October 28, 2016 marked the third time I have gone to prison. Okay, only kind of. All three times, I've gone on a tour of Pelican Bay with Southern Oregon University. Pelican Bay is a level 4 (Supermax) prison that is notorious for holding high profile prison gangs. Here is my "inside" experience and what I love about prison.
1. The "Stare-Down"
We watched them. They watched us. Sometimes there was a door or fence in between us, sometimes nothing. Despite lock psychosis and being in a Supermax prison, I was not afraid of them. I knew the majority of them killed multiple people. I knew that to be put into Pelican Bay, you had to screw up big time in another prison. Despite that, all that I felt was curiosity. Maybe I'm just crazy though.
2. The Scenery
I'm not sure about other prisons, but the scenery around Pelican Bay is gorgeous. A forest surrounds the prison. You can see trees all around from the yard. For a moment, you forget you are in prison
3. The Respectfulness of the Inmates
We were able to casually talk with some of the inmates. Some of them gave us information, some of them joked around. Nevertheless, we treated each other with respect. Media has portrayed inmates as disrespectful lowlifes who are immature. This is not the case at all. I love how despite our differences, we can still see each other as humans.
4. The Shank Collection
The shank collection at Pelican Bay is amazing. Yes, they were used to stab, cut or impale others. However, I can admire the innovation of the inmates. So many different designs and so many different materials. Plus, Pelican Bay is home to several big players in prison gangs. This has created a large collection of shanks in the investigative unit, impressive in itself.
5. The Artistry
Many of the inmates are very talented. Cell-made mini piñatas? Detailed and realistic drawings? I am honestly jealous of some of the inmate's abilities, the artwork that I saw was very impressive.
6. The TV Channels Available
The inmates get more TV channels than I do. I'll just leave it at that.
