December 29, 2023

No rec today. The rumor of 14-17 new guards is countered by the rumors that some were sent to help out an understaffed Waupun prison and that the expected attendance here at Boscobel called in sick which leaves them short staffed. The "needs of the institution" is to pretend to be sick for extended holidays so inmates are deprived recreation? My back isn't having the best day anyway.

Maybe I should survey the range to find out how many guys holiday or seasonal depression spirals into suicide when they are treated worse than unwanted dogs. My general impression is that people in prison don't necessarily do anything worse than the judges, prosecutors, or prison/jail staff, ethically. But it is more like a puppy mill to exploit tax payers by selling false reassurances of "safety" or "good." Heinous criminals are few and far in between. Most guys in prison need more involvement in their daily choices to prevent the behavior branded criminal. Substance abuse that becomes chemical dependency is one of the greatest evils at the foundation of a lot of negative behavior though. The ugly desperation it creates is still a culture shock to me.