|
At one point in our lives, we all going to be locked up. Its an undeniable fact. We have no choice over the. The only choice we sometimes get is where we get locked up. Be it LAto the West, through to NY to the East, and all in between. I have been there. Done it. Got the T-Shirt. I've done my time, and will do more of it. After my first stay in Cook County Jail, for selling drugs, I began writing. And have continued to do so throughout my time in prison. I will start at the beginning, In Chicago;
Cook County Jail, Chicage, Illinois:
Time spent: Unfortunately, due to Chicago being my home town, I keep coming back. Every time I return to visit family & friends, cops are on me, looking to look me up at any opportunity. I have actually stopped counting the amount of times I have been sent to Cook County Jail, let alone the amount of hours spent locked up, the majority of time in solitary due to my alleged violent outbursts. In fact, I would say I have spent more nights in Cook County Jail recent times then I have in my own apartment.
Cell Conditions: The communal cells are some of the worst amongst the penal system. So bad that fellow inmates are forced to sleep on floors due to the overcrowding and mismanagement. Rodents crawl around the place, and it is not uncommon to wake up with mouse bites. It is Cook County that has given me my violent streak in prison. Much better to get chucked into solitary, even with the beating on the way, just to spend a bit of time on your own.
Inmates: One word describes the inmates here. Scum. The prison breeds them. The screws breed them. They make us evil. If you are unable to stand up for yourself, you will soon find yourself as one of the older inmates 'ladies.' Try and stand up for yourself and fail, you will soon find yourself scarred, damaged, injured, or if your lucky in this place, dead.
Screws: The screws are worse then the inmates. They are supposed to be keep us safe. Yet it is them that cause the most damage. Systematic beatings and sexual assaults by corrections officers. You will get strip searched numerous times a day, for no reason except for the screw wants to get his jollies. And if you happen to get injured, the medical care is inadequate and you will be lucky to get any medication. And the daily STD tests are unneeded.
Food: Like the rest of the jail, the food is shit. Cold porridge. Cockroach infested. It is one of the reasons people do so many drugs, to avoid eating...
View: To the South side, you get a decent view of the Chicago River. Although in the summer, it stinks like hell. The North Side is odd. Little view, but you can hear the school kids from across the road playing at lunch. It sums up the prison that the North side is also where they house the nonce's. Whilst these guys are pure evil and should all be hung, it is a weird lay out. Would be like forcing a heroin addict to pick up needles for community service.
A memory: My main memory from here is a group of memories. Every time I got in, my aim is simple. Cause trouble, take some hits from the screws, and get locked up in solitary. This at least allows me to stay away from fellow cons, the bad hygiene, and the screws. As long as you can handle the kicks from the screws on the way in, and the beating as they drag you out, solitary is the only way to survive cook County Jail
Out of 10: 0- this place is pure evil, and I feel for any young gangsters who's first experience is Cook. You will be lucky to survive.
Next up in The Good Prison Guide - Holmesburg Prison, Philadelphia |
