'S LIKE ANYTHING A CHEF
COOKS ON THE STREET. IT'S HOW YOU PUT IT TOGETHER
THAT COUNTS. ONCE YOU PUT THESE INGREDIENTS
TOGETHER ON THE STREETS YOU WILL CALL THIS A CASSEROLE. ALL RIGHT, BUT IN HERE WE CALL
IT A CONVICT COOK UP. NOW I'M NOT SURE WHICH
COME FIRST THE CASSEROLE
OR THE CONVICT COOK UP. BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
MAKING HERE. YOU WANT THE TEXTURE
TO BE JUST RIGHT WHERE IT'S NOT ALL,
YOU BITE INTO IT, IT SQUEEZES OUT YOUR SANDWICH. YOU THINK HE'S CATCHING
ON PRETTY GOOD, JOHN? YEAH, HE'S DOING ALL RIGHT.
HE'S DOING ALL RIGHT. IT'S ROBERT'S FIRST HOOKUP. YOU'RE ON. YOU'RE ON. (WARDEN)
YOU KNOW IF YOU LOCK THEM UP
AND THROW AWAY THE KEY, PUT THEM IN A CELL
AND FORGET ABOUT THEM. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS
HE'S GOING TO BE MEANER, MORE HARDEN, AND WHEN HE GETS
OUT OF HERE HE'S GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK TO WHERE HE CAME FROM
AND DO THE SAME THINGS
HE WAS DOING. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO
TO PROVIDE AN INMATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE
AND TO BE A BETTER PERSON. IT'S SECURED. YOU ALL COME OUT. (ERIC)
IN OUR DORM,
THE WHITE MAN. HE DON'T PLAY NO GAMES. HE DON'T PLAY NO GAMES. TALKIN' ABOUT, YOU FOLD YOUR
MATRESS BACK, YOU'RE WROTE UP. YOU LEAVE YOUR SLIPPERS
ON THE FLOOR YOU'RE WROTE UP. YOUR COVER AIN'T MADE UP RIGHT
YOU'RE WROTE UP. YOUR PILLOW CROOKED
YOU'RE WROTE UP. ANYTHING YOU'RE WROTE UP. BOTTOMLINE. I'M READY.
I GOT TWO WRITE UPS, I GOT 12 WEEKS LOST OF CANTEEN, I GOT 60 DAYS GOOD TIME TOOK, I GOT EIGHT DAYS OF EXTRA DUTY, I GOT 30 DAYS ROOM CONFINEMENT, I MEAN, I CAN'T GO OUTSIDE
IN THE YARD. IT'S JUST LIKE BEING
IN A CAGE. LIKE YOU GOT A DOG
IN A PEN. IN A DOG PEN, CAN'T GET OUT. IT'S JUST WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. (ROBERT)
WHAT I WAS REALLY, REALLY HOPING I GOT WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR. I WOUND UP GOING TO MAINTENANCE
CREW WITH MY BOY BOUDREAUX OVER THERE, YOU KNOW. YEAH, IT'S LAID OUT. I'M TRYING TO DO MY BEST
YOU KNOW, GET A BETTER LOOK A LIFE,
YOU KNOW, GET AWAY FROM ALL THAT
CHILDISH STUFF, YOU KNOW. I'M MY OWN MAN.
I CAME IN HERE BY MYSELF I'M GOING TO LEAVE BY MYSELF,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A GOOD ROLE MODEL
YOU KNOW? I DID SOMETHING TO BE
IN JAIL. I DON'T THINK WHAT I DID
WARRANT ME BE IN ALL THESE YEARS THAT I HAVE OR TO RECEIVE THE
TYPE OF SENTENCE THAT I HAVE, BUT THAT'S ONLY IN MY OPINION. I DESERVE A CHANCE
AT MY LIFE. THEY TOOK MY WHOLE YOUTH AWAY
FROM ME. THEY CAN'T PUNISH ME NO MORE. AS IT STANDS NOW,
I'M A BURDEN TO TAXPAYERS. (COLBY)
WHEN I WAS SELLING DRUGS, I DIDN'T THINK--I WAS SELLING
TO CONSENTING ADULTS. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T THINK THERE
WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING THAT WAS WRONG WAS THE CONSEQUENCES. IT'S THE WAY I SAW IT. THE CONSEQUENCES THAT IT CARRIED
UEI'M NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAI. (ERIC)
I'M LOCKED UP AGAIN.
DUDE WROTE ME UP AGAIN. I WASN'T TALKING AGAIN. THE DUDE SAY HE DON'T LIKE
YOUNGSTERS OR SOMETHING
I DON'T KNOW. I'M THINKING ABOUT
QUITTING SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
I DO THE WORK AT. HE MESS WITH ME ALL DAY. SO I'M THINKING ABOUT QUITTING. IT'S HARD.
PRISON LIFE HARD. GABRIEL WILLIAMS,
4-1-8-8-2. SENTENCED TO SIMPLE ROBBERY, AND AN UNAUTHORIZED USE
OF A VEHICLE. SEVEN YEARS. WELL WHAT I THINK THEY OUGHT
TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO MAKE ALL THE JUDGES AND DA'S
THAT ARE SENTENCING PEOPLE
TO JAIL. ALL WE HAVE TO SPEND IS AT
LEAST 30 DAYS IF NOT 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR IN ALL JAILS THAT
THEY'RE SENDING PEOPLE TO. I THINK THAT MAKES THE
SENTENCING A WHOLE LOT
MORE FARE. COLBY BAXTER,
3-9-0-4-3-9. POSSESSION OF LSD.
SEVEN YEARS. ERIC ROBERTSON
4-3-6-4-0-9. DISTRIBUTION OF CRACK, COCAINE
SEVEN YEARS SENTENCE. I FEEL LIKE I'M MESSING UP, BUT AIN'T DOING NOTHING
TO MESS UP THOUGH. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, ME
OR ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY. STERLING LAVIGNE,
9-5-4-4-2. I'M IN HERE FOR ATTEMPT.
I HAVE 49 1/2 YEARS I BEEN NOW 21 1/2 YEARS. I WANT TO SAY TO MY FAMILY,
TO MY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA, MY MAMMA AND MY DADDY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MY BROTHER IN JAIL
THAT I LOVE Y'ALL. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND WHEN
I BE GETTING OUT SOON. AND WHEN I GET OUT I'M GOING TO
BE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. ROBERT BLANDA,
4-3-9-9-7-1. I'M 18 YEARS OLD I'M CHARGED
WITH CRACK COCAINE POSSESSION WITH INTENT
TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA, SIMPLE ROBBERY.
I HAVE A FIVE YEAR SENTENCE.
