WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM?
Because of two separate fights in as many days, prisoners housed on F3 have been locked down for 6 days, with no idea when the lockdown will end. (AUTHOR'S NOTE: Lockdown ended at approximately 12:45 pm on 10/10/23.) In one of the incidents, an innocent bystander [me] was injured and subjected to OC spray which nearly caused a seizure. Despite the persons involved in the altercations being removed from the unit immediately, 80+ other prisoners - none of whom were involved - remain on lock down status.
So what is causing all the fights and other problems at the ISCC? Primarily it's frustration that has permeated the entire facility, though seasonal depression and anxiety are also playing a part. Other factors, like knowingly housing declared/documented enemies in the same tier also forms the basis for problems.
The sources of frustration are apparent, and numerous, yet administrators refuse to address them. In case there is confusion as to what they are, here is a short list of issues that can be resolved in a matter of days:
> First and foremost, prisoners are paying for an internal television cable system (CCTV) that barely works, and is rarely maintained. Even local channels drop out (lose signal) every few minutes, making it virtually impossible to watch any program without significant frustration. Staff have promised for years that the system will be resolved, but it hasn't. As one ISCC Warden (Blades) explained, television is the best babysitter (and security officer) the prison has ever had.
As of this writing, 3 channels have no audio, and haven't had audio for more than a week - even over the holiday weekend (and lockdowns). The institutional movie channel was blank most of the weekend and the movie that was played is the same movie that was played 2 weeks ago for 4 days in a row. Further, the institutional call out channel contained appointments that were never scheduled, and wasn't updated.
> Staff refuse to address excessive noise and obnoxious activities on the units by the few, leaving most prisoners to stew in silence.
While radios are prohibited in the dayroom, and headphones required to be used at all times, staff will walk by open cell doors that have music/TV audio blaring into the dayroom at volumes so loud that officers can't hear even their own radio traffic. To this, staff say nothing, but continue on their rounds.
Prisoners are required to wear shirts and are prohibited from wearing hats/headgear in the dayroom, and most staff will address these issues by yelling at these same inmates 20-30 times per shift over the PA system. Unfortunately, staff on rounds will say nothing to the inmates face to face, and never take enforcement actions.
> When there is a fight or similar disturbances on a tier, those directly involved are immediately taken to "the hole". Additionally, the entire tier is locked down, sometimes for days/weeks, despite the fact that those who were fighting are no longer on the unit.
Ironically, those who have been removed to the hole are allowed daily showers, outdoor recreation and other amenities that those left locked down on the tier are refused. In some instances, those who were fighting are released from the hole and housed in a different unit (that is not on lockdown) before the innocent prisoners on the tier are released from lockdown status.
> Staff/administrators supporting and allowing some prisoners special privileges while others cannot even get their due is also a significant source of frustration in the general inmate population.
Prisoners who attend parole hearings, legal visits, access their electronic legal materials and have other business in the ISCC visiting room often find that inmates associated with the prisons' version of the American Legion (re: gang) sit in the visiting room most days, eating popcorn, drinking coffee/soda and watching the newest movie releases.
This does not even take into consideration the special food/BBQs, housing, clothing, jobs, laptops and other amenities afforded/promoted by administrators to these so-called American Legion inmates. [see SHOULDN'T EVERY MILITARY VETERAN AT THE ISCC RECEIVE A SPECIAL MEAL ON VETERAN'S DAY (AND NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW?) on this site for more information on this issue.] Dog handlers, PAID Braille STUDENTS (no other education department students get paid) and others also fall within this category of the privileged few.
In addition to the above, loud poker games, inmates yelling when guards come onto the tier (or for no other reason at all than to be annoying to others), removal of most of the chairs from the dayrooms and arguments over what (little) to watch on the dayroom televisions all lead to the frustrations that are the root of the problems at the ISCC. Fortunately all can be resolved - for the most part anyway - in less than a week... IF administrators want them to be resolved.