CCI: A Whole Change of Pace

Written on March 18, 2011,

   Well, since coming to CCI things have been interesting to say the least. To begin with, we only order Canteen once every two weeks in here. So we need to make it last! We are limited to $75.00 for our bi-weekly orders. Things are just as reasonably priced as they are at DCI, so that shouldn't be a problem.

   Now I'll admit, if I sound kind of random, it's because I'm over a week behind in writing these logs due to getting moved and it taking a few days to get my property given back to me. So while I was without paper, I was just working on readjusting to my new surroundings, not to mention the people in it. There is a schedule posted near a raised platform with the C.O. sitting on top of it. The schedule shows the optional times to go to Rec. activities or the Library. They vary from week to week, so the time I have to type these logs varies from one time to the next as well. At this location we're allowed to order TVs and radios. The barracks area where us minimum-medium security inmates are located is split into quads. Each quad has a large television for everyone to view during the day when it is a designated day room period. We have these periods periodically throughout the day between meals. Some people have TVs at their bunks, and some people have radios, but a lot of them have both.

   I have much more freedom to do as I please here at CCI. I have a tendency to find myself on the phone much more now, since I can use it whenever there is a phone available. There is a phone list located next to the three phones in the unit and all I have to do is sign my name on the sheet and I will get the next available phone in the order that the names are on the list. Sometimes people don't always honor this, but we are restricted to using the honor system anyway. Also, there are assigned hour-long periods throughout the day that each area of the barracks are allowed to go outside onto a concrete patio area and walk in circles for “exercise” or sit at the benches or picnic style tables and talk and enjoy the fresh air mostly. Since coming to CCI I've also had the chance to finally get started reading the Twilight novels by Stephanie Meyer. My sister recommended them to me prior to coming to prison, so I thought that since CCI has such an abundance of good books, I'd start reading Twilight. I'll have to give it to my sister, because although the Twilight movie was such a chick flick, the book was excellent. I've already finished the first one, and started New Moon.

   I finally got my TV and radio yesterday, so I've got the comfort of watching what I want when I want now. It doesn't sound like much, but that small privilege makes a huge difference to someone with so little control over their life. I also received six letters in two days from family and friends of mine, so I'm slowly but surely trying to get caught up with writing everyone back now too. I don't want to feel like a hypocrite with what I've said in the past about people not writing me, and now that I have some mail coming in, I can't seem to find enough time in my day to get everything done! That sounds so funny to me, for the simple fact that I probably have more free time than anyone else outside of prison could ever dream of having. The only difference is my days are so structured that I can't consistently keep doing something without being interrupted somehow. Now that I have my radio and TV, maybe I can somehow write while listening to the radio and drown out all the surrounding distractions while I write these logs and letters. I really want to keep everyone interested. I'll get into more details about how things work in here soon enough.

Until the next writings...

~J. Doe

There's an Old Prison Superstition

Written on March 9, 2011,

   Today started off like any other day in Dodge. After lunch I got ready for Rec. But before I could go, the Sgt. came and told me I couldn't go. I asked why I couldn't go and he told me I was leaving in the morning at 6:00AM so I needed to pack up. A few minutes later he came back with a couple of paper bags to put my belongings into, so I asked him where I was going. He told me CCI (Columbia Correctional Institute) in Portage, WI. So I checked the Blue Book. It's the book showing the details for all prisons and other institutions in WI and it showed that CCI was a maximum-security prison. I'm like, “Great! I ask for minimum and they give me maximum! It's listed that I'm minimum security, so I don't understand.” Well, after a little more asking around, I found out there is a medium-security barracks-style building on the grounds at CCI. It's a temporary holding facility. The Sgt. also told me I am scheduled to come back to Dodge at the beginning of April, then I'm off again to MSDF (Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility) on April 6^th. I start my AODA program on April 18^th according to my paperwork. So anyhow, I packed up everything I had to take with me. I couldn't bring any open food or hygiene items though. After I packed, I waited for them to come get me so they could go through my things while they box them up and seal the boxes.

   All day long I waited, and even asked the Sgt. a few times if he knew what was going on. He said he'd check into it and made a few phone calls for me, but had no luck. He didn't find out anything. Come 8:00PM he came back to my cell and asked if they had come and packed my stuff yet since he had gone on break. I told him no. He said, “Maybe they will do it in the morning instead.” I just shrugged and said, “I hope so!” Later we did standing count and once they finished shift change, I asked the 3^rd shift Sgt. if he knew what was going on with my stuff being packed. He said he didn't know anything, but he did know that nothing would be happening tonight. Well I guess I got my answer then. So I laid back down to read the rest of the book I was reading. I hate not finishing a book. There's an old prison superstition that says “If you don't finish the book you're reading, you'll be back to finish it!” Well needless to say, I don't want to come back to finish it!

   Around 11:30PM the Sgt. Came with a Captain in a white shirt and another Sgt. To pack my things. They had no idea why it hadn't been done, but I knew I was leaving at 6:00AM and it had to be done before I left. They had to handcuff me to let me out of my cell since it was 3^rd shift, so I stuck my hands through the trapdoor and they locked 'em on and let me out. We carried my two bags to the back where they had boxes. Each item had to be counted and documented on a packing form. They didn't let me bring my open soap, shampoo, or conditioner. So instead of throwing it out, the Captain said he'd let me bring it back to my cell. He couldn't give me permission to break the rules and give it to another inmate, but he'd allow me to “Forget it in my cell.” After we finished, I signed the form and went back to my cell to finish my book. They took my cuffs back and said they would see me in the morning. I tried reading the rest of my book but my mind kept wandering so I just read the last page of each chapter and got the end of it like that. Then I went to bed.

Until tomorrow...

~J. Doe