D.I.Q.:

How long have you been inside? 20 months

How many court appearances have you had? One

How many times have you talked to your lawyer? 5-10

What is the situation regarding your charge? (Awaiting sentencing, awaiting trial, awaiting appearance, etc.?) awaiting trial

Have you been ever been ‘disciplined’ in your time at DCDC, either individually or as part of a group? Tell about it. Individually and as a group. I was given 30 days lockback for headbutting a guy who hit me. We’ve all been locked back for stupid things like calling a police guy weenie man because he takes second looks in your cell while using the bathroom. Also, for people making noise. Oh, the guy I hit didn’t get disciplined, just me. 

What in your opinion are the biggest problems with the DCDC? The biggest problems are authority abuse, high canteen prices and phone prices, visitations too short and last but not least how they treat the mentally ill. They should have handy some of those medication cocktail shots they use in mental hospitals and more training.

If you could express one largest grievance, what would it be? Higher standards for the guards.

Does anyone visit you at DCDC? What are their biggest problems with the DCDC? My family. Canteen prices and phone and visits and mental health support for me.

We have heard many complaints about medical services at the jail. What is your opinion of health services? Horrible. My dog got better treatment at the vet.

We have heard numerous complaints about food. What is your opinion about the nutritional value and taste of the food? Horrible. 

What is your opinion of library / educational services to prisoners at the jail? Horrible. 

What do you think of the c.o.’s? Horrible except the rare few.

How do you get along with other prisoners? Pretty good.

How do jail staff affect your ability to get along with fellow prisoners? No affect.

What, if any, are some of the good experiences you have had at DCDC? Bible study.

Have you ever made a complaint or filed a grievance with jail authorities? If so, what happened? Yes, for excessive force. Nothing was done.

Have you ever started a petition or signed a petition regarding things happening at DCDC? Yes, for the pencil thing and for a homosexual guard who would look at us in the shower and for heat in the winter.

Some DCDC prisoners have suggested the idea of a prisoners council that would participate in making decisions about things at the jail. What do you think of such an idea? Sounds good.

How could it work? What would it look like? Each pod sends representatives or something like that.

What circumstances on the outside led to you being locked up? How common do you think those kind of circumstances are? Mental illness and lack of help for it. I’m not sure how common it is, but I bet it happens everyday in this country. 

What have you noticed about being inside (who is here? Why are they here?) Kids mostly and veterans from prison they are here for murders, robberies, kidnapping assaults, sexual crimes.

In your opinion is there a relationship between race and incarceration? What is it? It’s mostly black people then latino then white.

What does social class or economics have to do with getting locked up? Usually the poor get locked up trying to survive. Some want to get rich.

What do you think is the point of jail? Prison? The justice system? What do you think people on the outside think about people who are locked up? Punishment. We all deserve this and more. 

What do you think are the possibilities for living in a different kind of world, and how do we get there? There has to be a giant revolution and major changes. Like our ancestors by fighting.