Administrative behaviour
"If members of free society think this kind of treatment is conducive to a prisoner's inclination to rehabilitate himself or herself, they are mistaken." — Irving Elmer Bell.
Several years ago, my mother wrote to me here at the prison from her deathbed. She had not seen me in many years and she had a last request. She literally begged me for a photograph. I will never forget her words: "It's more than a thousand miles between us, son, and I cannot travel because I'm too weak. I just want to see your face one more time before I die."
Most prisons have a program wherein a prisoner can request to have a photograph taken for personal use. The price varies from prison to prison, but usually the cost is from one to five dollars for each photograph. It usually takes about three days from the time of making a written request until the photograph is taken.
Immediately upon receipt of my mother's letter, I explained to the "prison counsellor" the dire nature and urgency of my need to have a photograph taken for her. He seemed to appreciate that this was a life or death situation for me. I filled out and submitted the necessary paper work — the "money withdrawal request" form — so that I could have two photographs taken. He told me he would personally take the photographs as soon as the inmate account personnel cleared the money transfer request and deposited my money into the prison's Picture Project account. He told me he would personally see to the money matter.
Each day for the next week I watched the counsellor passing in and out of the cell block. During that seven-day period he often looked me directly in the eye without so much as a vague mention of my request. His lack of action caused me to write the warden a letter wherein I reiterated my request. More than a week went by with no response from the warden. It had been over two weeks since I had made my request.
I went to speak to the unit supervisor about the situation. On my way to his office I happened to encounter the prison minister in the hallway. I explained everything to this "man of God". He did not understand the needless delay. He said he would look into it and try to expedite the matter. I then explained the entire chronology of events to the unit supervisor. He told me he would "get to the bottom of the matter" and get back to me.
Nine more days went by with no response from the counsellor, warden, minister, inmate account personnel or the unit supervisor. All the while, it was very clear that they were all well aware of the problem.
After 28 days with no response at all, I approached the cellblock officer and asked if he would call his supervisor so I could speak with him about a personal matter. The cellblock officer sat smugly in his control booth with a contemptuous smirk on his face. In defiance of prison rules and procedures he flatly refused to make the call. I asked him, "Why not?" He became belligerent and verbally abusive.
In a fit of despair and rage, I walked to the table in the middle of the cellblock, picked up the old Underwood typewriter sitting thereon and hurled it through the cell block window!
I figured this action would bring the sergeant. The typewriter shattered against the concrete barrier less than a metre beyond the window. Pieces of it, and glass, bounced back inside the cell block. My rage was such that I began picking up those pieces and throwing them out again. I was unaware that I had cut my hand severely in the process.
The cellblock officer ordered all prisoners to go to their cells and lock up. I followed his order just like everybody else. I hoped that I would soon see the supervising sergeant and speak with him about the delay in obtaining a photograph for my mother.
Moments later, the sergeant, the unit supervisor, the counsellor and someone from the warden's office all gathered in front of the cell. Suddenly, I was getting lots of attention.
The counsellor looked me in the eye with the contrived concern of a priest during confession and asked, "What's the problem?" The absurdity of this question was rivalled only by the fact that the man from the warden's office was standing behind the counsellor holding an instant camera. He began taking photographs of the broken window and the twisted pieces of typewriter. No, he did not take a photograph of me — even though he could have, right then and there. Yes, I did get charged with destroying state property, and yes, I was punished severely for it. After all, several photographs of the crime scene clearly showed the evidence. I was guilty.
Shortly thereafter, I learned that my mother died four days prior to that incident.
Alas, the situation as described is commonplace. In one way or another, this kind of thing takes place every day in the life of the average prisoner. This kind of treatment is the rule rather than the exception. Imagine, if you will, that many prisoners are released a day or two after such treatment. In effect, society's lack of concern, demonstrated by silence, about this and similar kinds of problems designed to mentally destabilise prisoners, supports and perpetuates unacceptable prison administration behaviour.
BY BRANDON ASTOR JONES
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He welcomes letters commenting on his columns (include your name and full return address on the envelope, or prison authorities may refuse to deliver it). He can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G3-77, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA, or email <brandonastorjones@hotmail.com>. Jones depends entirely on donations. He welcomes contributions in any amount. In Australia, please transfer or deposit money directly into account #082-631 53 096 4691 at the Australian National Bank, Ltd. This account, under the name A. Frischkneckt, is entirely dedicated to receiving donations for him. US readers: please make a money order or cashier's cheque payable Del Cassidy, Jones' trustee, and send it to him at 142 Wilmer Street, Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028. Jones is seeking a publisher for his collected prison writings. Please notify him of any possible leads. Visit Jones' web page at <http://www.brandonastorjones.com>.]