Circle of Conviction
by
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Employment at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford since 1981 has been no less than enlightening. Beginning with my first exposure ever to a jail, I had just left from my interview late one afternoon, just a couple of hours before I happened to turn on the television, and see dozens of State Troopers storming the front gate of Graterford in response to a hostage situation that had just occurred shortly after I left. Lasting almost one week before a peaceful surrender, this certainly made me think twice about working in a prison. Other events through the years, such as 'Chicken Sunday' for example - in which a very volatile situation erupted over a tray of fried chicken, sending correctional officers to the hospital and running for their lives - revealed how dangerous and unstable the prison environment really is. Escapes, suicides, rapes, homicides, and countless altercations - some involving stabbings and beatings - are not uncommon in the prison environment. Graterford, being the largest prison in Pennsylvania, ranking fifth or sixth largest in the country, and housing some of the states most dangerous convicts, has for many years been the center of bad press for staff and convict alike. Though never experiencing a major riot in its entire history, despite its size and type of convicts that it houses, problems involving illegal drugs and contraband throughout the jail have plagued the institution for years. Staff involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities has helped to fuel the ongoing fire of corruption and bad press.
I.D. and continued to stare into his eyes. He was as surprised as I was aggressive, and stuttering and hesitating at the same time he said 'but I need it - I need it for something.' I looked at him, with what must have been a look of fury, and said loudly 'why did you have to steal it?' He continued to appear surprised, bordering on dumbfounded, as I instantly hit him with 'no wonder you're in jail !' Not another word left his mouth except a humble 'thank you' when he walked out. I closed the door and thought about the whole scenario for a moment. This was a rare reaction on my part. Knowing that a reaction like that can get you hurt or killed in a jail, I questioned my reaction repeatedly in my mind. Was the stress getting to me? Was I in burnout? Was it just the principle of the thing? Probably a combination of all three, but certainly not worth my health or my life. It's amazing how much even a piece of tape is worth to someone.
Speaking of stealing, I talked to a guy one time who had come back on a parole violation which he thought was very unfair. He explained to me that he simply went down to the convenience store to buy a bottle of tylenol. He stated that he was waiting in line to pay for it and the clerk walked away. He said he got tired of waiting, and finally just walks out with the tylenol. Most convenience stores have cameras, so identifying is usually not a problem. After being arrested, he also was tested and came up with a hot urine, indicating the presence of a controlled substance. He felt it very unfair to be charged for theft and a parole violation for a simple bottle of tylenol, since he fully intended to pay for it any-way, but he just got tired of waiting. As he said, he did not mean to steal it, but the clerk' didn't return soon enough! Interesting justification.
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About the Book
Did you ever wonder what life is really like in prison? Or, how the legal system operates to put someone there? Do prison guards carry weapons? If not, why not? Are conditions really that bad in prison? Should we execute more people waiting on death row, or should the death penalty be eliminated all together? How does an inmate get out on parole in Pennsylvania? Is there any rehabilitation going on in prison? If so, why do many inmates continue to return to prison after leaving on parole? In most cases, do we really have a choice as to whether we end up in prison or not?
If you are not sure or are undecided on the answers to most or all of these and many other questions about prison and prisoners, you need to read this book. Hopefully it will satisfy your curiosity on the subject, and make you think twice about how people end up living there. For those who do live there or have in the past, hopefully it will serve as a reference point and an eye opener. The facts, statistics, stories, and information in the book were carefully researched and written from inside Pennsylvania's largest maximum security prison.
About the Author
When beginning my career in Radiology in 1974 at the former Sacred Heart Hospital in Norristown, Pa., I never imagined that some day I would be working and supervising inmates in Pennsylvania's largest state correctional institution at Graterford (S.C.I.G). Hospitals, clinics, and offices surely presented many unique, exciting, educational, and unforgettable experiences over the 26 years, but none so unique as those 'in prison'
In this diverse strata of society locked away from society, I began as a part-time contract employee of the state in 1981. I was the first civilian ever hired at SCI-G to perform the X-ray services, which were performed solely by inmates up until that time. Supervising and working closely with inmates from the very beginning provided me with 'prisoner perspective' on prison life long before any civilian orientation ever occurred. Contract employees did not go to the training academy or have any orientation at that time, so much of what I learned about the 'the system' and the way things really are in jail I learned from inmates first. Then as time went on, I learned how things are 'supposed' to operate according to policy. The two tend to differ at times. In fact, I was given an employee handbook the first day I started and was told to learn it. That was my orientation.
Things have changed a lot since then and some of my views of life, and prison life in particular have greatly changed from those I held previously. All 'television' prison is not all real prison, though it does reveal some truths and occurrences sweetened with sensationalism to attract the viewer. Realizing how uninformed I was with many distorted views on the whole subject before I began working in a jail, my whole intention in writing this book was to present the real side of prison. A true and factual unbiased presentation of prison, inmates, and the system and people that keep it going. Hopefully, these facts, statistics, stories and real life experiences have accomplished just that.