December 02, 2014
Yesterday several inmates were released from cell isolation early. As a result of every single inmate here at Madison being tested for substances there was a major overflow of inmates being placed on cell isolation, more than four times the usual amount, so many that the prison had to utilize another unit to house us, filling up 1 1/2 units with inmates on cell isolation punishment. Normally each unit is assigned one guard with the exception of the cell isolation unit which is assigned two guards because supposedly we're the rowdy, trouble makers of the bunch, requiring more guards and more protection. With two units being utilized for cell isolation, extra guards were being paid overtime to watch us all, the officials in charge did not like this, so they randomly picked approximately fifty or so inmates on cell isolation and released them from punishment, placing them back in general population, unfortunately I wasn't one of them. Apparently the inmates were chosen at random, or at least that's what another guard told us. Some of the inmates had thirty days of punishment left, some had sixty days left, some less, some more, all being released, just enough inmates left to occupy only one unit, allowing them to cut on payroll costs by eliminating one more guard from having to work overtime in an extra unit. The guards on duty started calling out names, one at a time, telling men to pack their belongings and report to other units. The unit was silent; inmates were listening, hoping for their names to be called. Of course I hoped my name would be called as well, but I didn't expect it, I don't want to let myself down. I felt I deserved it, besides I wasn't supposed to be here in the first place, hoping that karma like fate would step in and release me from this afflicted punishment, awarding me the luxury of calling my family and children over the holidays or see them all on a Christmas video visit, but no such luck. Oh well, such is life. I just keep reminding myself that out of all the years of my life of crime, getting away with criminal acts, or getting caught and proclaiming my innocence, this is actually the first time I didn't do it. So when looking at it from this angle, karma truly is taking its course.
Steven Dybvad
