When There's a Hurricane and You're Incarcerated
I bet you don't know what happens to prison inmates when a hurricane comes to town. Well let me tell you.
Sometimes they're evacuated to other prison facilities as if overcrowding isn't already an issue. Shoved in, bodies upon bodies, and I'll let you imagine what further chaos ensues when m there are too many people and not enough space or resources. Other times, they're kept in their cells but the administration at the prison is "kind" enough to provide resources for the prisoners to protect themselves from the rising waters heading their way. And finally, the worse of the options, sometimes prisoners are just left, abandoned like unwanted furniture at the side of the road. Tell me how exactly someone bound and/or locked in a cell is supposed to care for themselves and make sure they stay as safe as possible within their confinement with rising water up to their waists? Not to mention all the diseases and invisible debris creeping in the water, unseen and unnoticed until it's too late. How is that any kind of humane treatment? A short conversation about this came up with some coworkers and I was mildly surprised to find out some had no qualms with leaving inmates in their cells, hurricane or not.
I think the word prisoner has made the general public desensitized to the actual plight of those incarcerated. There is nothing pleasant or humane about prisoner. It's literally locking people up in large boxes in attempt to "teach them a lesson." They may have been labeled prisoners, but they are people too. They are people too. As such we should be treated with the respect and dignity that you would treat anyone else with. Who started teaching that the Golden Rule was optional? Not to mention the fact that just because it's commonly cleaned, not everyone who is incarcerated is actually guilty. There is such a thing as being framed or set up, protecting yourself in self-defense, or losing your case because of an inability to obtain good legal counsel due to institutional disenfranchisement. The general public would do well to keep this in mind.
After hearing about the disturbing conditions of Jefferson County prison just outside Houston, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, two native Houston rappers, Chamillionaire and Trae the Truth, arrived in-person with food and water to support those forgotten and in need. This is indeed a commendable act of service.
In Florida, the situation is only getting worse and the hurricane has not even hit yet. The governor of the Sunshine State declared anyone with a orange could arrive at the shelter and thereby be taken to a shelter of sorts. It would not be taken inside and granted safe harbor from the natural disaster swirling around them. No, they would instead be booked and taken to prison. How kind of him to provide prior warning for such an escort. This is surprising to hear of in my opinion. The situation forces the person to ask themselves, 'Do you want to be safe from this hurricane and imprisoned or do you want to risk it all on your own and see how you fare?' Also, what happens if there's a warrant out for your arrest that you're not even aware of? Parking tickets and not paying fees can get you a warrant without your knowledge. What happens when you show up looking for refuge but instead are immediately hauled off to be processed because a warrant out on you for a $100 ticket you forgot to pay 15 years ago? What about the families of these individuals? This simply exacerbates an already frustrating and emotionally taxing situation.
In closing, natural disasters seem to be a test of character for all those involved. And some of those you would expect more from seem to be falling shockingly short.
Sometimes they're evacuated to other prison facilities as if overcrowding isn't already an issue. Shoved in, bodies upon bodies, and I'll let you imagine what further chaos ensues when m there are too many people and not enough space or resources. Other times, they're kept in their cells but the administration at the prison is "kind" enough to provide resources for the prisoners to protect themselves from the rising waters heading their way. And finally, the worse of the options, sometimes prisoners are just left, abandoned like unwanted furniture at the side of the road. Tell me how exactly someone bound and/or locked in a cell is supposed to care for themselves and make sure they stay as safe as possible within their confinement with rising water up to their waists? Not to mention all the diseases and invisible debris creeping in the water, unseen and unnoticed until it's too late. How is that any kind of humane treatment? A short conversation about this came up with some coworkers and I was mildly surprised to find out some had no qualms with leaving inmates in their cells, hurricane or not.
I think the word prisoner has made the general public desensitized to the actual plight of those incarcerated. There is nothing pleasant or humane about prisoner. It's literally locking people up in large boxes in attempt to "teach them a lesson." They may have been labeled prisoners, but they are people too. They are people too. As such we should be treated with the respect and dignity that you would treat anyone else with. Who started teaching that the Golden Rule was optional? Not to mention the fact that just because it's commonly cleaned, not everyone who is incarcerated is actually guilty. There is such a thing as being framed or set up, protecting yourself in self-defense, or losing your case because of an inability to obtain good legal counsel due to institutional disenfranchisement. The general public would do well to keep this in mind.
After hearing about the disturbing conditions of Jefferson County prison just outside Houston, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, two native Houston rappers, Chamillionaire and Trae the Truth, arrived in-person with food and water to support those forgotten and in need. This is indeed a commendable act of service.
In Florida, the situation is only getting worse and the hurricane has not even hit yet. The governor of the Sunshine State declared anyone with a orange could arrive at the shelter and thereby be taken to a shelter of sorts. It would not be taken inside and granted safe harbor from the natural disaster swirling around them. No, they would instead be booked and taken to prison. How kind of him to provide prior warning for such an escort. This is surprising to hear of in my opinion. The situation forces the person to ask themselves, 'Do you want to be safe from this hurricane and imprisoned or do you want to risk it all on your own and see how you fare?' Also, what happens if there's a warrant out for your arrest that you're not even aware of? Parking tickets and not paying fees can get you a warrant without your knowledge. What happens when you show up looking for refuge but instead are immediately hauled off to be processed because a warrant out on you for a $100 ticket you forgot to pay 15 years ago? What about the families of these individuals? This simply exacerbates an already frustrating and emotionally taxing situation.
In closing, natural disasters seem to be a test of character for all those involved. And some of those you would expect more from seem to be falling shockingly short.
Comments
Post a Comment