Problems with prisoner communications, including telephone and letters, form some of the most frequent complaints in most prisons. With that in mind I thought I’d throw the spotlight on what the Prison Service Instruction says about how these issues should be handled, and how that measures up to reality.
Very interesting account of today’s communication hurdles for Cons. In my day, if the Screws did not like you for some reason (in my case being a Socialist) they would play some really naughty tricks. For example, in Exeter, swapping letters between your partner and another woman you had contact with. Another favourite was to not send letters at all. I used to write to a Labour Councillor and when he didn’t reply, I would go into *Why have you forsaken me* mode. Obviously, the Councillor thought I had cracked up. Several times, my door opened at about 21.00 and the Screw would shout, *Get your gear together-you’re going down the Block*. I’d be sitting there with my bedroll when lights went out. I wonder if these jolly japes still occur.
Funnily enough, I know someone here who sent a valentines card to two different women, both of whom had children by him, neither of whom knew about each other, and census switched the cards so they both found out. Purely by accident of course. I am sure they would never do anything like that deliberately.
Of course, whether accident or deliberate, it is unprofessional in any case. That said, he probably had it coming.
And yes the other examples you gave happen all the time even now. A lad on my wing has been living out of bags for days having been promised a wing move last week, and another guy who recently got transferred has been living out of his bags for nearly three months as his transfer kept getting delayed.
Don’t even get me started on missing letters! HMP Frankland already had to pay out for this and it seems like the prison service hasn’t yet learned its lesson.
Thanks for the excellent reply,very interesting. In Exeter, they treated me as a threat to good order because of my type of conviction. So, I convinced a Visiting Magistrate in the yard to solicit complaints, that if i was considered an *infectious disease*, I should be isolated in a single cell. To be honest, I spent most of my time reading and the gym. When I got to Liverpool, the Screws, generally left me to my own devices (or vices!) as they had years of experience dealing with authentic *hard men*. I was proud of the fact that several probation officers, from different offices, told me that they found it impossible which category (or bag) to put me in. I have since realised that this confusion can cause problems on meeting someone for the first time.
You know, I imagine that Prison conditions are now harder although there have been apparent improvements. Having a toilet in the cell must cause problems.
The other thing that intrigues me about modern penal conditions is the use of female officers. I suppose that is the accepted norm these days? In my day, guys would lurk under the stairs if there was a female Probation Officer on the Wing (this was before power dressing).