There are several adjectives I could employ to describe prison. "Loud", "Dirty", "Dehumanizing", "Depressing", etc.
Today, I am focused on LOUD. The noise level in prison is always positioned somewhere between a dull roar and a full scale riot. Everyone seems to yell and scream regardless of where they are or what they are doing. In the television room, the prisoners seem to always be having a contest as to who can talk the loudest. They scream back and forth all day and all night, mostly about nothing. However, they are clearly convinced that the one who talks the loudest will have his opinion prevail.
The mess hall is the same way. It is impossible to have a normal conversation during a meal.
The Corrections officers are also very loud. Perhaps it is their way of maintaining control over the prison population?
One of the few places I can find a little peace and quiet is the recreation yard. You have to position yourself as far away as possible from the weight equipment and the basketball court to enjoy some quiet time. This does not always work as the recreation yard is located near the railroad tracks. You hear the low rumble of trains and the blaring train horns on a regular basis. One thing i truly look forward too once I leave here is some peace and quiet. I took that for granted in the past. I will not let that happen again.
Ken Flaska
