Prison Camp: Daily Life
A White-Collar Journal forum for criminal justice, lived experience, and the personal search for redemption
THE GUARDS
Another portrait from A Muddled Brotherhood. Having spent the past several weeks writing about the inmates I knew, I’m continuing with the guards. Some were cruel, some aloof, and some were decent, but none were friends. Ms. Hunton was in a category of her own.
THE STRIPPER
Ms. Hunton, Camp Unit Manager, was in her mid-forties, tough as nails, and wore a blond wig extension, evoking a strip-club manager rather than the manager of a federal prison camp. Gum chewing and sexy in a cheap way, she was purposefully not flirtatious, even though everything about her suggested otherwise.
She was not liked by the inmate community. Despite that, all considered her attractive. The word among inmates was that she “looked good to us” here in prison, but wouldn’t earn a look on the outside.
Interactions with her were dangerous. A friend questioned his release date, and she had him transferred to the main prison. We never saw him again.
At the town hall meetings, she conducted them with confidence and strength and usually ended the meetings with threats of retaliation. There was no subject she couldn’t handle, including incidents of inmates crapping in the showers.
She was feared, and with good reason. You challenged her at your own peril. Those who did ended up in the SHU (solitary) or were transferred to the main prison.
I only had one interaction with her. I requested a special meeting with my attorney. I groveled. She still said no. I didn’t protest.
Then I got a note from her that my request had been approved and my lawyer meeting arranged.
The following day, I went into her office to thank her. She greeted me with suspicion. I don’t think she remembered me. She seemed surprised when I told her I was just there to thank her.
She nodded a kind of appreciation, then waved me out.
In prison, that’s a win.
Up Next on White Collar Journal:
Wednesday (Justice Notes): Criminal Justice Reform
Thursday (Notes from Exisle): Log/Verse: Daily, fragmented reflections
Sunday (Prison Camp): More Stories from prison
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