Interview with a lifer

Note: None of the inmates in the pictures have anything to do with Free. She has chosen not to reveal her name or face for this blog. Only her thoughts

Doing time is always hard and there are lot of problems in the American prison system, such as abusive guards and scarce resources.

There has been a lot of talk about police brutality as well as inmate abuse. It's way too big topic for me right now, but we're planning a post about that too. Now the talks about abolishing the prison system has been trending. I think that's a terrible idea, but I do agree that mass incarceration needs to stop. In my opinion, the whole prison system needs reforming.

But it's easy for me to speculate things from the outside world. It's time to ask Free about her experiences. After all, she's been calling prison her home since her teenage years. If anyone knows about the reality of prison life, it's her.

What's been good and bad with your time in both juvie and adult prison?

I matured because I spent a good length of time in lockdown. I think the facilities with more structure, as well as more humanized officers were the most productive in my growth. The less rules and more unprofessional the staff the harder my growing became.

What would you want to ease up your time?

What I would like to ease my time would be more resources to education and groups with less waiting lists and more diversity in spiritual options.

What would you need?

There would have to be less security positions and more rehabilitative positions, as well as educational or religious, to increase growth. The structure should be consistent instead of constantly changing like it does.

What kinds of inmates are the best to hang out with?

The best inmates to surround yourself with are those that have a similar mindset. Being around people who do not relate to you will always cause problems.

What kinds are the worst?

The worst inmates to be around are usually drug cases or sex offenders. People addicted to drugs in prison often betray their loved ones and sex offenders tend to be less able to truly rehabilitate.

What kind of bunky do you like to share cell with?

I like a bunky who can hold a conversation, is financially secure, is calm, has regular sleeping habits and is overall easygoing.

What kind would you hate?

The worst bunkies are controlling, into illegal activity that could get me in trouble as well, who get high/drunk a lot or who are just rude in general.

What happens, when you don't get along with a bunky?

When not getting along with a bunky it is important not to show fear. Stand up for yourself but don't be aggressive. If they try to fight don't back down and don't tell. If it was your room before they got there just make them uncomfortable until they move. If it was their room first find an alternative move and tell staff to put you there.

What kinds of guards are the best?

The best officers are consistent. They go by the same program or rules all of the time, making no exceptions and showing no favoritism. If they are mean? Be mean all the time. At least we know what to expect. Friendly? The same goes there. Switching rules and attitudes is a set up for rebellion and failure.

What kinds of guard are the worst?

The worst officers are the ones involved in illegal activity. Sex or drugs are a slippery slide. However, they also tend to seem the most friendly. They are the first ones to falsify reports even though they appear kind. One law broken means they are willing to break them all!

Which ones do you see more?

You see more corrupt cops or unpredictable than reliable. The ones that are easier to predict I now notice are up for retirement. The younger ones are more volatile.

How should prison staff improve? And how the system itself?

Prison staff need thorough training on psychology, basically to emphasize the humanity of inmates. When treated like criminals, inmates act like criminals. When treated as people we act as people. It is a self fulfilling prophecy.

Final Words

I hope this interview gave you a few new thoughts. Prison reform is a long and rocky road, but it's still worth every step. I also know that a lot of steps have been made to the right direction. The Journey has already begun, so let's take it all the way to Victory.

The reform will never happen, as long as prison staff's attitude won't change. That will change gradually, once the people know what's really going on behind the walls. Knowing isn't enough either. We have to show, that we don't approve any sort of abuse, misuse of power or violence. People in prison are still people. If we don't shoot them once they've committed the crime, it makes no sense to lock them up without giving them help.

Thanks for reading. Please share this article in your social media. Let's make a difference together, one step at a time.

Freedom Forever! 

-Alex & Free

Cry for Prison Reform

Alex

I love USA, even though I've never set foot outside of Europe. But if There's one thing I'd fix, it's the prison system.

US has The largest prison population In the world. It also holds record of children doing life, just like Free started as over ten years ago.

Inmate population is one thing, but the prisons themselves are hellholes, that really serve no-one. They're based on punishment more than rehabilitation. Most People who commit crimes already have multiple problem with metal health and the humiliations In prison only adds to them.

In a nutshell, the problem could be described like this: punishment only breaks down the good People and makes bad People worse. Especially, when persons who made a mistake are shoved In with malicious narcissists.

Don't get me wrong! I'm not trying to be some holier-than-thou European coming to fix America. We In Finland have the worst prisons in Scandinavia, though we recently opened supposedly the most humane women's prison In the world. I have no information how it works in reality, but it's a step In the right direction. Now the success of it depends only on staff and inmates

I really hope to be part of prison reform In the future. It's a step towards better, more humane world

 

The new Finnish women's prison has an ambition of being the most humane prison in the world 

Free:

America's systems are unfair and prison is a hard place to grow up. I have been locked up since the age of 14. I had to go from facility to facility, year after year, and learn how to survive in situations most wouldn't as adults.

I have seen much abuse and negligence and it can be horrible. But in the end I have changed and can say I am a better person. I never will come back to prison once released. But what i worry about is future children who make mistakes like I did.

If America doesn't change for the prisons, shouldn't it for our children??