Tracking the Trends--Prison Chaos Worsens During Holidays

I've noticed a somewhat strange trend since I've been in prison, over sixteen years at this point. The energy among the prison population ebbs and flows between calm and chaotic. In a closed system like prison, which is a total institution, emotions are infectious, spreading quickly among prisoners like a virus. 

There's certainly a pattern to this flow. Holidays, no matter which ones, generally heighten anxieties, probably due both to the stress of isolation and separation from our families and the increase of substance abuse during these times. These heightened negative energies often lead to greater violence, fights among prisoners, arguments with corrections officers, and even suicide attempts (like the man who hung himself on Monday, but survived after being revived). 

I knew this past holiday weekend (Memorial Day) was going to be a chaotic one when the administration began making extra space in the "hole" (administrative segregation) to accommodate extra prisoners. They weren't wrong either. These things are predictive. 

All weekend, a steady flow of prisoners were brought to the hole. Some for fights, some for stealing, and some for other reasons, like substance abuse. Two of the loudest prisoners in the hole were in cells directly across from my cell. Their apparent goal was to cause as much frustration and chaos during every count time, when it's usually somewhat quiet, and after lockdown at night. They definitely accomplished their goal. 

When these prisoners would begin their "look at me!" routine of dancing, singing, and hollering from their cells, other prisoners would shout at them to "SHUT THE F**K UP!" while others joined in the frenzied madness with animal sounds and shrieking. Corrections officers would occasionally threaten them with tickets for creating a disturbance, but that did nothing to stop these prisoners. They were empty threats, so chaos persisted. 

The one saving grace is that the weather was somewhat nice out all weekend. We who needed a break from the chaos could at least go outside during the times yard was open. We could get fresh air, sunshine, and a break from the incessant noise. There's noise outside, too, but there aren't walls to cause the sound to echo and amplify. 

Now that the holiday is over, the frenzied energy has died down a bit. One of the loud prisoners was released from the hole and, mercifully, put in a different housing unit. Based on his behavior, I'm sure he'll be back in the hole soon, though. 

It's hard to be a calm and calming presence in prison when everything around you is chaotic and neurotic. But I try. It's the only thing I can do. And during the breaks from the chaos, I thank God for small blessings.