The Woods

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Features

By Hope Kaahwa
Staff writer

We were initially thoroughly searched in the entrance lobby of the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle, an all-male, maximum and medium security prison.

Airport security searches, but prison security really searches. We left all our belongings in lockers in the lobby … which was all security measure to curb drug trafficking and weapon trafficking.

Mr. Rich Larsen, public information officer for the facility, met us for the tour on April 17 when a group of SMWC students toured the prison with staff of SMWC's Career Development Center. He was searched, Ms. Natalee Woodward, supervisor of classifications, was searched as well. It was sad to see an old lady, probably a grandma of an inmate, or even a mother coming to visit her son. Soon after a mother with a young child came in to visit. I told myself that if I was that inmate I'd probably apologize to my mother every time she came in to see me. This started the general somber atmosphere of lost youth, lost freedom, lost lives…

SMWC students toured the facility for a criminal justice course to see if the field of corrections is a desired career.

We had to completely enter one door and close it for another door to open. Then we went into one, identified ourselves, then into another gate and identified ourselves again. In total there were three fences each 14 feet high with razor wire at the top.

We then convened in a yard that separated the segregated unit from the general population. Mr. Larsen gave us the "411" on the prison trafficking: $300 for a packet of cigarettes; I guess since scarcity adds value but that's still a lot of money. Twenty-five cents an hour as wages for prisoners. Then if they work for an outside company they could earn as much as $12 an hour, but like taxes almost all of this (80 percent) is cut to go to room and board and the victim's fund.

We moved to the segregation unit. The "Beast" B-EAST, which was very depressing; clean though. Officers guided inmates one at a time to shower, to the recreation pad, and back to their cells: with cuffs and leash. This maintained orderliness. The control pod was central with glass windows everywhere. Cameras in all cells and the capabilities to control everything all by a single computer. The basketball courts were like closets with high hoops and mesh fences. This ensured no suicide.

We then visited the P unit, aka purposeful living unit, where quilts are made by inmates. There is generally more freedom in this unit. True rehabilitation can be seen in this unit. What touched me is the inmates make quilts for the families of fallen Iraq soldiers. They also make quilts for cop cars. There was this quote on one of the walls: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." (The quote is by Margaret Mead, U.S. anthropologist 1901 - 1978.) In this unit we got to visit a cell that was slightly bigger than a good pantry.

Feel free to talk to the inmates, Mr. Larsen said, but remember these people have committed heinous crimes. These are the worst of the worst, someone else said.

At least 40 inmates are released every month and $40 million a year goes into this facility.

We toured the Library, which had almost 99 percent prison made furniture. We were identified at almost every entry point; to keep it secure from inmates impersonating regular civilians and walking out, which is said to happen sometimes.

As we were leaving the prison on our last leg of the tour, the inmates from their various buildings in general population began walking to lunch. When they saw us they began hollering all sorts of comments maybe because the majority of us were female. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them for here we were on our way out and most of them facing a large sum years left inside to pay their dues to society.

Minimum to super maximum at Wabash facility
The Wabash Valley Correctional Facility had four security levels, divided into four sub-facilities. These facilities are divided by "internal zone" fences. The maximum security section was divided into four housing units that each have 88 two-man cells. The D-Unit, which was part of the maximum security level, was the administrative segregation/protective custody area. It has 15 cells. The high-medium-security section, consisting of five housing units, holds two inmates to a cell except for the K-Unit, which holds offenders in single cells. The K-Unit is a treatment center for inmates. The minimum-security section, which is outside the fence, was originally intended to house 120 inmates, but currently holds approximately 200 inmates.
So if Wabash is more serious felonies between minimum- super maximum:
- Minimum (Camp): Dormitory style living. Single or no fence. These inmates were NOT convicted of violent crimes (usually your white-collar criminals and dead-beat dads.)
- Low: Double Fence. Very Similar to Minimum. Still, these facilities house non-violent criminals.
- Medium: Double fence with Concertina (razor) wire. Internal Security features like CCTV, roving patrols outside the fence. These prisoners have "hard" cells that can be locked and some guards are armed. Inmates here are most likely convicted of drug or larceny crimes and other more serious felony offenses.
- Maximum: Same as above. Also have controlled movements, more intensive accountability (usually count inmates every hour), and more high-tech security devices like automatic doors/locks. This facility houses murderers and rapists and upper-level gang and drug oriented criminals.
- Super Max: Lock Down 23 hours/day. Inmates are only let out of cells for 1 hour of solitary recreation. No inmate-to-inmate contact. (These are your psychopaths and serial killers or otherwise VERY violent criminals who pose serious risks to others or themselves.)

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