Problem inmates.

[Movementarian]

I am working E/W at the FDC this week (thank God it is the last day) in East Unit, which houses many of our behaviourally challenged inmates. The last two days I haven’t really had any problems, other than inmates claiming they are orderlies so that they can stay out late or to avoid having to lock down after chow is served.

At the 4:00 pm count I came across an inmate that wasn’t standing. This inmate is rather infamous here at Milan, especially to those that worked in the bucket when he was over there. He has been coddled by the administration and gets away with things that other inmates would not. To get back on point, the inmate wasn’t standing so I tapped on the door and said “Stand up for count.” He said he wasn’t going to stand. I repeated my command and he refused again. I finished counting and notified the Ops. Lt. that the inmate refused to stand for count when I called it in. The Ops. Lt. said that he would take care of it.

I started filling in my log book as I have a few minutes before I have to start dinner chow and it is about the only break I will have from the madness until EOW. After a few minutes the phone rings and the Ops. Lt. is on the other end. “Hey Movementarian (the names have been changed to protect the innocent), I am just going to let that slide. I think Inmate Manipulator is just trying to get out of going to court.” Fine, whatever.

I let the orderlies out to get everything ready to serve, we do satellite feeding at the FDC for all meals. Procedure requires that you release on tier to eat, lock them down, release the second tier, lock them down, have the orderlies clean, and release the unit. Knowing Inmate Manipulator the way that I do I figured his disobedience had not yet run it’s course and I fed the his tier last. I opened up Tier 2, gave them 10 minutes after the last person got their tray, locked them down. No incidents.

I released Tier 1 and gave them 10 minutes after the last person got their tray. One of my line servers asked if he could hand out the extra trays if anyone wanted them. There were over 20 extras after the orderlies helped themselves so I said okay. I know it was a mistake, but I am a rookie and it is the only way I’ll learn.

I wound up giving them about 13-15 minutes to eat and then announced lock down. No reaction. I announce lock down again. No reaction. I take my keys off the belt and announce lock down again. Inmate Manipulator yells that they need more time. I start locking doors whether they are there or not. No reaction. I get about halfway through, still no movement to the doors. I get on the radio and inform Central (the control centre for the FDC) that I have a tier that is refusing to lock down and continue locking doors. I finish and stand near the sally port and my office and wait. I then announced for them to move to their doors. Most comply at this point and I secured them in the rooms. Inmate Manipulator is, of course, still not moving.

A case manager and another officer arrive after a few minutes and the rest are locked down, including Inmate Manipulator. The Ops. Lt. arrived a bit later and I explained to him what transpired. Another officer was having a talk with Inmate Manipulator and the Ops. Lt. told me he would have a “town hall” with them tomorrow.

I am at a loss. I believe that the inmate should be in the bucket, but the consensus of others older and wiser than me is that it is best just to talk to him (which they did) and we will have an easier time.

Any suggestions on how I could have handled it better?

[bigmodaco]

I dont get the lock down part of it the second time. so much work. why not just open up one tier at a time when the last inmate gets his tray open the second tier with out the second lock down, and resume normal. when everyone is finished eating have all the trays picked up and the unit orderlies can still clean the kitchen and common areas. and each day alternate tiers and sides of tiers. as far as the Manipulator hit him with refusing an order, interfering with the count and just keep doing it every time they'll get the point....stay motivated......I'm an S.O.S from MDC Brooklyn.

[Movementarian]

I do it that way because that is what the post orders say to do. I can't afford another investigation for failure to follow policy.

[jafish]

Originally Posted by bigmodaco

I dont get the lock down part of it the second time. so much work. why not just open up one tier at a time when the last inmate gets his tray open the second tier with out the second lock down, and resume normal. when everyone is finished eating have all the trays picked up and the unit orderlies can still clean the kitchen and common areas. and each day alternate tiers and sides of tiers. as far as the Manipulator hit him with refusing an order, interfering with the count and just keep doing it every time they'll get the point....stay motivated......I'm an S.O.S from MDC Brooklyn.

Movementarian's right, as much "sense" as other ways would make, the way he described it is exactly as it is written in our post orders.

As for you, Movementarian, I'm as baffled as you are. PM me who OPS was, I'm just curious.

[GUNNER]

Originally Posted by Movementarian

Any suggestions on how I could have handled it better?

Sounds as if you done what you could. When you dont have the LT backing you up, there is nothing left. I would still write a shot for nothing less than a 298. However, you wouldnt get backed up on that either probably, so all you can do is the best you can and run the unit. Key thing is, you nor any other officer got hurt and you went home.

[all4114all]

That is disgusting! I know that kind of "favoritism" happens, but it still makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Keep doing your job. I don't understand a thing you said other than manipulator didn't follow orders (I work in a Missouri state prison). Karma will find him someday.

I'm so sorry that you are lacking support. I can see maybe letting the first situation going with a warning IF he had complied when directed to stand, but outright disobedience is cause for a violation.

Good luck to you.

[Craven Moorehead]

Damn! I don't want to work at Milan. It's the worst when your supervisors won't back you up.

I was a LT at a private prison before I was rescued by the BOP. The way I looked at it, if one of my staff was offended enough by an inmate to call me about it, that inmate was locked up, or shook down, or locked in his cell, or SOMETHING. But not just TALKED TO! I never understood why other supervisors would waste time talking to an inmate to get his side of the story. WHO CARES WHAT HIS SIDE OF THE STORY IS!!!

I was kinda famous for always saying "Look here guy. I did'nt walk down here to debate this issue with you. My Officer said you did it, so as far as I'm concerned, you did it."

My staff loved me, but the Captain and A/W were always on me to "Talk down. not take down" They wanted supervisors to talk to inmates till they were blue in the face. Fcuk That! Inmate know the rules better than we do. It's simple. You break the rules, you get consequenced. I dont need to mediate a debate between an inmate and a staff member.

It really made my job harder than other supervisors. Staff woul call me before any other LT. So I got to deal with almost every problem on the shift. That, along w/ managment always nit-picking every move I made, Burned me out real quick. I'm now just Joe Officer w/ BOP and have no intention of going higher than 8 step 10.

Sorry this was so long. I just got caught up.....

[Arbo]

Inmate Manipulator refuses to stand for count...shot one written for failure to stand

Inmate Manipulator refuses order to lock in...shot two written for failure to obey order

Inamte Manipulator yells that they need more time...Shot three written for encouraging and taking part in a group disturbance

All inmates who engaged in "group disturbance"...Shots written for disobeying an order to lock in AND engaging in a group disturbance

Inmate Manipulator is obviously a snitch that your administration values. That does not elevate him above the basic rules of inmate behavior. Bury him and his followers in paperwork. Follow up on the shots that were written. If the shots were expunged, find out why. Sooner or later, the supervisors will need to take action. Talk to your Captain about it. DO NOT LET THESE THUGS GET YOU DOWN!

[Craven Moorehead]

Yeah! What he said! (Arbo)

[BossMan]

This inmate is rather infamous here at Milan, especially to those that worked in the bucket when he was over there. He has been coddled by the administration and gets away with things that other inmates would not.

After a few minutes the phone rings and the Ops. Lt. is on the other end. “Hey Movementarian (the names have been changed to protect the innocent), I am just going to let that slide. I think Inmate Manipulator is just trying to get out of going to court.”

Clear signs of an SIS rat. You might be hearing something regarding this incident.

Next time they pull this kind of ****, make it a point that you are not to be ****ed with by leaving them locked-in for an hour or two. Shut-off the TVs. They hear that loud and clear...