Communication

Being a prisoner is a unique experience, this is my first and certainly my last trip to prison, but I must say that one of the unique experiences I am having is concerning communication. I should be more specific and say lack of communication. There is a pudspeaker system that the COs use to summon people, to call people to their jobs, to visits, to medical appts, to counselors, to one thing or another but that's it really, There is no other communication from the people who run this place other than the summoning and announcing counts. therefore all the information that circulates throughout the camp is here say and innuendo, rumor and supposition that emanates from the prisoner pool. I don't have to tell you the accuracy factor in that. Here's a great example, yesterday around 4:30 Pm an announcement came over the system, all prisoners must leave the building and go outside, immediately. No reason why, no explanation, nothing, just get outside immediately. Out in the cold and rain we went, not knowing why. What was the cause, was it the COs wanted to shake down the lockers, were they looking for contraband, or what. We only found out from one of the prisoners there was a gas leak in one of the bunks. We stood out in the weather for 2+ hours, never a word as to what was transpiring. Finally we were allowed back in, no word of the nature of the leak was it fixed and what are the ramifications, nothing. Not until one of the prisoners found out did the rest find out what I guess was the partial truth did any of us know. This is the way it works, it mystifies me that simple communication between BOP and prisoners is such a mystery.