Non-fiction / The Last Hardrock...peek #2 (Analysis)
THE SYSTEM & CENTRAL BOOKING
Things are about to get fun now. You are about to go through Central Booking the first stage of the System. If they have not found out who you are by now you have done an excellent job, but that ends here. You may have skirted around having your finger prints taken at the precinct but here they usually beat you up until they get your prints from you. The procedures may have changed over the years but not by much. In order for the system to work it must be regimental as well as repetitious, remember these are not the smartest people in the world.
You will be finger printed then strip searched. Yes, clothes off, everything. So now you see why you should never allow your girl to convince you to buy and wear that tight-ass paten leather, light-blue and peach bikini briefs. Only a gay person keep some flashy stuff like that on their ass, and only gay people are really attracted to them as you are about to find out. If you have never experienced a one on one encounter with a gay person get ready for the beginning of what will be many such encounters. From this day forth you will live through about 5,000 of these dehumanizing acts. Right there in that stinky, filthy, gloomy cell you are about to be visually raped. It is what it is. And it is a form of rape because of the fact that the person who is forcing you to do this is being sexually gratified the whole time. Ask yourself who else would hold a job having to strip search a person of the same sex? They would either be a gay person or someone who is bisexual right? Right, there’s no difference. This person will not only have to smell the cell but your funky body which has not showered for at the least past 48hrs. Seeing you in all your raw nakedness is not enough though, this person will also order you to spread your grippers. Yes your buttocks, your rear cheeks. Yeah that’s right, turn around bend over and spread them. Now you feel cheap, this nasty bastard got a thrill and you are off to the next station.
If you haven’t received a phone call by now for one reason or another you should get it around…now. Make it count! You know what you were picked up for and you know your felony status, if you feel that bail may be out of the question here is your opportunity to get your alibi straight (you’ll see the importance of this in a few pages). Calm down whoever the person is that you called, and tell them to get whatever else is wrong corrected before any further police action comes about. The last thing that you’re going to need is another felony, or worse, you being the cause of one of your people being charged with one. Let them know where you are at, what you were arrested for and if you are in good health or not. That is it! Do not go into any details for any reason over those phones. You should be directed to the next station soon but as you have figured out by now every minute is equal to an hour in here. At this stop you will be asked if you are hurt and in need of medical assistance, your vital signs will be taken and you will be asked if you are on or ever have been on drugs. Say no. Believe you me, say no! I don’t care if you are the best crack smoker on the planet say no. Later on this small tip will save you from a lot of unnecessary drama.
This person may also write your bail report. Give the proper information here because this report will be used to determine if you will get an affordable bail. Make sure that the number that you give is the right number. Also make certain that the person who you gave as the contact is someone who knows your aliases that you are known by, as well as being someone who you know will be close to that phone. For some strange reason this is the only part of the system that works.
Within the next 12hrs you will be on your way to see a judge for arraignment. While you are waiting for this next step you will meet the courts appointed lawyer—the legal aid. You should know that by now rich people would have already had a discussion with their lawyer, more than likely three steps back at the precinct. Notice that I have said rich people, not white people. Justice is colorblind with the exception of the color green, always keep this in mind. You have not spoken to anyone so far so why start now, do you hear me? Excuse this person, don’t say anything. More than likely this person is a snake, if you stare at them long they will get mad and go away. Do not worry about upsetting this person; believe me you may run through 3 or 4 of these legal aids before one of them shows you that they just might work for you and not the courts. It is going to take everything inside of you to keep your mouth closed at this point especially when you hear the way this person speaks down to you, showing that you are guilty until proven innocent. Get angry because believe what I’m telling you, you have every right to be. Just hold out for a few minutes more.
You are now called to appear before the judge…now speak. Speak loud, damn it yell if you want to; just make it clear that you would like to testify before the grand jury. This legal aid snake is going to ask you to be quiet or to speak directly to them; the judge may say something as well but damn them both. Damn them! Say it again nice and loud “I want to testify before the grand jury” and say it two more times. Everyone is going to be mad at you, the judge is going to order you to be quiet but say it to him too. It is important that you get this on record and this is what you are doing. Anything that is said in open court is recorded; you want to have your request for grand jury appearance on record. The grand jury is your one shot at beating this thing before it gets deeper. By upsetting the judge you may have just blown your chance at a reasonable bail but so what, if you can convince the grand jury of your innocence you are out of this mess right then and there.
If it has been anywhere between 24-72hrs since your arrest kid you doing well. However this also tells me that you are a newjack or a veteran who waited too long in their criminal career to play this game. There was a time when it took seven days before you appeared in front of a judge. Yes, seven whole days. Six of them from precinct to precinct, stink cell to stink cell, informer to informer. Seven days of watching the foulest of the homeless while they pick their noses and scratch themselves, and move their bowels in plain view. Of course we can not forget the bonus prize…seven days of knuckle to knuckle action, mainly for trying to avoid becoming a robbery victim. Someone probably figured out that 24hrs was enough time for the weak to end up having to come out from the holding cells and appear in front of the judge with one shoe on, torn trousers and a very nice black-eye.
After seeing the judge (and if you’ve done your job), enraging the whole courtroom and stating that you want to testify before the grand jury your bail will be set. Here is where the rich go and hug their very supportive families while the poor people get to find out the true meaning of the terms “public restroom”, “traveling with everything you own on your back”, and “only the strong survive”. Here is where the poor people get to taste the county jail.
COUNTY JAIL
For most of the country the previous pages were foreign to you. This is how it has gone down in NYC, another way in which we are unique though the prison process worldwide is pretty much the same at this next step…the dreadful county jail, Rikers Island for us.
On your ride to your new home away from home forget about the stress for a minute, this is the time to get focused. You are about to enter a world where basically no one gives a damn about you! Do you dig me? Especially if you are one of those “off the block-ass dudes” as we call them. You know the type that doesn’t get around much, commits neighborhood felonies, and only family members or ex-classmates think that you are dangerous. Yes you. No one in there could care less how mad you get or how tough you think you may be, so listen close if you want to keep all of your fingers and toes.
BE on POINT
Everyone should be familiar with the term yet it still surprises me that so few people actually practice what comes out of their mouths. No one is going to take care of you like you will, now more than ever you must be serious in this task. Notice your surroundings keeping your ears and eyes open with your back to the wall. No one knows who you are, most probably wouldn’t like you and love is a far reach up. There is only filth, hate and hunger in these walls so get used to dealing with it and staying mentally awake. None of us are nice people and if in this situation we can make your life worse we will. If something can be taken from you it will be took, the taking of your shoes, the taking of your joy, or the taking of your life.
BULLPEN THERAPY
The past few days have been pure hell. You are stressed to the limit, hungry and most of all tired. You have not slept, how could you? With roaches dancing around and the occasional crackhead or three begging you for cigarettes that you don’t have sleeping for a second is close to impossible. Not to mention that you can not keep from watching that teenager over in the corner who has kept his one good eye on your wrist watch. Right now you would do just about anything to get out of here; this is what being confined does to a person. It is constant aggravation with subtle pressure that we call bullpen therapy. Make an attempt to remain strong and not allow this to break you. As you will come to find out there will be many hours spent in bullpens during your stay in the system. For you to keep your mental intact during these sit-ins is an unquestioned necessity.
What I usually do is immediately make a scan of the whole pen before I step in so I can find a clear spot. Make a quick count of how many people are in there and try to feel what’s going on. The tension in the air is always there do not worry about it, if you can sit somewhere sit, there is standing room only most of the time which is not a bad thing. Listen to all conversations, pay attention to all movements no matter how subtle. Observing how strange people become once they have to deal with their inner-self is very calming. Stay out of those very loud debates especially if you were not invited to give your opinion. If by chance you are invited to join in politely decline but do not come off as being distant, which will arouse suspicion and get you beat up.
Upon entering the bullpen at the county jail you will see all types of people doing all types of things all at various stages of their lock-up. Some are leaving out of the jail to go to court, while others are returning from court. A few are either going or coming back from outside medical trips. Then there is you and the bunch of people that came in at the same time that you did. Out of all the people in the pen you all will be the last ones to leave that pen. Not only because correction officers are slow (real slow) but because you have to be processed into the system.
INTAKE
As you should already know everyone in jail has a number, and now so will you. All the important information will be given by you here. You know, your emergency contact, religion, gang affiliation (a new one for us in NYC but very common elsewhere) and known enemies. More finger prints are taken as well as more photos. You may be stunned by how pretty the officer is handling all of this but snap out of it, you will rarely if ever see this officer again. Though you shouldn’t worry there are more in the back. Based on the information you provided security will classify you in terms of risk factor. Either you are high, medium or low classification, PC (Protective Custody) or Administrative Segregation. Once you are classified you will be placed in the next available housing unit.
HOUSING UNIT
Lesson 1:
Fix your face. I explained to you a little while ago that no one gives a damn about you. Contrary to popular belief tough looking mugs and slick tough talk does not make you a tough person. The real tough people see right through that. Even if you are tough you are new to this particular spot and the numbers are against you so be easy.
Again scan your surroundings and feel the area out. You are on point and your mouth is shut. Do know however, that half of your story is already told. Everyone knows that you are new to the system. How you ask? Because you walked in with no property silly…not to mention you look a mess and pee-yew…you smell!! Not that you can do anything about it yet (you still have no cosmetics), even if you could there is no way that you are comfortable enough to get in the shower without knowing who is who in the unit.
Lesson 2:
Someone is in control. Your job is to find out whom. It is much easier to find who is in charge if it is a dormitory as oppose to a celled housing unit. Whatever type of unit it is you are still going to have to wait until everybody is in there. So while you wait until the unit is at full capacity you need to clean up where you are supposed to lay your head and check out the rest of the area.
Lesson 3:
Don’t touch the phone. Depending on what time of day it is you may interfere with someone’s “slot time”. The phone and television are tools of power in the county jail. Yes I know this is very silly but it is what it is. Until you know for sure how things are running wait a while before you make an attempt to reach out and touch someone, someone may be waiting in the wings to touch you. I’ll come right back to the phones and television in a second.
Lesson 4:
You don’t know that “homie” from around your way like you think you do. You have checked everything out, cleaned your area up nicely, and then all of a sudden, “Yo Family, what’s up!” Someone from your neighborhood calls out to you. Of course the natural reaction is to feel good while approaching to greet them, some may even feel relieved. A familiar face is always a plus in an unfamiliar environment…or so it is perceived. Understand me here. This person may be more relieved to see you than you could ever be to see them so hold off on some of that excitement while you do a little investigating.
When moving from street to prison, housing unit to housing unit, from county jail to a state facility or from prison to prison there are always going to be people that you will run into who you would consider as someone that you “know” pretty well. They say that separation may make the heart grow fonder but it also gives time for bullshit to get into the mix of one’s life. Now you may have grown up around this person, they could be a classmate or even a past crime-partner who you may have caught felonies with but unless you have spent 24hrs a day everyday with them you could be in for a lumpy trip opening your doors to them. Two days are quite enough time for a persons’ true character to emerge. You may not have seen this person for six weeks, maybe six months or even six years all of which are eternities in jail.
Hold on to this…you no longer “know” this person you know of them. There is nowhere else on the face of this planet where the term “you are judged by the company that you keep” taken as total truth. Your “homie” may be a snitch, might have been engaging in homosexual activity, could be in debt to a jailhouse drug dealer or have a major beef that you won’t about until your blood is spilling out all over the dayroom floor. Not a good way to start off your stay here.
Everybody knows a little info about everything on everyone behind these walls so get a run down on your “homie” from a believable source. Witness how people move when “homie” is around and how they speak to him. Find out how others feel about him, but of course be subtle and crafty, you don’t want to alert your “homie” because the situation could become very nasty.
HEALTH AND HYGEINE
Okay the investigation is going down and you are not playing your “homie” too close but you’re no fool either. You are going to need a few things until your people on the outside can get to you. Important things. No not cigarettes folio. Cosmetics, you know soap and toothpaste and other items such as washcloths that this person may have. So be cool and get whatever you need because now it is time to scrub that funky butt.
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Hi! What a good piece!!- You captured my attention and arrested my desire of sunshine and music and space, and freedom!- keeping me locked in a form of hell you relay. It gives me flash back shivers. Suggestions: The food trays, romancing Burger King, the food is so skimpy, bad, and scarce, but so highly anticipated, all that keeps some people going. The dirt. You cover a lot of the inner workings of the jail system, I am no expert, it is such dark period, details stir my fears, remembering makes me appreciate my freedom which is what I get from your work. You have a lot of unnecessary words, I’d read it out loud and weed out the words you do not need, although your writing style may conflict. ”Make an attempt to remain strong and not allow..” to “Remain strong….” little things like that. Lot of fat and lace on your work which some people might prefer but I think you may lose some people when you toss out your bones. Something I might suggest, but would mean a complete realigning of your work is to write just in the ‘I’ and ‘me’ perspective, replacing the ‘you’ and ‘yours’. - I - statements to me are stronger. Just an idea. The opening paragraph I would revise to hook the reader and draw them in. You want to offer mind candy, trail of golden savory thoughts, leading them in the cave they would never go, but you are so enticing they are pulled in.
-cm
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I think that this work would be very publishable in a magazine or some other type of similar print. I would work some on my grammar first though. In certain places words are missing. For instance: ‘or have a major beef that you won’t about until your blood is spilling out all over the dayroom floor,’ is missing the word know between won’t and about. Otherwise I thought it was a very good work and very original. I like the way that you speak with authority in your narative. It is very thought provocing and gets the point across.
I realize that this is about a non-fiction subject, but it was quite entertaining, once it started I thought it was going to be a plow to reach the end, but I found myself enjoying the reading and was sorry to see it end. Thanks for sharing, and good luck.
OH my God!!! I’m going to jail!!! What did I do? sniff sniff Whoa! I do stink! Ok ok, tell me again what I did, I already know where I’m at! This is an excellent piece!!! Please allow me the blessing of reading the rest of this, its great!
This wasnt bad, I felt like I was reading a guide on how to do things in prison, which it was actually all in all. You pretty much tell the reader what to expect and how to survive, and thats always a good thing. Nice work.
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pardon my french, but that was fuckin’ hardcore!
a kick ass read. held me all the way through. there are some spots that need a bit of editing (spelling, a missing word) but overall, it was a great, interesting read.
i wanted to keep going, but there just wasn’t anymore!
nice work, my friend.
This 94 word review has not been unlocked.
Wow, as fascinating as the previous entry if not more so. Your tone as an author is still quite compelling as it has not lost its force or edge throughout the work, and this aspect of writing is of absolute importance. Furthermore, the information being shared holds my attention completely, as this is a situation that I – thankfully and luckily – know nothing about. Your style of sharing that information moves the work along rather smoothly and quickly, which is also very important, as it keeps the reader intrigued throughout but doesn’t waste time.
There are some errors in grammar, but for right now I wouldn’t worry too much about that, I would just keep writing and finish the work at hand. Also, you know my policy on costing you credits, so again, feel free to request my help in giving pointers.
Overall, this is good stuff and deserves to see the light of day. Thanks for asking me to read.
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