There are various reasons why there is so much violence going on within the prison system. Gang, neighborhood, and city beefs are contributing factors. But the main reason behind alot of the violence that takes place behind these walls is drugs.
There is no question that we have a drug problem in this country. All those indviduals you see on the news being arrested for drug related crimes end up engaging in that same behavior once they are incarcerated. If that person is an addict on the street, then they will be an addict in prison. If they are a drug dealer on the street, then they will be a drug dealer in prison. This pertains to both the Correctional Officers and the inmates.
How else do you think the drugs make it into the prisons? The inmates provide the financing and connections, while the Correctional Officers are the conveyers. All of the regular hard drugs can be found in the prisons. Crack, heroin, suboxone, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, K2, methamphetamine (crystal meth), and oxycontin. That’s not to mention the psych drugs that are being sold by inmates to other inmates.
I have been incarcerated now for 20 years and I have taken part in almost every “extra curricular activity” one can engage in. So everything I share regarding this subject in these blogs is coming from first hand knowledge. However, none of the names mentioned are the actual names of the individuals.
The gangs in prison operate as distribution channels for the drugs. It’s not rare for Correctional Officers to be members of these gangs. Sometimes they’re not, they just get into the “game” for the money.
There is anywhere from a 300% to 500% inflation in price of drugs in the prison compared to on the street. For example, the price for an ounce of marijuana (i.e. 28 grams) on the street will range from $120 to $250, give or take. But here in prison that same ounce will sell for $500 or better. The potential to make tens of thousands of dollars, tax free, with minimum risk is too tempting for some people to pass up.
There are some guys who attempt to go outside of the already established “C.O. connection” and try to smuggle drugs in through the visting room or mail. Those guys almost always get caught! Any individual attempting this is viewed as a threat and trying to establish a rogue operation. So they are removed from general population, and in some cases transferred to a different prison.
Payment for drugs vary. Some people accept commissary. Some only accept Western Union, PayPal, or Green Dot. In some cases sex is accepted as payment. Or if someone has an exorbitant debt it can be paid off with one’s “service”, which means that person has to do whatever they are told to do for however long they are told to do it. This is where the violence comes in.
Guys get robbed, be it for drugs or money, and in retaliation someone ends up getting stabbed or badly beat. When Correctional Officers who are bringing in the drugs are no longer satisfied with their percentage of the profits and want more, a hit is taken out on them by whatever gang they’re seemingly screwing over. Resulting in the C.O.s being stabbed or badly beaten.
Trust me when I say that the Department of Rehablitation and Correction is not about reformation or rehabilitation. It’s all about money!
At the beginning of my bid, I was sent to S.O.C.F. Upon arrival I had to let it be known to other inmates that I was an active member in the street Organization called Growth and Development. I was immediately assigned to be Treasurer of the cell block I lived in. My responsibilities where to collect the dues every month, keep track of the items going in and out of the Organization’s coffer, and to collect any outstanding debt.
Like I mentioned before, there are C.O.s who are attracted to the “criminal” lifestyle for whatever reason. In my cell block there was a Correctional Officer named Ms. Kelly who was infatuated with gang members. Particularly black gang members. Ms. Kelly was what we called an F.O.F., or friend of the family. She was willing to do whatever any of the Brothers of Growth and Development asked her to do.
Needless to say, Ms. Kelly was bringing in 3 to 5 ounces of marijuana every 2 weeks. Because I was the Treasurer, she would drop off the weed in my cell right after she came in for her shift. I would break down the weed and pass it out to the Brothers to be sold.
She wsn’t the only staff member I delt with directly. The was a nurse named Ms. Treadwater. She was gorgeous! Her issue was with perscription medication. Once we became acquainted with one another, Ms. Treadwater was sneaking me the medication that inmates were leaving in the Infirmary. All of it ranging from nitrites, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and even something called methaqualone. Not really knowing too much about different medications at the time, I would just pass them on to the Brothers who did know about them so they could sell them.
Now imagine, the very same thing I was participating in at that Institution, is the same thing taking place in every Institution across the country. Yes the prisons are packed full of individuals who have committed crimes, some of which are heinous. But a vast majority of these very same prisons are staffed with criminals who have yet to be caught for their misconduct and corruption.
HOTEP (Peace)
DONOVAN DAVID CLARK
#A390-726
http://www.jpay.com
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3791 St.Rt. 63
Lebanon, Ohio 45036
