Mitosis of a Cell Block: Division in Prison.

Mitosis is the process whereby the nucleus of a cell divides into multiple cells. It's a fascinating process that includes an early step where chromosomes are pulled to the "poles" of the cell.  You're probably thinking, "What the heck is this nerd saying? And what does it have to do with prisons?!" When I was thinking recently about mitosis (I saw it included in a presentation), it occurred to me that mitosis happens in social situations too. God knows our country is deeply divided right now. It shows up in many ways, but especially in politics, race, crime, and other social situations. I like to call this, Social Mitosis.  Prison is a total institution, yes, a sort of social anomaly in the greater social order. But it's not really that much different than the rest of the world. We, too, experience social mitosis. We are pulled to polar opposites like everyone else. We're a mix of people from different social, religious, and economic backgrounds, and though we all share association with the criminal justice system, our value systems are often very different.  Prison has politically conservative folks, and political liberals. Surprisingly, some staunchly conservative prisoners even parrot, from within prison, conservative talking points about being tough on crime. And because of their own incarceration, others support any agenda that will help them potentially leave prison early, regardless of the sense of the policy. Clearly, prisoners are pulled to differing ideologies too.  Social mitosis, or division, is even seen in categories like, cities of origin, gang affiliations, race (a big one!), and crime types. Just because we all wear blue and orange doesn't mean we believe the same things or hold the same values. It also doesn't mean we all band together to fight for causes that affect us.  In fact, I've noticed that there are three primary types of prisoners, when it comes to our response to our environment. Two are, perhaps not surprisingly, polar opposites.  Some prisoners, probably the vast majority, are The Apathetic. These prisoners are resigned to whatever happens to them, engaging almost not at all with any form of political or prison advocacy. They never write grievances, though they will often complain about their conditions.  The polar opposite is The Agitator. These prisoners are the radicals who find flaws in everything within prison, and they are loud about their complaints. These prisoners file many grievances and sometimes lawsuits, and they are often thorns in the sides of prison administrators. Not surprisingly, many of these prisoners have long sentences (including Life). Agitation is a reaction to their conditions.  The final type of prisoner is The Advocate. This is a small minority within prison who works to educate other prisoners, selectively writes grievances, and works to establish and maintain constructive relationships with other advocates outside of prison. (Incidentally, this type doesn't fit into social metaphor of mitosis, but I never claimed to be a biologist!) These categories aren't perfect, of course, and sometimes people change categories or are somewhere on the spectrum between them. But wherever they sit, it's fascinating to observe how people react or respond to their environments. If prisons were more transparent, I'm sure sociologists would have a field day studying human behavior in prison.  I doubt sociologists would find much to surprise them, though. Prisoners are much like the rest of the country appears to be: restlessly apathetic, and often polarized in social groupings.  I doubt if my coined term, Social Mitosis, will catch on. But it sure looks like whether in prison or out, humans are determined to be drawn to polar opposites from each other. It's too bad our division is cancerous and not life-giving.

 

National Tragedy Reminds Us of the Terror Among Us

 On the recent twenty-second anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, other prisoners and I reminisced with my prison supervisor about where we were when we heard the devastating news. It was a bit shocking to realize that some of the prisoners around me were not even *alive* when the twin towers fell. They know nothing of America before terrorism became a household word. They've never lived in an America naively free of hatred for American ideals.

The tragedy that struck America on 9/11 changed America forever. It injected a fear that drives politics, resulting in the loss of privacy and freedoms for Americans. We exchanged freedoms for a sense of security. The 9/11 tragedy forever altered our lives. 

As I reflect on the shock I felt and the terrible sense of loss I've experienced because of 9/11, it reminds me that crime victims feel these same things in a much more personal way. Crime victims lose their sense of safety, their peace of mind, their ability to sleep, and in some cases their very innocence. 

All Americans have been affected in some way by the 9/11 tragedy, even if we were not personally harmed by the terrorist attacks. But millions of Americans have experienced earth shattering events that harmed them personally. They have lived through their own terror, have watched their own towers of safety and security crumble. 

I hate that I have ever, in any way, contributed to the devastating consequences of crime. I hate that I have been responsible for blowing up anyone's sense of safety and security. I hate that I have been the cause of anyone learning that the world is not safe. I don't need an infamous calendar date to remind me, though. Every day I wake up in prison is a reminder that I was the terror that blew up some people's worlds. 

We ought to honor those whose lives were devastated by the 9/11 attacks, but let's also not forget those who live among us whose lives have been devastated by terror they've experienced a little closer to home.

Getting Their Pound of Flesh--Prison Medical "Services" as Punishment

 I'm grateful I have not had a lot of need for medical attention since I've been in prison. I've had stitches once (solo injury from a failed "box jump"), surgery once (appendicitis), and a heart scare about a year ago (turned out to be anxiety). Otherwise, I've only had to utilize the prison medical services for annual checkups (which consists of measly BP, temp, and weight checks) and attempts to get proper allergy meds (refused).

Of all the "services" in prison, though, medical services are the most criticized, and for good reason. Michigan's prison medical services are sorely lacking even the most basic quality. Furthermore, they are often sued for medical deliberate indifference. It's no wonder with the horror stories I've heard. 

Occasionally, though, medical staff are kind, responsive, and helpful, but this is not the norm. Instead, prison medical services are fraught with many challenges and problems, including:

1. Putting profits before people
Michigan outsources its medical services, which they pay on a contract basis. Whatever the provider saves in expenses is additional profit for the provider. This puts profits over people and care becomes secondary. If a treatment can be denied, it guarantees to save the provider money, at least in the short term. 

2. An unhealthy population
Prisoners have a higher than average rate of disease and mental health challenges. Treatments for Hepatitis C, for example, are extremely expensive, as are medications for other chronic conditions that require treatment. Prison food notoriously lacks nutrition (including commissary food), so the prison population cannot change its diet to naturally combat (or avoid!) conditions like diabetes. They must be medicated. 

3. An entrenched bureaucracy
Malingering (faking an illness) is likely more common among the prison population than the general public. High rates of addiction lead to prisoners seeking medications they may not need in order to itch the addiction scratch. As a result, and probably to enhance profits, the process for getting necessary treatment in prison is arduous. The provider's policy is that prisoners must see a nurse three times before seeing a physician's assistant or doctor. This policy sometimes weeds out malingerers, but it also forces unnecessary medical visits and delays needed treatment. 

Recently, I have had severe back pain due to a strained muscle. I do not know the cause of the strain, but I have seen a nurse twice now about the problem. Both times, I was told to do stretches that I've already been doing for months, and to continue to use heat packs using a homemade heat pack since they will not provide me one. On my second visit, I was told I would have to see the nurse once more before I can see the doctor, despite not even being physically examined on either visit by nurses. 

I do not have a history of drug abuse, and I expressed a desire to avoid pain medication as much as possible. But even low cost interventions, like a hot pack, a detail for an extra mat for my bunk, or a chiropractor visit are dismissed out of hand. Instead, I must see a nurse three times (even if that visit consists of "Are you still having pain? Okay, we'll see you again next week...") before I can even see a PA or doctor. 

I'm in pain, but I'm not likely dying. Imagine what prisoners who are suffering from cancer and other terminal illnesses experience! Who ever thought that a prison sentence might literally require a pound of flesh?

Michigan's Prison Good Time Ballot Initiative Needs Your Help!

Several pieces of legislation have been introduced this legislative term to bring back some form of good time to Michigan's prison system. As the only state in the union with no form of good time or sentence reductions and with the highest average prison sentence of any state, it's time for Michigan to act! However, the legislature has continued to drag its feet on these bills, which are all currently still sitting in committee. 

The prisoner advocacy organization, Michigan Justice Advocacy (MJA), has been educating and advocating to legislators about good time options, but now it's time for the People to act!

MJA has already proposed and had approved language for a ballot initiative to bring the issue of good time to Michigan voters. August 1st, MJA began their drive to collect the required 356,958 signatures to include the ballot initiative on the ballot in November. This drive for signatures is a HUGE undertaking, so we need all hands on deck. 

To make things easier for everyone, MJA has created two instructional videos so an army of signature collectors can participate in properly gathering the required signatures. I am asking my readers to take the 15-20 minutes to watch these instructional videos, to print the signature collection forms (on legal size paper), and to commit to filling at least ONE form to turn in towards the signature totals. 

Start by going to gtballot2023.org and watch the two videos. 

MJA will give you further instructions on how to collect signatures accurately (very important!), and where to turn in completed forms. 

There is a limited time requirement to collect the full number of signatures, so we need all hands on deck as quickly as possible. Please join us in this important endeavor! It's time for the people of Michigan to demonstrate its political power. You can help make a rousing statement to lawmakers that Michigan will no longer support the status quo--a severely overcrowded and understaffed prison industry.

Thank you, on behalf of Michigan's prisoners, for taking the time to care about this important issue!