Well, my CPE experience at Metro State Prison is officially over. Enough people have joked that they must have let me out on good behavior, I figured it deserved to be the title for this final blog post. Anyway, last Wednesday was my last day at the prison, and then on Thursday and Friday we did one last IPR and our final evaluations. It was sad to leave the women at the prison and sad to leave my CPE group and supervisor, but I always knew it was going to come to an end eventually.
In a few weeks I'll be starting a whole new chapter of my life -- a year-long internship at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. Like CPE, this internship is a part of my schooling at Luther Seminary. It will be a lot of firsts for me -- first time being in a pastor role to see if this is really what I want to do, first time living in an apartment and being on my own, first time cooking for myself and being a "grownup." Because of this whole new experience, I'm considering starting a blog for that. I probably wouldn't update it as often as I did this one, but I think it would be beneficial to remember my experience. I definitely am glad I wrote this summer blog, because it's nice to go back and remember everything that happened and how I felt and how I've changed. We'll see if I feel up to doing it for a year.
I really enjoyed my experience as a prison chaplain. I learned a lot about the prison, and I learned a lot about myself. I'm definitely interested in possible future prison ministry involvement. For sure it would be interesting to visit a prison in Minnesota and compare and contrast it to Metro. All in all, I had an incredible experience, one I won't forget. Thank you to all of you who have taken time to read my blog, and for those of you who have left comments -- it's always nice to know people are reading this thing. I hope everyone enjoys the remainder of the summer -- I know I will!
my summer in prison
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
different story, same plot
With CPE winding down, not to mention Justin's internship, I've been really busy with getting papers done and handed in and going to dinners with just about every member from Justin's congregation. I had hoped to write more often like I did during the first half of the summer, but that just hasn't been the case. Now here I am with only four days left of CPE -- my, how the time has flown.
I had to take time to write about today, though. I should really be in bed, but today was especially interesting. Instead of doing our usual pastoral care Monday at Metro, our CPE group and our supervisor went to tour the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Since it's located in the city of Jackson, it's usually just referred to as Jackson. This prison is the maximum security facility for men in the state of Georgia. In a way, it's the male version of Metro.
With a capacity of 2200 inmates, Jackson is more than twice the size of Metro. Also, while there are only three women's prisons in Georgia, there are well over 30 men's prisons. Like Metro, Jackson is where all the inmates are initially sent to be classified and go through the diagnostics process. Also like Metro, Jackson is the max security prison and therefore holds the Death Row inmates. Unlike Metro, which houses the one and only female on Death Row in Georgia, Jackson holds over 100 men who have the death sentence.
The first of many differences I noticed as we began the tour of Jackson was that everything is indoors and connected by a series of sallyports and hallways -- as I've mentioned before, Metro is compiled of several buildings with an outdoor walk in the center. The person giving us the tour was Chaplain Stanley Harrell. He's the only chaplain at Jackson, and he's been there for nearly 25 years. He was very informative as we walked through the compound. I was very glad to already have spent nine weeks at a prison; it made the information Chaplain Harrell gave us easier to understand and more meaningful. Also, just being able to compare two different prisons was really interesting.
Chaplain Harrell took us to one of the GP houses (they're called houses instead of buildings, but they each have a letter, just like at Metro). What we saw was far more like the way prison is displayed in the movies that we were used to seeing at Metro. Each tiny room (which was originally built for one person) held two men. The doors had bars, which is more stereotypical of a prison -- Metro cells just have solid doors which are closed at night. Anyway, there was a very long hall of these cells, and above it a second floor just like it. The cells weren't facing across the room from other cells, however; instead, they were just facing windows made of what looked like cinder blocks. The shower area was completely open and exposed to anyone walking down the hall or into the house (and could also be seen through the yellow barred gate that separated the house from the hall to the main control room). On an even higher level than at Metro, privacy simply does not exist for the inmates at Jackson.
We walked past the chow hall and then stepped outside into the "yard." This was just a big empty field of grass surrounded by razorwire fences. While the women at Metro have to go outside in order to get from one building to the next, the men at Jackson are only allowed outside during alloted yard time. It's got to be really depressing always being indoors and rarely seeing natural sunlight.
We walked down the yard, laughing at the geese that apparently preferred to be on this side of the fence, and then Chaplain Harrell stopped outside of a red door with the number 34 on it. He unlocked it and led us inside. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the inside, and the first things I made out were about four rows of wooden benches, much like church pews. I thought perhaps this was where the chapel was held. Then I took in more and realized I couldn't have been more wrong.
The benches were facing a window that looked into another room. In that room was what looked kind of like a dentist's chair, only there were straps all over it, and also slats sticking out of the sides with more straps (I assume for one's arms). No, we weren't looking at the chapel at all. We were looking at the Death Chamber.
This was the place where all the executions in Georgia take place (even the women, as Metro has no such thing). Since Chaplain Harrell hadn't told us where we were going, but rather just let us slowly register it, the effect was amazing. I had goosebumps all over, and I felt a general sense of unease around me as we each realized where we were. Chaplain Harrell took us back into the room with the chair. There was a pillow at the head, and I found that odd -- why attempt to make someone comfortable who is only sitting in that chair to be killed? Is a pillow really going to help ease that person?
Chaplain Harrell explained a little about the process of the execution and the days leading up to it. It used to be death by electric chair, but now it's lethal injection. For two days before an execution, the entire prison shuts down. The only people allowed in are the inmate's family. On the day of the execution, the inmate is brought down to the death chamber and housed in a cell on a room off to the side. He is given his last meal here, and the chaplain is the only one allowed back there with him. Executions are always scheduled for 7pm, but Chaplain Harrell said they rarely happen exactly at that time. The inmate is allowed to choose five people to witness his execution, but family members are not allowed. Usually they will pick the chaplain, the inmate's lawyer, and other people of the sort. Other witnesses to the execution include people from the county where the crime took place, press people, the Commissioner as well as other people high up in the system, and more recently, the family members of the victim, if they so desire. Chaplain Harrell said there are always more people than that at an execution, and that the small room with the benches is always packed full, like they're there to see a show. He said this with some disdain, and I can understand -- why would you want to watch someone being killed if you didn't have to?
As 7pm approaches on an execution day, the inmate is led into the death chamber and strapped into the chair. The Warden then comes out and announces to the audience that things will begin, then he goes to a room behind the death chamber where he and the Commissioner and other high up people sit. A nurse comes in to give the put in the needle, and then a machine in the back puts three shots into the inmate. The first one is enough to kill the man, like putting a pet to sleep, but the second one collapses the lungs, and the third one stops the heart. I guess they want to make sure the man is good and dead as soon as possible. As for the person who pushes the button that makes the machine give the shots, I believe there are multiple people who push buttons, but no one is told whose button actually triggered the machine.
Chaplain Harrell said he's witnessed all the executions that have taken place since he's been there. The way he put it, a member of his congregation is dying, and he wants to be there with them. It makes sense to me, but I honestly don't know if I could go through with it. Even if it just looks like the person is being put to sleep, I would know it was really much more permanent.
After that, we saw the real chapel and then talked for a while in Chaplain Harrell's office, but it was definitely the Death Chamber that stuck in my mind, and still sticks now. I don't know, I guess seeing it in real life just made it all that more real to me. I've never been in favor of the Death Sentence myself, and seeing that chair and those benches facing it just enforced my dislike of the idea.
All in all, it was a really good day, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see another prison and compare it to what I have come to know this summer.
I had to take time to write about today, though. I should really be in bed, but today was especially interesting. Instead of doing our usual pastoral care Monday at Metro, our CPE group and our supervisor went to tour the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Since it's located in the city of Jackson, it's usually just referred to as Jackson. This prison is the maximum security facility for men in the state of Georgia. In a way, it's the male version of Metro.
With a capacity of 2200 inmates, Jackson is more than twice the size of Metro. Also, while there are only three women's prisons in Georgia, there are well over 30 men's prisons. Like Metro, Jackson is where all the inmates are initially sent to be classified and go through the diagnostics process. Also like Metro, Jackson is the max security prison and therefore holds the Death Row inmates. Unlike Metro, which houses the one and only female on Death Row in Georgia, Jackson holds over 100 men who have the death sentence.
The first of many differences I noticed as we began the tour of Jackson was that everything is indoors and connected by a series of sallyports and hallways -- as I've mentioned before, Metro is compiled of several buildings with an outdoor walk in the center. The person giving us the tour was Chaplain Stanley Harrell. He's the only chaplain at Jackson, and he's been there for nearly 25 years. He was very informative as we walked through the compound. I was very glad to already have spent nine weeks at a prison; it made the information Chaplain Harrell gave us easier to understand and more meaningful. Also, just being able to compare two different prisons was really interesting.
Chaplain Harrell took us to one of the GP houses (they're called houses instead of buildings, but they each have a letter, just like at Metro). What we saw was far more like the way prison is displayed in the movies that we were used to seeing at Metro. Each tiny room (which was originally built for one person) held two men. The doors had bars, which is more stereotypical of a prison -- Metro cells just have solid doors which are closed at night. Anyway, there was a very long hall of these cells, and above it a second floor just like it. The cells weren't facing across the room from other cells, however; instead, they were just facing windows made of what looked like cinder blocks. The shower area was completely open and exposed to anyone walking down the hall or into the house (and could also be seen through the yellow barred gate that separated the house from the hall to the main control room). On an even higher level than at Metro, privacy simply does not exist for the inmates at Jackson.
We walked past the chow hall and then stepped outside into the "yard." This was just a big empty field of grass surrounded by razorwire fences. While the women at Metro have to go outside in order to get from one building to the next, the men at Jackson are only allowed outside during alloted yard time. It's got to be really depressing always being indoors and rarely seeing natural sunlight.
We walked down the yard, laughing at the geese that apparently preferred to be on this side of the fence, and then Chaplain Harrell stopped outside of a red door with the number 34 on it. He unlocked it and led us inside. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the inside, and the first things I made out were about four rows of wooden benches, much like church pews. I thought perhaps this was where the chapel was held. Then I took in more and realized I couldn't have been more wrong.
The benches were facing a window that looked into another room. In that room was what looked kind of like a dentist's chair, only there were straps all over it, and also slats sticking out of the sides with more straps (I assume for one's arms). No, we weren't looking at the chapel at all. We were looking at the Death Chamber.
This was the place where all the executions in Georgia take place (even the women, as Metro has no such thing). Since Chaplain Harrell hadn't told us where we were going, but rather just let us slowly register it, the effect was amazing. I had goosebumps all over, and I felt a general sense of unease around me as we each realized where we were. Chaplain Harrell took us back into the room with the chair. There was a pillow at the head, and I found that odd -- why attempt to make someone comfortable who is only sitting in that chair to be killed? Is a pillow really going to help ease that person?
Chaplain Harrell explained a little about the process of the execution and the days leading up to it. It used to be death by electric chair, but now it's lethal injection. For two days before an execution, the entire prison shuts down. The only people allowed in are the inmate's family. On the day of the execution, the inmate is brought down to the death chamber and housed in a cell on a room off to the side. He is given his last meal here, and the chaplain is the only one allowed back there with him. Executions are always scheduled for 7pm, but Chaplain Harrell said they rarely happen exactly at that time. The inmate is allowed to choose five people to witness his execution, but family members are not allowed. Usually they will pick the chaplain, the inmate's lawyer, and other people of the sort. Other witnesses to the execution include people from the county where the crime took place, press people, the Commissioner as well as other people high up in the system, and more recently, the family members of the victim, if they so desire. Chaplain Harrell said there are always more people than that at an execution, and that the small room with the benches is always packed full, like they're there to see a show. He said this with some disdain, and I can understand -- why would you want to watch someone being killed if you didn't have to?
As 7pm approaches on an execution day, the inmate is led into the death chamber and strapped into the chair. The Warden then comes out and announces to the audience that things will begin, then he goes to a room behind the death chamber where he and the Commissioner and other high up people sit. A nurse comes in to give the put in the needle, and then a machine in the back puts three shots into the inmate. The first one is enough to kill the man, like putting a pet to sleep, but the second one collapses the lungs, and the third one stops the heart. I guess they want to make sure the man is good and dead as soon as possible. As for the person who pushes the button that makes the machine give the shots, I believe there are multiple people who push buttons, but no one is told whose button actually triggered the machine.
Chaplain Harrell said he's witnessed all the executions that have taken place since he's been there. The way he put it, a member of his congregation is dying, and he wants to be there with them. It makes sense to me, but I honestly don't know if I could go through with it. Even if it just looks like the person is being put to sleep, I would know it was really much more permanent.
After that, we saw the real chapel and then talked for a while in Chaplain Harrell's office, but it was definitely the Death Chamber that stuck in my mind, and still sticks now. I don't know, I guess seeing it in real life just made it all that more real to me. I've never been in favor of the Death Sentence myself, and seeing that chair and those benches facing it just enforced my dislike of the idea.
All in all, it was a really good day, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see another prison and compare it to what I have come to know this summer.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
the fear of change
Ever since starting CPE, Metro has been amidst a transition of change. As you may recall, starting in July we got a new warden, Ms Seabolt, and we also got a new deputy warden, Mr Fagan. With both of these people came new expectations and changes. Some will happen very slowly over time, and some are already happening.
Now we're in another change. The prison now has a new mission of holding all the close security inmates. I don't know who made this decision or why it was made, but over the past couple weeks there have been large shipments in and out of the prison. Out have been going lower security women, and in have been coming close security women. Every time I enter F Building, there are new faces I don't recognize, and there are faces I look for that are now gone, sent to one of the other two women's prisons in Georgia.
There is some fear among those women who haven't been shipped yet about living in a dorm filled with close security women. Just so you know, the security level of an inmate is originally based on how big the crime was, and how violent. Close security usually means someone has committed a murder or a very brutal act of violence. The security level, however, can be lowered after an analysis conducted over time in the prison. If a close security woman has displayed remarkable change in attitude and manner (for the positive, of course), her security level may be lowered.
I have heard more than one of the women speak about their fears of living amongst so many close security women. One view in particular that I have heard from more than one woman is that many of the close security women have life sentences with no possibility for parole or probation, and because of this, they have nothing to lose, and so they don't care about acting friendly or polite or following the rules. I realize this is a large generalization, but certainly there must be some truth to it. I do keep in mind, however, that perhaps the fear isn't so much about the fact that these women coming in are close security, but really more about the fact that every day many of their friends are being shipped off and replaced by strangers. Some women have lived at Metro for years and are suddenly, and without warning, shipped off elsewhere.
Because of this transition happening, there has been a lot of tension in the air this past week. I've noticed it, and so have many of the women and staff. This has led to more squabbles and fights breaking out, and for the officers to act even more aggressive and abusive than they already do. Will this sense of tension and fear calm down after a while? Is it just a matter of getting used to the change? Will, as many of the women fear, the atmosphere of the prison take a drastic change once it becomes mostly close security? I certainly don't know the answers to these questions. Since CPE only goes for two more weeks, it may not be long enough to find out. I do think, though, that Metro will always be going through some sort of transition or change, and there will always be an initial fear to that. It's just a matter of getting used to it and letting things settle down.
Now we're in another change. The prison now has a new mission of holding all the close security inmates. I don't know who made this decision or why it was made, but over the past couple weeks there have been large shipments in and out of the prison. Out have been going lower security women, and in have been coming close security women. Every time I enter F Building, there are new faces I don't recognize, and there are faces I look for that are now gone, sent to one of the other two women's prisons in Georgia.
There is some fear among those women who haven't been shipped yet about living in a dorm filled with close security women. Just so you know, the security level of an inmate is originally based on how big the crime was, and how violent. Close security usually means someone has committed a murder or a very brutal act of violence. The security level, however, can be lowered after an analysis conducted over time in the prison. If a close security woman has displayed remarkable change in attitude and manner (for the positive, of course), her security level may be lowered.
I have heard more than one of the women speak about their fears of living amongst so many close security women. One view in particular that I have heard from more than one woman is that many of the close security women have life sentences with no possibility for parole or probation, and because of this, they have nothing to lose, and so they don't care about acting friendly or polite or following the rules. I realize this is a large generalization, but certainly there must be some truth to it. I do keep in mind, however, that perhaps the fear isn't so much about the fact that these women coming in are close security, but really more about the fact that every day many of their friends are being shipped off and replaced by strangers. Some women have lived at Metro for years and are suddenly, and without warning, shipped off elsewhere.
Because of this transition happening, there has been a lot of tension in the air this past week. I've noticed it, and so have many of the women and staff. This has led to more squabbles and fights breaking out, and for the officers to act even more aggressive and abusive than they already do. Will this sense of tension and fear calm down after a while? Is it just a matter of getting used to the change? Will, as many of the women fear, the atmosphere of the prison take a drastic change once it becomes mostly close security? I certainly don't know the answers to these questions. Since CPE only goes for two more weeks, it may not be long enough to find out. I do think, though, that Metro will always be going through some sort of transition or change, and there will always be an initial fear to that. It's just a matter of getting used to it and letting things settle down.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
badges as last!
So you may have noticed I kind of disappeared from the blogging world for about a week. See, my family came to visit me in Georgia (it was amid their annual camping vacation). I believe I mentioned that in my last blog. Because of this, I took last Monday and Tuesday off. Wednesday and Thursday of last week were spent partially at the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia, and I didn't wind up back at Metro until last Friday. Anyway, I'm back now -- not that you were worried, I'm sure. ;)
So last Friday was pretty busy. Actually, with only three weeks left, every day feels busy. I always start the day by writing a list of people I need to see and things I need to get done, and very rarely do I complete the list by the time the 4pm count rolls around. Between yesterday and today, I believe I gave seven phone calls to people. Now that's a really high number, but a lot of them were women who have been asking and waiting for a long time, and with me being gone almost all last week, there was a bit of catching up to do.
Today something exciting happened -- we finally got our badges! See, up until now, upon entering the prison each morning, I give the security officer my driver's license, and he gives me badge that says something like "Metro State Prison Unescorted Visitor" on it. All the employees and more permanent volunteers have badges with their names and pictures on them. In other words, way more cool and official looking. Well, before our fist day of CPE, we each had to fill out about 20 pages of paperwork, giving all sorts of personal information. After that, our paperwork was sent through several steps of approval, and finally, over this past weekend, did our names finally show up on the main computer.
So, those of us who were there decided to see if we could actually get the badges. We went down to the ID area (the same place where the inmates get their ID info), and we asked if we could pretty please get our badges. The guy in the special ID room looked us up, indeed found us in the computer, took our pictures, and made our badges! Yay! Now I feel REALLY official. Sure, we only have two and a half weeks left at Metro, but better late than never, right? The best part is that the badges don't expire for a whole year, so if we want to do any more volunteer work between now and then, we just have to notify the prison of when we'll be there. And if, in the future when the badge has expired and we're still interested in being involved at Metro, there is a really simple renewal process (I think only 3 pieces of paperwork instead of 20).
I'd like to write more, but now I have to draw my genogram for our group work tomorrow morning. For those of you who don't know what a genogram is, it's basically like drawing a family tree, but there are certain symbols to use for certain things. It's kind of interesting to see it all mapped out on paper, so at least it will be a fun project.
So last Friday was pretty busy. Actually, with only three weeks left, every day feels busy. I always start the day by writing a list of people I need to see and things I need to get done, and very rarely do I complete the list by the time the 4pm count rolls around. Between yesterday and today, I believe I gave seven phone calls to people. Now that's a really high number, but a lot of them were women who have been asking and waiting for a long time, and with me being gone almost all last week, there was a bit of catching up to do.
Today something exciting happened -- we finally got our badges! See, up until now, upon entering the prison each morning, I give the security officer my driver's license, and he gives me badge that says something like "Metro State Prison Unescorted Visitor" on it. All the employees and more permanent volunteers have badges with their names and pictures on them. In other words, way more cool and official looking. Well, before our fist day of CPE, we each had to fill out about 20 pages of paperwork, giving all sorts of personal information. After that, our paperwork was sent through several steps of approval, and finally, over this past weekend, did our names finally show up on the main computer.
So, those of us who were there decided to see if we could actually get the badges. We went down to the ID area (the same place where the inmates get their ID info), and we asked if we could pretty please get our badges. The guy in the special ID room looked us up, indeed found us in the computer, took our pictures, and made our badges! Yay! Now I feel REALLY official. Sure, we only have two and a half weeks left at Metro, but better late than never, right? The best part is that the badges don't expire for a whole year, so if we want to do any more volunteer work between now and then, we just have to notify the prison of when we'll be there. And if, in the future when the badge has expired and we're still interested in being involved at Metro, there is a really simple renewal process (I think only 3 pieces of paperwork instead of 20).
I'd like to write more, but now I have to draw my genogram for our group work tomorrow morning. For those of you who don't know what a genogram is, it's basically like drawing a family tree, but there are certain symbols to use for certain things. It's kind of interesting to see it all mapped out on paper, so at least it will be a fun project.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
time flies when you're busy
Yesterday (Friday) went by faster than I expected, but I guess it's because I had a lot to do. My family is currently on vacation, and they'll be swinging by to visit me in Georgia for a few days. Because of this, I'll be taking Monday and Tuesday off next week (we get five days total to take off over the ten weeks of CPE, and I haven't used any of them yet). So, in addition to finding and speaking to all the women I had planned on seeing, I also had to find the women I normally meet with on Mondays and Tuesdays and reschedule times with them.
As soon as the 8:30 count cleared, I headed over to F Building to get a woman whom I had promised a phone call. She recently had a surgery to remove a cancerous lump, and she wanted to let her family know it went all right and she was okay. She had been scheduled to have this surgery for months, but because of the way the medical portion of the prison system works, she wasn't told when she was to have the surgery, just that it could be any time in the next few weeks. So she and her family knew she was going to have the surgery at some point, but they didn't know exactly when or how it would go. She was very happy to be able to talk to some of her family members and tell them the good news, and she also made sure not to be on the phone for too long because she knew I had other women to attend to.
After that, one of the head chaplains found me and asked if I could give a phone call to one of the women she had been scheduled to see. This woman had recently and unexpectedly lost her mother, and she wasn't able to attend the funeral. The chaplain had planned on letting her call her father, but he could only be reached at a specific time, and the chaplain had two other women scheduled back to back over that time. I said I'd be glad to help, and on my way to get the woman, I ran into her on her way over to Programs. She was able to get a hold of her dad, and it was really sad because she was crying, and she said he was crying as well. She said she felt really helpless because she wanted to be there for him, and that he was currently taking care of her kids. She wanted to unburden him since he was going through so much. I assured her that her father knew she would be there if she could, and that the best thing she could do right now was to take care of herself.
I hadn't been to my range in D Building for a few days because of the mid-units and the warden switching ceremony and other things, so I headed there next. I usually visit DA in the afternoon, but I knew I had a few more people to see and might not get to it in time. On my way over, I ran into one of the women I usually see on Tuesdays, so I let her know I was going to be gone and that I'd try to see her on Thursday or Friday of next week. She thanked me for the heads up, and I continued on my way to D Building.
As it turns out, most of the women in DA were sleeping, and those who weren't didn't seem very interested in talking. Since the three women I used to visit regularly down there have all been moved (one to a different range in D, one to a different building and one to a different prison), it just hasn't been as fun to go down there. Sure, there are still women down there who have needs and want to talk, but this day no one wanted to. I talked for a few minutes to the officer on duty in the range, then I headed back to Programs. It was nearly time for lunch and the noon count anyway.
After lunch I went back to F Building to get another women who needed a phone call, and when I got there, I ran into someone else who had been told by one of the head chaplains to let me give her a phone call as well. I told her to come with me and the other woman and wait outside the office for the first woman to make her call.
The first woman was someone who is soon leaving and heading to a Transitional Center. I had helped her make a call to this place so she could do the necessary phone interview. She had been accepted, but she wanted to call back and make sure they would hold her place until she got all her paperwork cleared -- it sometimes takes the prison a long time to process all the paperwork, and she was worried there was a time limit. The woman at the Transitional Center assured her that they would keep her place until she got there. The woman was very relieved and thanked her, and then me for letting her make the call. She left the office, and the other woman came in. I didn't really know her story, but apparently she has a lot of medical things done to her, and whenever one of these happens, she is allowed to update her family. Well, the phone call sounded to me like she was just calling to talk to her dad. Oh well, it was Friday; I didn't really care.
Next I went over to E Building to see one of the women who used to be on my range in D Building. She's the one who told me about the second coming of Christ and that she gets messages from God -- I think I've mentioned her before. Anyway, she's not been happy being placed in E Building, because that's the mental health building, and she's never been mentally ill a day in her life, as she likes to say at least once every time I see her. She's a cute little elderly woman, and I really enjoy talking to her, as crazy as she is. She began this particular conversation by telling me our country is going to head into a depression greater than the one in 1929. She told me I should be stocking up on foods and moving underground. I have no idea what made her start talking about this, but it was entertaining, and she taught me how to cook a hog underground. Yep. Then we argued about Catholics and Lutherans -- she's a Catholic and is convinced only Catholics will go to heaven. It was all in fun, the argument, though I did feel somewhat mad when she told my my calling to be a pastor was not from God, but just a choice I was making (because only men can be priests, of course). I mean, come on, here I am, letting her think I believe she gets messages from God, and she can't even let me have this one tiny calling? Good grief!
By the time I had wrapped up that conversation, it was nearly time for the 4pm count, meaning the day was over. Like I said, it went by quickly, and I hadn't even gotten to all the things I had planned. But overall, it was a very productive day. It will be really nice to have Monday and Tuesday off and spend that time with my family (who I haven't seen since mid-May!), but at the same time, I feel I'll have a lot to catch up on when I return.
The summer is winding down faster than I'd like. I've really been enjoying my time in Georgia so far, and I hope I continue to do so for the remainder of it.
As soon as the 8:30 count cleared, I headed over to F Building to get a woman whom I had promised a phone call. She recently had a surgery to remove a cancerous lump, and she wanted to let her family know it went all right and she was okay. She had been scheduled to have this surgery for months, but because of the way the medical portion of the prison system works, she wasn't told when she was to have the surgery, just that it could be any time in the next few weeks. So she and her family knew she was going to have the surgery at some point, but they didn't know exactly when or how it would go. She was very happy to be able to talk to some of her family members and tell them the good news, and she also made sure not to be on the phone for too long because she knew I had other women to attend to.
After that, one of the head chaplains found me and asked if I could give a phone call to one of the women she had been scheduled to see. This woman had recently and unexpectedly lost her mother, and she wasn't able to attend the funeral. The chaplain had planned on letting her call her father, but he could only be reached at a specific time, and the chaplain had two other women scheduled back to back over that time. I said I'd be glad to help, and on my way to get the woman, I ran into her on her way over to Programs. She was able to get a hold of her dad, and it was really sad because she was crying, and she said he was crying as well. She said she felt really helpless because she wanted to be there for him, and that he was currently taking care of her kids. She wanted to unburden him since he was going through so much. I assured her that her father knew she would be there if she could, and that the best thing she could do right now was to take care of herself.
I hadn't been to my range in D Building for a few days because of the mid-units and the warden switching ceremony and other things, so I headed there next. I usually visit DA in the afternoon, but I knew I had a few more people to see and might not get to it in time. On my way over, I ran into one of the women I usually see on Tuesdays, so I let her know I was going to be gone and that I'd try to see her on Thursday or Friday of next week. She thanked me for the heads up, and I continued on my way to D Building.
As it turns out, most of the women in DA were sleeping, and those who weren't didn't seem very interested in talking. Since the three women I used to visit regularly down there have all been moved (one to a different range in D, one to a different building and one to a different prison), it just hasn't been as fun to go down there. Sure, there are still women down there who have needs and want to talk, but this day no one wanted to. I talked for a few minutes to the officer on duty in the range, then I headed back to Programs. It was nearly time for lunch and the noon count anyway.
After lunch I went back to F Building to get another women who needed a phone call, and when I got there, I ran into someone else who had been told by one of the head chaplains to let me give her a phone call as well. I told her to come with me and the other woman and wait outside the office for the first woman to make her call.
The first woman was someone who is soon leaving and heading to a Transitional Center. I had helped her make a call to this place so she could do the necessary phone interview. She had been accepted, but she wanted to call back and make sure they would hold her place until she got all her paperwork cleared -- it sometimes takes the prison a long time to process all the paperwork, and she was worried there was a time limit. The woman at the Transitional Center assured her that they would keep her place until she got there. The woman was very relieved and thanked her, and then me for letting her make the call. She left the office, and the other woman came in. I didn't really know her story, but apparently she has a lot of medical things done to her, and whenever one of these happens, she is allowed to update her family. Well, the phone call sounded to me like she was just calling to talk to her dad. Oh well, it was Friday; I didn't really care.
Next I went over to E Building to see one of the women who used to be on my range in D Building. She's the one who told me about the second coming of Christ and that she gets messages from God -- I think I've mentioned her before. Anyway, she's not been happy being placed in E Building, because that's the mental health building, and she's never been mentally ill a day in her life, as she likes to say at least once every time I see her. She's a cute little elderly woman, and I really enjoy talking to her, as crazy as she is. She began this particular conversation by telling me our country is going to head into a depression greater than the one in 1929. She told me I should be stocking up on foods and moving underground. I have no idea what made her start talking about this, but it was entertaining, and she taught me how to cook a hog underground. Yep. Then we argued about Catholics and Lutherans -- she's a Catholic and is convinced only Catholics will go to heaven. It was all in fun, the argument, though I did feel somewhat mad when she told my my calling to be a pastor was not from God, but just a choice I was making (because only men can be priests, of course). I mean, come on, here I am, letting her think I believe she gets messages from God, and she can't even let me have this one tiny calling? Good grief!
By the time I had wrapped up that conversation, it was nearly time for the 4pm count, meaning the day was over. Like I said, it went by quickly, and I hadn't even gotten to all the things I had planned. But overall, it was a very productive day. It will be really nice to have Monday and Tuesday off and spend that time with my family (who I haven't seen since mid-May!), but at the same time, I feel I'll have a lot to catch up on when I return.
The summer is winding down faster than I'd like. I've really been enjoying my time in Georgia so far, and I hope I continue to do so for the remainder of it.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
mid-unit evaluations
Today we got to attend the warden's meeting, which happens every morning at 8:15. We had gone to one at the beginning of the summer, but as you know, now there's a new warden, and our supervisor wanted to formally introduce us to her. Warden Seabolt was really nice and seemed to be glad to have us there.
After the meeting (which didn't last very long because Seabolt had to be in a different meeting in Atlanta), we stayed in the room and waited for everyone to clear out so we could begin our min-unit evaluations, which were to last all day long. Prior to these evaluations, we were asked to each type up answers to a series of questions. We had to make copies for everyone, and we each got a 45-minute chunk of time to read through our paper and then open it up for group discussion.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this analysis of my answers, but after the first couple people went, I felt less nervous. Basically, the questions were about how we're doing so far, what our goals for the summer are and how they're coming along, how we get along with our supervisor and fellow group members, etc. It was interesting to see what each person had to say and how I had similar and differing answers.
One thing we all had in common was in the part about what has been least helpful thus far. For this question, we all wrote about our IPR time on Thursdays. In case you don't remember, IPR stands for Inter-Personal Relations, or something to that effect. It's supposed to be a time to discover group dynamics and bring up any conflicts we might be having with one another. I think because our very first IPR started out so strong with conflict, we have all been a little wary of it ever since. To a lot of us, myself included, this time set aside for learning about group dynamics seems forced. I feel we get a lot of IPR in naturally during down times, like in the morning when waiting for count to clear, or during the lunch hour. So to have a time set specifically for IPR, it feels unnatural, and some of the things that have been brought during these times haven't felt necessary, but forced out since we have that time.
Our supervisor assured us that we shouldn't have to feel like this, and that we could change the setting and the mood, because it is a CPE requirement so we do have to have that time. Since that's the case, what can we do to make it less forced feeling? That I don't know the answer to, but I hope we figure it out in tomorrow's IPR time!
We actually were able to get through everyone's evaluation and have a lengthy lunch break and still be done by 2pm, so we got to leave early -- that was a nice surprise! I took that opportunity to go swimming and work on my very slowly developing tan. It was a really relaxing way to spend the afternoon. At the same time, however, I know there's a lot I could have been doing in the prison if we hadn't been meeting for mid-units. There are always women to see, and unexpected things are popping up all the time, like death notices of a relative of one of the women, or one of the women acting out and getting sent to D Building. You can plan your day out at Metro, but very rarely does it go just as you had expected.
After the meeting (which didn't last very long because Seabolt had to be in a different meeting in Atlanta), we stayed in the room and waited for everyone to clear out so we could begin our min-unit evaluations, which were to last all day long. Prior to these evaluations, we were asked to each type up answers to a series of questions. We had to make copies for everyone, and we each got a 45-minute chunk of time to read through our paper and then open it up for group discussion.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this analysis of my answers, but after the first couple people went, I felt less nervous. Basically, the questions were about how we're doing so far, what our goals for the summer are and how they're coming along, how we get along with our supervisor and fellow group members, etc. It was interesting to see what each person had to say and how I had similar and differing answers.
One thing we all had in common was in the part about what has been least helpful thus far. For this question, we all wrote about our IPR time on Thursdays. In case you don't remember, IPR stands for Inter-Personal Relations, or something to that effect. It's supposed to be a time to discover group dynamics and bring up any conflicts we might be having with one another. I think because our very first IPR started out so strong with conflict, we have all been a little wary of it ever since. To a lot of us, myself included, this time set aside for learning about group dynamics seems forced. I feel we get a lot of IPR in naturally during down times, like in the morning when waiting for count to clear, or during the lunch hour. So to have a time set specifically for IPR, it feels unnatural, and some of the things that have been brought during these times haven't felt necessary, but forced out since we have that time.
Our supervisor assured us that we shouldn't have to feel like this, and that we could change the setting and the mood, because it is a CPE requirement so we do have to have that time. Since that's the case, what can we do to make it less forced feeling? That I don't know the answer to, but I hope we figure it out in tomorrow's IPR time!
We actually were able to get through everyone's evaluation and have a lengthy lunch break and still be done by 2pm, so we got to leave early -- that was a nice surprise! I took that opportunity to go swimming and work on my very slowly developing tan. It was a really relaxing way to spend the afternoon. At the same time, however, I know there's a lot I could have been doing in the prison if we hadn't been meeting for mid-units. There are always women to see, and unexpected things are popping up all the time, like death notices of a relative of one of the women, or one of the women acting out and getting sent to D Building. You can plan your day out at Metro, but very rarely does it go just as you had expected.
Monday, July 7, 2008
the changing of the guards
We have know since our first day of CPE that starting in July, Metro would be getting a new Warden and a new Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment. Well, July came fast, and now, just as I was getting used to the system, or at least learning how to cope in it, some new head people have stepped in, and with them will most certainly come some major changes. Some might be for the good, and some for the not-so-good, but they’re coming nevertheless.
Our current warden was a man, Mr Roberts, and our new warden is Ms Seabolt, who just came from the DW of Care and Treatment position at the women’s prison in Alto, GA. Now, I actually really liked Warden Roberts, but from what I’ve heard from those women who have served time at Alto, Warden Seabolt is going to be very good for Metro. She’s very into respect, both within the staff members and between the officers and the inmates. Who knows if this will actually take hold or not, because I have witnessed some huge disrespect with the officers yelling at the women, but I sure do have hope that things will change. I have heard that wardens in the past who have tried to make changes for the better at Metro haven’t lasted very long, so we’ll see. Warden Roberts seems like a really nice woman, and I’m intrigued to see what changes will happen, good or bad, during the rest of my stay at Metro.
Although Warden Roberts officially started on July 1st, today there was an official “changing of the guards.” It was a big ceremony that we were all basically required to attend. It took place in the ever-frozen gym, and there were several non-Metro people there. There were a lot of speeches and clapping going on, and also we had to watch some procession of the American and Georgia state flags. I can’t help it, but I thought that part was really stupid. There were three officers who marched (about one inch at a time) in with the flags, wearing white gloves and forest ranger-like hats while we stood and waited. When they got up to the front (about an hour later, it seemed), we were then supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I didn’t want to, so I didn’t – why should I have to say the stupid Pledge of Allegiance? After that, someone sang the National Anthem, and then we had a scripture reading and a prayer. Apparently the separation of church and state doesn’t exist in Georgia.
Anyway, after that, many people made speeches – the Commissioner’s was especially long and rambling – and then Warden Roberts picked up the Georgia flag and handed it to Warden Seabolt, who set it back down. I guess that was their way of making Seabolt the official warden. Next, the guy who sang the National Anthem sang a religious song to the tune of Danny Boy. Then the three officers marched back up, very slowly and awkwardly saluted to the flags, then marched the flags back out.
I’m sorry to sound so cynical, but come on! How much more pomp can you get? I guess I just don’t get into being overly patriotic, but that’s just me. All that aside, I have high hopes for Warden Seabolt. I really hope she brings some positive, permanent change to Metro, because this place sure needs it.
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