filled in last night at our minimum security prison camp (which I don't mind doing because, due to slightly staggered schedules instead of a soul-crushing 12-hour shift , I actually put in flitting-past-like-a-butterfly-on-a-spring-day 11-hour shift--altho I get paid the reg'lar amount)
this is about the third time I've done this, & it's a pretty good gig, but it's kind of wierd going from Maximum surroundings & protocols & inmates to Minimum (& I was kinda surprised the first night how "minimum" it was---actually, there are considerably fewer security measures in place than at yer average 7-11. no cameras, no guns --save a taser that's probably just for show--the exterior doors on the units don't even have locks on them.)
there were LADDERS out in the yard! & shovels! & axes!
I checked out actual KNIVES to inmates in the culinary! (& one of the first things they told us in Prison Guard School is : Don't give them knives.)
--all this actually works pretty well. there's a count every 2 hours & if someone isn't in their bunk or otherwise accountable then there's a hue & cry, Cossacks are dispatched on horseback to scoop them into a foul-smelling burlap sack to be delivered to Max for an extended stay. this generally happens no more than once or twice a year.
anyway, the oddest thing that happened was during the wee hours of the morning the baker spent a couple of hours in the culinary baking muffins for the next days meal. when he finished up he brought me & the officer I was working with a couple of freshly-baked muffins. one plain & one iced apiece.
I thanked him & the other officer fell to munchin. I just couldn't.
it was probably just a regular muffin with regular, wholesome icing.
probably.
but working in Max makes you mighty suspicious.
this is about the third time I've done this, & it's a pretty good gig, but it's kind of wierd going from Maximum surroundings & protocols & inmates to Minimum (& I was kinda surprised the first night how "minimum" it was---actually, there are considerably fewer security measures in place than at yer average 7-11. no cameras, no guns --save a taser that's probably just for show--the exterior doors on the units don't even have locks on them.)
there were LADDERS out in the yard! & shovels! & axes!
I checked out actual KNIVES to inmates in the culinary! (& one of the first things they told us in Prison Guard School is : Don't give them knives.)
--all this actually works pretty well. there's a count every 2 hours & if someone isn't in their bunk or otherwise accountable then there's a hue & cry, Cossacks are dispatched on horseback to scoop them into a foul-smelling burlap sack to be delivered to Max for an extended stay. this generally happens no more than once or twice a year.
anyway, the oddest thing that happened was during the wee hours of the morning the baker spent a couple of hours in the culinary baking muffins for the next days meal. when he finished up he brought me & the officer I was working with a couple of freshly-baked muffins. one plain & one iced apiece.
I thanked him & the other officer fell to munchin. I just couldn't.
it was probably just a regular muffin with regular, wholesome icing.
probably.
but working in Max makes you mighty suspicious.
