Locking down affects our mental health. Let me explain. When we lock down at 1 or 5 p.m.. we don’t get a chance to further expand our programming and education due to the lack of programs. I work in the morning; i go to Unicor at 6:15 a.m.. daily and am not done until 2:15 most days. I have to hurry back and shower, make phone calls or read email, because we lock in again at 2:45. We come out after count around 4 p.m.. Then we have to decide to go to dinner or stay back to use the phone or email, because there are only four phones for a unit of 100-140 inmates. Then we lock in AGAIN at 5:45 p.m. Since I work daily, I have to sacrifice going to medical or a program. And where do I find time for the law library, gym, or talking to my family and kids? I have to be like most inmates and not work or get an orderly job in the unit, just to get things accomplished.
If it’s foggy outside, like most days, we’re locked in our cell until it clears up. If a fight happens, we lock in. If someone has a drug episode, we lock in. After 4 p.m.. when we finally are let out, we have to run to the phone line or else it gets too long and we won’t be able to make calls that evening. Some people become frustrated, causing arguments and fights. People start to hate staff because they lock us in. Frustration arises and mentally you become fatigued.