This past week felt like a one-way trip to the SHU (the “hole”) for a lot of guys.
It started last weekend during visitation. One guy had his girlfriend sneak in contraband, but in the middle of the handoff, he dropped a bottle of vape oil. Total rookie mistake. The guards immediately jumped on it, searched them both, and found more vape supplies along with two types of drugs—Deuce and Suboxone. The inmate went straight to the SHU, the girlfriend was arrested, and now the rest of us might pay the price. Rumor is visitation could get shut down for 30 days. So far, it’s just a rumor, but we already know searches will be a lot stricter from here on out.
Then came Wednesday, and this one shocked everyone: Brian. He’s a white-collar lawyer, known around here as a “square” and a rat—always telling on people for the smallest things. He’s the last guy you’d expect to end up in the SHU. But sure enough, the guards cuffed him up (something I’d never seen before here) and escorted him out. Usually they just call you down to the office and make you walk over yourself. Not Brian. Why? Turns out he forged his halfway house papers, even faking the warden’s signature, and tried to send them in. Since staff had denied him for early halfway house placement, he decided to “approve” himself. Around here, that’s considered attempted escape. He’ll probably catch a new charge and will never see another camp again.
Thursday hit me a little harder. Two of my friends on my wing were horsing around. Nothing serious, but on camera it looked like they were fighting. A guard reviewed the footage the next day, and that was all it took. Any hint of violence means everyone involved goes straight to the SHU until an investigation clears it up. Doesn’t matter if you never swung back. Investigations can take weeks or even months. So they’re gone for now, and I miss them—especially since they were the only other white-collar guys on my wing.
As for me, I’m powering through with about 70 days left. I’m still chasing my half-marathon goal before winter sets in. Last week I ran 8 miles on Tuesday, then tried for 10 on Friday but only made 5—it was too soon. I bounced back, though. This Tuesday, I hit the full 10 miles pretty easily. The plan now is 8 again on Friday, then rest over the weekend and try for either 12 or the full 13.1 on Tuesday. I’ll see how I feel once I hit 10.
It’s getting close now. The last stretch is always the slowest.
Stay safe and legal out there.
—Larry
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