I write novels, and I need some information about American prisons, such as common names, the name of the prison guard is Co, and the common rules or hidden rules in prisons.

Nowadays, prisons have become a major landscape in the United States, so people call the United States a prison power. There, Texas has the highest prisons in the United States. The prison in Belleville is considered to be the most dangerous prison in Texas. Despite this, people still know very little about the situation in the prison in Beaville town. It was not until Joseph Hallinan, a journalist who recently won the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism, visited the most dangerous prisons in the town that the shady scenes of these prisons were uncovered. This article is excerpted from a book entitled "To the Upper Reaches of the River" written by Hallinan after visiting several prisons in this town. Through the reporter's first-hand information, people can better see how this country, which is known as the supreme law, abuses prisoners.

1, Belleville builds a prison city.

Bevil town is located in a forest area between San Antonio and Kapsz Christie in southern Texas. There are two prisons in this town. One prison is located on the recently closed former naval base, and it is called garza Detention Center, and the other is called McConnell Detention Center. Like many other prisons, Bellevue is a remote place. Even in Garza Prison and McConnell Prison, which stand shoulder to shoulder, the distance between them takes you an hour's drive. There are many reasons for reporters to go to these two prisons, but the most important thing is that the reporter believes that here we can witness the difference between the old and new prisons.

In Texas, people still regard building prisons as a century-old project. Many cells are often famous for the prisoners held here. The crops are all planted by prisoners. At work, they are closely watched by prison guards with guns on horseback, followed by a group of fierce German shepherds to prevent prisoners from escaping and facilitate timely pursuit.

You know, Bellevue is a small town with only 1.3 million residents, but there are 7,200 prisoners. Although the ratio of residents to prisoners in the United States does not exceed anywhere else. However, some enthusiastic supporters in the town told reporters that they are still eager to increase more prisoners. Just like some other small towns in the United States that the reporter learned, they are all trying to turn their communities into prison centers. Just like some cities in the United States have become synonymous with specific products, such as Detroit is an automobile city and Pittsburgh is a steel city.

2. Treat prison as an industry.

McConnell Prison is managed by warden L·W· Woods. L means Leslie, but no one calls the warden Leslie. He is very tall, with a height of 1.8 meters, but when he puts on his hat and boots, it is difficult to see how tall he really is. He has a pair of light blue eyes and a bald and hairless face. When you speak, you never seem to be weak, only your lips are moving slightly, and you can hardly see you talking.

Woods is famous for keeping the warden in prison. His motto is to lock people up and never let them out of prison. In Texas, it's also a little religious. The number of prisoners per capita in this state is probably the highest among all states. According to statistics, the prison system in Texas is so huge that 1 of every 9 prisoners in the United States is currently held in Texas prisons. The number of prisoners is increasing every year. Since 1980, the state has built more than 100 prisons to meet the needs of holding more prisoners. The state predicts that its goal is to accommodate 6.5438+0.55 million prisoners, which will make it the largest prison system in the United States. When the reporter asked if Woods would cause him trouble, he disdained: "In my opinion, it needs more!" " "

From 65438 to 0996, the United States spent $24.05 billion on prisons, with an average of $55 per prisoner per day. However, I don't know why the prison fees in Texas are much cheaper. Take McConnell prison as an example. It can accept a prisoner for $43 a day, which makes the warden very proud. He said smugly, "We have regarded prison as an industry."

3. The quarantine area has become a prisoner's hell.

In McConnell Prison, there are about 2,806 prisoners, 504 of whom are currently isolated in what some people call the Administrative Isolation Area (ADSEG). Administrative isolation zone is actually a modern copy of ancient practices. Since the Roman Empire, prisons have set up isolation cells to separate those prisoners who are often in trouble from ordinary prisoners. However, in the past 20 years, the use of administrative isolation zones has become more and more common, and the result has finally become very serious.

In Texas Prison, the administrative isolation area is divided into three levels. Most new prisoners need to be killed in the third-level administrative isolation cell area, which is the most severe prison area.

The prisoners in the third-level cell have no deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste, so they can only get some baking soda to brush their teeth. Other things are prizes, which are awarded to prisoners who behave well. But in the administrative isolation zone, it is almost impossible to perform well. Many prisoners are mentally ill, and some prisoners are called "outlaws" because they often want to die all their lives. Some prisoners are called "throwers". They often throw feces at the guards, and the punishment for "throwing" is very severe. Prisoners will be stripped naked and put on paper clothes, and their normal meals will be stopped for a week. Instead, only a hodgepodge of food is provided every day, such as some baked goods for prisoners.

1999, a federal judge found that the administrative isolation zone in Texas is actually an incubator for mental illness. They caused cruel and rare punishment. He believes that the practice of holding prisoners in these administrative isolation zones is actually unconstitutional. His findings are mainly based on the testimony of criminal law experts. These experts include Craig Hanay. He is recognized by the legal profession as an expert in the field of psychology in the National Criminal College.

Hanai visited the administrative isolation area of three prisons in Texas, but not McConnell's prison. He called what he saw and heard unprecedented despair and hysteria among prisoners. Hanai testified that in many cases, many prisoners painted dog shit on their faces. In other cases, someone peed in his cell and the ground was covered with urine.

Hanai tried to talk to some prisoners, but they all seemed incoherent and often muttered or screamed. Some people showed hostility and flew into a rage. Others put their hands out of the wall. Others seem to be nervous and unintelligible, and soon people shrink back and can't communicate anymore. One prisoner tried desperately to catch fleas in his imaginary skin. In short, Hanai said in his testimony that the situation in the administrative isolation area of the state is very bad. "This is the worst I have ever seen. It's terrible."

In McConnell prison, the administrative isolation area includes a guard room, and there is a chart on the wall of the room, which lists the prisoners living in each of the 504 cells. These cells are numbered alphabetically, such as room A, room B, etc.

The color of this chart is specially coded, showing the race of each prisoner and the race to which He Gang belongs. In fact, all prisoners are gang members, and all gang members are actually divided according to race. So, the prisoners here are divided by race, white and white, black and black. Given that Belleville is located in southern Texas, many of them are Mexican. So, in fact, they are all members of the Mexican mafia or a gang called EME.

Walking into Room F is like walking into a primate cage. There were loud noises and hoarse cries everywhere. It makes people feel dangerous and fragile. Attacks and shouts echoed in the room. Most sounds are indistinguishable at all. Some voices are groans of torture. Others came from the depths of the room, as if the prisoner stamped his feet on the iron gate of his cell rhythmically. He may want to kick open the iron gate that prevents him from going out, and his meal is brought in through this iron crack. Thirdly, kicking the iron plate can attract the attention of the doorman and interrupt his long and tasteless life in the administrative division.

Accompanied by the warden, the reporter entered the administrative isolation area under the responsibility of Major Brian Rodian. The thin, dark-haired major explained that Room F was full of soldiers, all of whom were junior members of their respective gangs. In room a, the gang leader is being held, which is relatively calm. "

He told reporters that although they give orders to others and street gangs, they don't want to fight here. They don't want to be restricted. So they don't make trouble on the surface.

He said, "These guys." He nodded to Room A. "This is the place to control drug smuggling." The men in room A heard what he said, but they were still expressionless. When reporters are there, they always seem indifferent. McConnell Prison holds the most ferocious prisoners in the Texas prison system.

"Most prisoners here have served their sentences for at least 45 years." Rodian said, "Many of them are life imprisonment." Therefore, the administrative isolation cell is the most dangerous place in Texas. Every day, his prison guards report 10 to 12 violent attacks. Prison guards have to wear glass covers to prevent prisoners from throwing shit, urine and food at them, which is often disgusting. One of the guards is still lying in the hospital. He was shot in the upper arm by a 7.5cm-long metal arrow from a prisoner's homemade leather slingshot, cutting off the artery. It is said that the prisoner hid the rubber band that fired the metal arrow in his pants and underwear in advance.

4. The doorman has become an ideal job seeker.

McConnell Prison, a horrible American prison, currently employs 834 employees, 570 of whom are guards. 18 months later, a guard working in McConnell prison can earn $2027 a month, which is $24324 a year. In the United States, the annual per capita income is $8,600, and 1 of every four people live in poor countries, which is a good income. These dollars boosted the local economy.

Now there is a new cinema called Taco Bell in this town, and there are three farm agents, while there was only one here before.

"We shop here, go to the shops and live here," Rodian said. "This is our home." That's why Belleville people want to live here. Prison guards are quite stable and have little mobility. Unlike the navy soldiers who used to be here, they are very mobile, live in the city and spend money in the city.

After leaving McConnell Prison, the reporter drove through the town of Belleville and interviewed Charles Gordon, the state official in charge of the training of reeducation-through-labor officials. This training center, like McConville and Gazal prisons, is also located in Belleville, aiming to contribute to the goal of making this town a prison town as soon as possible. Gordon said that this center will soon become the largest training center for reform-through-labour officials in China. It can train 12000 guards a year, which is equivalent to one third of all the guards employed in the United States in a year. The requirements for the staff of reform-through-labour institutions are very low, as long as they have obtained a high school education or above, are at least 18 years old, and have a clear resume. Students will receive 120 hours of teaching at school, usually 18 hours a day for 12 days. Then, they will receive 80 hours on-the-job training.

Eli Fabao, a 37-year-old intern, is a divorced mother with four children. Like other well-trained officials, Fabao has been the civilian director of Stockton Fort Prison in Pico County. It is reported that Fort stockton is a small prison that has only been open for two and a half years, and its security measures are also the lowest. So far, it may be a record that Fabao said that there was no disturbance in this prison.

This job is very attractive, and Fabao is willing to entrust his four children to his grandparents 400 miles away. She said that before she came to work in this prison, she almost sold all her properties, but she said that this job was a 100% return. Unless you want to buy a house, you must pay for it yourself.

As an official of a reform-through-labour institution, she will always have a stable income. She expects to be promoted to the position of captain this year, so that her monthly income can reach 3009 dollars. In addition to her salary, she can get two free meals a day in prison. Her son only needs a dollar for a haircut. She sends all her clothes to the laundry and pays the bill once a month for only $5. However, it is not so easy for a divorced mother to take good care of it.

Donnall Lincks is also a student who takes part in discipline training like Fabao. He has a strong body and a gloomy face. It is also because prison guards have attractive salaries and are engaged in prison work. Lincks used to wander around, doing some temporary construction work and living in a garage with his blind wife. He is 54 years old. For those who apply for reeducation through labor management training, he is obviously older and has passed the retirement age of many prison directors. When the reporter asked him why he wanted to be a prison guard, he said, "Oh, my wife and I have been married for 28 years and lived in the garage for 19 years." His eyes were fixed on me. "Do you have any other better way?"

10 years, he will get medical insurance after retirement, which is a very valuable benefit. He said he was willing to work between killers and robbers for a while. At the age of 54, it is his greatest wish to take the initiative to find a job and buy medical insurance.

The third person to take part in the training is Creson Theo Reyes, who is only 20 years old this year. But he is already the father of two children. Like Fabao, Reyes is currently working in prison. He's an assistant doctor at McConnell prison. "McConnell's situation is very bad." He said, "This is exactly what I expected." When the reporter asked him why he could stand such an environment, he shrugged and said, "This is welfare work." "If you stay here all the time, your income will always be considerable. If you keep going, you will get better returns. Social welfare, what else do you want? "

Bruce Weston, a psychologist at Princeton University, said in his book Punishment and Inequality in America: If a prison only works on its prisoners and does not affect anyone else, the impact will be much smaller. But in fact, the 2 million prisoners in the United States affect the taxpayers who support them, the prison guards who guard them, their families and the society they will return to in the future. Everyone will be affected, but to different degrees.

For a long time in the 20th century, one of the 65,438+0,000 Americans was imprisoned. Since the mid-1970s, the detained population has been growing continuously. Seven of the 65,438+0,000 Americans are now in custody. This is five times the historical standard and eight times that of most western European countries.

In the early thirties, the probability ratio of blacks to whites was 7: 1, while among whites, compared with those with college education, the probability ratio of being detained was 20: 1. Some people think that imprisonment helps to maintain social order. From 380,000 prisoners in 1975 to 22 million today, the crime rate is indeed declining. The homicide rate dropped by 43% in the 1990s. Maybe it is. The value of a safer social environment is obvious and immediate; The cost of holding too many prisoners is theoretical and vague.

Weston's greatest achievement is that he no longer makes this question ambiguous. He believes that holding a large number of prisoners is an important factor causing inequality in modern society. The impact of imprisonment is greater and deeper than racial and class segregation-this is to distinguish the disadvantaged groups, especially blacks who have no survival skills, from Americans with walls. When violent criminals go to prison, more than half of them continue to commit non-violent crimes in prison, especially drug trafficking. They will become husbands and fathers again in the future, and their chances of getting a normal job again will be greatly reduced.

By 2000, the probability of going to prison for dropping out of high school has tripled compared with 20 years ago. And there are great differences between races. More than 60% of high school dropouts aged around 35 have been in prison or have criminal records. Weston warned that this would lead to "collective isolation of black youth from the rest of American society". The life of the lower class blacks is miserable, but the racial inequality among prisoners in prisons is particularly prominent. For example, when the unemployment rate of blacks is twice that of whites, they are eight times more likely to go to prison. We are used to seeing imprisonment as a by-product of the tragedy of poverty; West regards the former as the source of the latter. As a result of the prison population explosion, he wrote, "the poor are getting poorer and poorer, and their hopes are getting smaller and smaller."

Part of the reason is that the prospects for prisoners to find jobs and earn money in the future are dim. Men aged 20-30 are the fastest time to increase their income, expand their skills and social relations. The people in prison greatly reduced these opportunities and left a stain. Diva Pager, a psychologist at Northwest University, did an experiment: let people with similar conditions apply for jobs. The difference is that some of them have been in prison and some have not. The conclusion is that among whites, prison records reduce the chances of a second interview by half, while among blacks, it decreases by two-thirds. Through a longitudinal survey of American teenagers, Weston concluded that a prison record will reduce a person's job opportunities and salary, thus reducing his annual income by 30% to 40%. For blacks, the average lifetime income decreased by $86,000 (whites lost more because their salary was higher than that of blacks, reaching $65,438+014,000).

The future of the family is equally worrying.

The prospect of family life is equally worrying. A prison record reduces the chance of a black man getting married by 1 1 percentage point. Whether married or not, most men in prisons have children, which makes prisons with rising population a source of young people with bleak prospects. From 1980 to 2000, the number of children whose fathers are prisoners increased sixfold, reaching 265,438+million. In white children, the proportion is about 1%, while in black children, the proportion is close to 10%.

You might think that these people-drug dealers and thieves-have nothing to do with their children except nominal fathers. But in fact, nearly half of them still live with their children during their detention. For such parents, it is surprising that no matter how bad they are, their children still need them anyway. It seems that prisons put so many people in prison in order to build a good society and marginalize them from society, but in fact, what they do may be destroying the good society they are trying to build. Weston believes that "holding a large number of prisoners may be contradictory to trying to control crime."

It is not without good news. Since 1980, the number of prison murders has dropped by more than 90%. At the same time, however, activities, training and drug treatment programs for prisoners are still insufficient. If policy makers once believed in the role of re-education, they now despise it too much.

Prison is almost a mental ward.

Just physically isolating prisoners from other social groups (also known as solitary confinement) is only the first step of punishment, and it has been proved that its consequences are "psychological deterioration in a roundabout way". From 1995 to 2000, the number of prisoners in solitary confinement increased by 40%, reaching 8 1000. Although the number of murders has decreased, serious violence is still common, and prison breaks also occur frequently.

There is also some bad news: prisons are almost modern psychiatric wards. According to the most conservative estimate, 16% of prisoners suffer from mental illness, about 350,000, and the real number may be twice this figure. Mental illness not only makes patients more miserable, but also makes prison facilities more crowded and requires higher guards.