busy, busy, busy

Today was a pretty full day. After the morning count cleared, it was straight to F Building for me. I spent all morning talking to women in two of the ranges. Some of them just wanted to say hi, and others wanted a more serious conversation. I never know what to expect when I walk onto any given range. In a way I like that, because it’s always new and different, but it does make it hard to know how long I’ll be on a range. As a result, I rarely get to all four ranges in the building. It’s all right, though, because whichever I don’t make it to one day I make sure to get to the next.

After lunch I met with a woman who my supervisor had allowed to make a phone call with me. This woman had recently found out that her brother was very sick and in the hospital, so I was able to let her call and check on him. Unfortunately, she was only able to get in contact with her father, but he was able to provide some information, and she asked me to keep her brother in her prayers. She was very distraught that she couldn’t be there for him, but she was grateful for the phone call. Being able to give that to her made me feel good.

I made my daily visit to the DA ladies and was met by one who was very upset. She’s been in lockdown for nearly 60 days, and she’s been told for weeks that she would be getting out (of D Building, that is, not out of prison). Every day when I go down to that range, I always hope she’ll be gone, meaning she’s finally back in the prison’s general population crowd. I must admit, though, she’s always very interesting to talk to, so I’m always glad to have the opportunity to have a conversation with her. Typically she’s been discouraged about being in lockdown, but she’s always been in a fairly good mood and usually has something to show me that she’s excited about – her latest homework for her GED, new pictures of her son from her family, etc. Today, however, I met her with tears in her eyes.

Being in lockdown for nearly 60 days was finally too much for her to handle. She had had some sort of tantrum this morning to the inspection team, and to be honest, I don’t blame her. She’s been told for a couple weeks now that she’s pending bed space, meaning as soon as a general population bed opens, she’s the one who gets it. She hasn’t been getting it, however. She had witnessed several women come into lockdown much later than her and leave before her. It wasn’t fair, and as hard as she tried to not make a scene, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. I’m not sure what was actually involved in her “explosion,” as she referred to it, but I don’t think it was anything too serious. The poor thing was just so frustrated at being in lockdown when she should technically have been back in the prison’s general population long ago. I do have to keep in mind that I’ve only heard her end of the story, but whether or not all the facts are true, they’re true to her, and that’s reason enough to break down and cry.

I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to help her, but all I could do was talk with her and let her vent to me. At the end, as we have always ended our talks, I prayed with her (since we’re separated by a door, we put out hands up to the window). She seemed a little calmer than when I had first found her, but I really do hope they move her soon. I told her that when that day came, I’d find her and continue to visit her. She’s grown on me a lot in the past week.

Once I talked to a few more of the women in DA, I headed back to Programs as it was nearing the 4pm count. All in all, a very full day, and tomorrow promises to be similar. Today really left me exhausted as I drove home, and I’m excited to go to bed and soon as I finish posting this, which is… right about….now!