Transcript
Incarceration By: Kevin M. Marker Prison is not the place for the scared, timid or weak of heart. Prison is an entire world by itself, segregated from the free world by 40 foot walls on four sides. Being incarcerated is a sure way to test the strength of one's mind. A person can always build the body by lifting weights, but how does one go about building the mind? There are many doors and recesses in the human mind and the trick to using that mind is to not shut nor open all those doors at one time. Should this ever happen then Tm sure no good can come of it, ever. jk I go through each day with a daily change in routine now and then. Too much of the same routine and life becomes like a stagnant puddle of water. One of many negative sides of prison is those who may wish harm can do so at will. There is a lot of interaction with certain inmates between staff and civilians. There are those on both sides, who are "close minded'' and cannot see the lake because the trees are in the way. For those who are like this, they cannot see that not everyone is a bad person just because they're wearing blue or green. My first time incarcerated was at the age of 16 and I came home when I was 19 years old. Now after four incarcerations and numerous parole violations I am going to be forty two years old and I feel every day of it. I've never opened or closed all my doors at once and that's probably why I still retain my sanity. I am now on medication for Bipolar Disorder and other mental illnesses. There are times when I wonder if I had the medications of today would I have come to prison in the first place? With all of my years in and out of prison most of my family never gave up on me. I have a beautiful wife whom I love and am loved by in return. She believes in me even after I let her down and caused her pain. She's never once given up on me. My ultimate goal is to stay out of prison and get on with my life. There are things to do in prison that make time pass quicker than just sitting around. One could play chess, cards, checkers, soccer, softball, football, lift weights and go to the library to read. If you feel your sentence was an unjust one there is the law library and people there to help you do research for your case. With some luck and a prayer, a loophole will be found and you'll go home. In this specific prison as well as Auburn Correctional Facility more than 70 percent of the inmates have twenty five to life or more for murder, assault and various other charges. We eat in a place termed the mess hall. The only thing is this one is nothing like the mess hall from school days gone by. A lot of violence occurs over the smallest thing and the rules of etiquette are as follows: never reach over anyone's plate, never touch anyone's plate, never cough over anyone's plate, never sneeze over anyone^s plate, never talk over the table and when waiting on line to get served never get in a corner or fall between a group. I have witnessed violence and even death simply for bumping into the wrong person. If an individual has no chance of ever seeing the light of day in the free world again, what does he/she have to lose? A person is more likely to have a positive attitude if they have connections with the outside world such as family, a priest, a rabbi or a reverend. A lot of inmates find religion when they come to prison. Religion is based on nothing more than faith itself. I am a catholic person and try to believe that I'm a good one. Each time I prayed to spare me from prison, my prayers were never granted. It's always better to pray and be thankful for what you have, not what you would like. I wish there was peace and health for all in this world but at this time it's not to be. We can get packages from home with food and clothes. We can buy commissary from the prison store in each correctional institution around the state of New York. Yet when the day is over and it's all said and done, there is no place better than home surrounded by family. Hopefully this essay will help shed some light and give insight to those who have never been to prison. Thank you for taking the time out of your life to read about mine. Prison is the place where the sun never fully shines.
