SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2009
This morning while speaking to my mother on the telephone, she astutely pointed out that I had forgotten to include information on the collateral effects of receiving a disciplinary infraction. Let's replay the conversation:
"Justin, why would you promise to provide information in your four part series and then not provide the information?"
"Well, mom, I must have forgotten."
"Okay", she sighed. "Try and keep it together up there and send me the blog."
Under direct orders from the woman who makes this blog possible, I'm finally ready to complete my four-part series on disciplinary infractions.
Besides the immediate sanctions (loss of commissary, 2 man cube), a disciplinary infraction affects an inmate's classification and custody score. The form used to compute an inmate's security level tallies credit away for any disciplinary infractions within the past year. 100-series infractions count against the score for ten years; 200-series for two years. If found guilty of being in a fight, besides an immediate transfer to higher security, the institution will likely consider the inmate violent, and that distinction will adversely influence the inmate's custody score for the duration of his term.
The key to successful incarceration is to begin with the end in mind. Avoid altercations and trouble at all costs. What should one do if another inmate abruptly changes the television channel? Let him. Walk away. Is it worth going to the SHU and then a higher security prison because you have to watch who Paris Hilton chooses as her new best friend? As crazy as it may sound, I've seen arguments about things that 4-year-olds would not argue over. Some men feel the need to constantly challenge others. Let them. Keep your mouth shut and move on. Never lose sight of the big picture. We owe it to ourselves, family, and friends to depart prison stronger than when we arrived.
