That 115 Look

Our libraries are set up with a bank of windows along the hallway going to the education classrooms.  The drinking fountain is just outside the library door.  When inmates are on break they migrate to the drinking fountain.  Though there are signs on the window stating that they could receive a "115" (a Rules Violation Report) for attempting to communicate with library attendees, we must remember that inmates are not in prison for following rules.  Today there was a young man in the library who looked very familiar.  I observed him for a bit and then asked him, "Are you the young man I always notice in the hallway during school?"  He looked a little sheepish and said, "Ummmm, yeah."  I then remembered that this was one of several inmates who attempted to communicate with library inmates until I caught them, at which point they run back to their class.   I then asked this particular inmate, "Why do you always run when I look at you?"  He replied, "Because you have that 115 look on your face."  I laughed, as did my inmate clerks as well as other inmates in the library.  I'm so glad I can scare those inmates with just a look!

Time Outs Work For Inmates Too

Yesterday I had a session of Reception Center (RC) inmates . . . eleven of them!  That's more than I usually have, but with the RC normally they are gone before you can get them scheduled.   Within a minute or less of their arrival, I heard the "F" word four times.  Actually, I heard it once before they all got through the door.  Honestly, many of them don't even realize they say it.  I told them up front that the word wasn't allowed but, again, they don't even realize they say it.  I knew it was going to be a crazy time, but they were all young inmates and respectful to me so I knew that humor would be my best approach.  A group of three sat on one side of the room and chatted the whole time.  The "F" word slipped out quite a bit, but they quickly pointed fingers at each other, laughingly, and apologized to me.  I could only laugh, as did most of the other eight inmates.  At one point, I took a wadded up piece of paper and threw it at them, missing, but causing laughter throughout the room.  A bit later, after another bad word slipped out of someone's mouth I told them they should bang their heads together. Two of them actually did, causing more laughter!  Those three boys, really they were just boys, continued to laugh and talk and slip out that nasty word.  Finally, towards the end of the session, I told one of them that he was out of control and needed a time out.  I sent him to a corner, and told him to face the wall.  He did, but he continued to talk and told me that when he was a little boy his mother would send him to time out but that it never worked.  I believed him.  When custody staff came for them, the officer asked if they'd behaved.  I told him that I had to put one on time out but it didn't seem to help.  One of the crazy three said, "She threw paper at us, and banged our heads together!"  The officer laughed and said, "So you want to come back next week?"  They all laughed and said, "YES!"  If they put in a request to come back, of course they'll be called, but not those three together!! 

Back To The Future?

A new inmate clerk was assigned to my library a few weeks back.  When he first walked in, I felt a moment of fear.  He looked a bit scary to me, almost like he might not want to be there.  I asked him, "Do you want to work here?"  He said that he was fine with the job.  Okay!  Let's get to it.  I introduced him to the senior clerk, who is actually about 20 plus years YOUNGER.  The new clerk informed me that he had NEVER touched a computer, having "been down" for more than 25 years.   Alrighty!  A few days later, he was repairing some books.  I handed him a glue stick.   He said, "What's this?"  My eyes got big, and then I remembered that he had been down for a long time.  I told him, "A glue stick."  He said, "Oh, okay," and continued working using the glue stick seemingly with ease.  A few days later, he again was using the glue stick.  About half an hour later, I heard him exclaim, "Wow, that's cool!"  I looked up and he was looking at me incredulously, then said, "I didn't know it did that!"  He had discovered that the bottom of the glue stick turned and the glue moved upwards.  He then told me that he had been dipping his finger into the glue and then to the books to make the repairs.  I must have looked as crazy as he did, because we both burst out laughing hysterically.  He looks much less scary when he laughs, by the way.  And he has proven already to be a hard worker and fast learner.  One can't judge a book by the cover, right?  Anyway, this experience iwth the glue stick has reminded me of the many times I've wondered what my ancestors would think should they come visit for an hour or two and see all the changes since their life. 

Who Is He?

Yesterday, inmate John Smith* came to the library.  He presented legal documents and requested copies.  I looked at the documents and noted that the name on them was David Brown*.  I said to him, "Who is David Brown?"  He replied that it was him.  I then asked him, "Who is John Smith?"  He replied that he, too, was John Smith.  I expressed confusion.  He said that when he was arrested he was going by John Smith but he was really David Brown.  I asked him if anyone else knew that, and he said that custody knew.  So I called his building and asked one of my favorite officers what she knew about John Smith and David Brown being one and the same.  She only knew him by John Smith.  I then called the program office and asked the sergeant what he knew about this mysterious inmate.   He input the inmate's CDCR number into his computer to check for any aliases.  None.  Not a one.  California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation only knows him as John Smith.  I then told the inmate that I could not copy the documents as they had the wrong name on it.  He needed to prove he was David Brown and not John Smith.   He asked me how he could do that . . . hmmmm . . . the truth always works,  I thought but didn't say.   He was polite and didn't blame me for his predicament, which was unusual for an inmate.  As he was leaving the library, I told him that when he figured out who he was to let me know and perhaps his documents could be copied.  He said that he knew who he was, but didn't seem to want o share that with me at that time.  Are John Smith and David Brown one and the same?  Who really knows besides John Smith, David Brown and his/their mother(s).

*name changed to protect the guilty

Pushups!!!

Wednesday, an inmate suggested that when an inmate uses that naughty F word, he should be made to do push-ups.  Hmmmmm . . . great idea!  So the very next morning, an inmate was insructed to do 10 push-ups.  He said, "Really?!?!"  I said, "REALLY!"   Ten push-ups it was.  No one else that day had to do push-ups.  Yesterday, I was on another yard where the inmates are all on lock down so they were escorted over and remained in waist restraints.  The morning group was fine.  The afternoon group . . . sheesh guys!!!  I couldn't really make them do them on the floor so I made them do them at the counter.  One guy thought I couldn't count or maybe wasn't paying attention.  When he finished, I looked at him and said, "Three more!"  His eyes were incredulous, and he went back to the counter and did three more.  I did have one scrawny inmate say to me that it was unconstitutional, cruel and unusual punishment.  "Perhaps if you exercised more push-ups would be easy and not a punishment."  He shut up. 

Beauty Advice??

One of the yards I work on is the "Sensitive Needs Yard."  It's comprised of gang dropouts, gays, wanna-be girls, and other unmentionables.  Just before Christmas I went to see my miracle worker (hairstylist).  My yucky gray hair with a variety of home-coloring attempts at beauty was transformed into a cute style with blond and gold highlights over a dark background.  Yesterday an inmate told me, "Ms. D, that hair color doesn't look good."  "Oh really," I said.  He said, "Yeah, you should go for auburn."  "Really?" (Said with my cute little sarcastic tone.) "And you need to use Head and Shoulders."  "Really, do I have dandruff?"  "No, but you have split ends and Head and Shoulders works best for split ends."  He then went on to say he worked in the beauty industry on the streets.  I just wrinkled my brow at him and walked away.  But I have to say that I am intrigued about adding auburn to my hair and even trying Head and Shoulders.  What do you all think?

Firetruck!

I have a rule in my library that if it starts with F and ends in U C K, the only acceptable word is Firetruck.  I have this printed on bright yellow paper and posted in several spots in the library.   It amazes the inmates that I may appear to not be listening and that word pops out of their mouth directly to my ears.  I tell them I have "mom ears."  The regulars have been heard to say, "Firetruck!" on more than one occasion.  I even have some of the officers say it when I'm within hearing distance.  Today I noticed that an inmate had F U C K tattooed on his knuckles.  I told him that he knew that particular word was not allowed in the library, and he would have to cut off his fingers before he came back again.  I don't think he believed me!  LOLOLOL!