Divide and Conquer--How Prisons Limit Community Building

 Recently, while walking with another prisoner on our prison's big yard, I noticed a gathering of gang members. They'd pulled several tables near each other and were having a powwow. Of course, I have no idea what they were discussing, but it was clearly a gathering of at least two, maybe three gangs. 

I commented to the guy I was working with that I was surprised the officers had not broken up the meeting. We continued walking for the next 30 minutes or so when we finally saw a yard officer and captain head over to the gang meeting. The officers didn't say anything, but by just stopping next to the tables, the meeting broke up immediately, and the gang members disbursed. 

For obvious security reasons, the prison yard rules prohibit gatherings like these gangs were having. In fact, the rules prohibit more than six people gathering at the same table. During softball games, it's not uncommon to see eight people sitting at a table, though. It's obvious, however, that these are just spectators, not people meeting together. 

The following morning, I grabbed my Bible and headed out to our small yard for our weekly Bible study. It's been growing over recent weeks and has had between ten and twelve people getting together. We've been left alone by staff as our study has grown, but not this morning. About 15 minutes into our study, the same Captain came and told us to disburse. He was respectful about it, but he cited a yard rule that prohibited religious studies on yard. 

Many of the men were upset that we were being told to disburse. We were just studying the Bible, after all. We were not having a "gang meeting" or doing anything nefarious. But the rules are the rules. I'm quite sure the Captain knew he had to apply the rules across the board fairly, regardless of if we liked it or not. 

It's, perhaps, against religious liberties to stop prisoners from collecting together to study the Bible, but the courts will always side with security over things like religious rights. So, we have to find ways to study that don't violate policies. 

Since the primary purpose of prisons is security, other "rights" are often relegated to a secondary place. It's never simple. You'd think prison would be pretty simple and clear cut. It's not. Rules are enforced when the powers want to enforce them, and they aren't when they aren't considered important. 

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of prison "rule enforcement," though, is that corrections officers and their bosses enforce rules on prisoners, sometimes even petty rules, but often don't follow their own rules. It's simply a hypocritical part of prison that we have to learn to deal with. It definitely teaches humility, patience, and a host of other positive qualities, if one is willing to be taught by this incarceration experience.