There are a handful of interviews with prisoners on Heathen World. These were done over the mail in the early 1990's. I traded zines for interviews. It worked out well. The prisoners got something fun in the mail, and I got a reader with plenty of time on his hands, and who probably lent his stuff to other guys who also had plenty of time on their hands. I figure if my stuff is entertains these guys, who are in such a grim place, it must be pretty good.

I didn't censor any of these guys. If you don't like what you read, then read something else.

This prison sits on top of a mountain in the Northeast corner of the state. It is divided into three sections; the compound, the annex, and the high security annex. The housing units are two stories high, each occupied by over 90 inmates.

The compound is where most of the prisoners are kept. In addition to it's 9 housing units, it has a ball field, a chow hall, a visitation gallery, a barber shop, a hobby shop, a library, a medical clinic, several small program buildings (used for inmate organization meetings), an chapel, a school building, a grievance and disciplinary board building, a gym, and two "industries".

The annex is for prisoners who "pose less of a security risk." I've never been there but hear it has 5 units and most of what the compound has but on a smaller scale. At the annex, a prisoner is given more privileges and are less closely supervised. Most of the people who get to the annex here are snitches and/or sex offenders.

The high security annex is broken down into three parts; the close security unit, protective custody, and punitive.

"close" is a unit where inmates who aren't low enough security to be put on the compound but aren't high enough security to be shipped to a maximum security prison are housed.

Protective custody ("Check in") is where inmates who "feel their lives are in danger" or staff "feels are in danger" are housed. Most of the guys who go to P.C. rack up huge debts and then tell a guard they want to "check-in" at lockdown. A lot of sex offenders also "check in" until they are eligible to go to the annex. a handful of others are put on P.C. status against their will because someone in administration wants to lock them up but can't justify putting them in "the hole".

Punitive ("the hole") is where inmates found guilty of disciplinary infractions or who are a "threat to security" are places. I'll tell more about this place later.

20 years seems to be the average sentence. You can figure a prisoner will serve half of the time he was sentenced to unless the public is really opposed to his release.

8th grade

Most of the guys here are in their mid-20's to early 30's. The youngest are juveniles who were tried as adults. They are kept in protective custody, until they turn 18 and can be placed on the compound. The oldest I've known was an 89 year old man barely able to walk.

That depends on what you mean by "deserves to be there". Most of us did what we were charged with, but many of the sentences are ridiculous - should someone be sentenced to 20 years for shoplifting a $15 item?

Most people consider all prisoners to be the "scum of the Earth" until they or one of their loved ones gets into trouble. I used to think that way myself. What people should realize is you could be driving down the road and have some kid run out in front of you; the accident may not have been your fault, but if the kid is from a rich or influential family and you aren't rich or influential yourself, you're looking at spending the next ten calendar years in prison. that's how our system is set up; it punishes the "have nots" for crimes against the "haves" while allowing the "haves" to get away with the same crimes against the "have nots". The history of the United States is built upon this policy.

If by your question you meant, "How many people in there do you think are innocent?" I'd have to say about 4%. that seems like a low number, but multiply that by the millions of people in or waiting to be sent to prison.

About 60% (including myself).

The majority of the people here are here for either doing something under the influence or for doing something to get drugs. As for actual drug dealers, most were busted because one of their "friends" got caught with a small amount and snitched to get a minor "possession" charge dropped.

The prison system's goal is not to rehabilitate or to educate. They want as many repeat offenders as possible. The more prisoners, the more money the politicians can ask from the taxpayers.

the whole "criminal justice system" is a huge money making scam. The prosecutors and judges get rich from the taxpayers. The defense lawyers get rich from their clients or the taxpayers if the defendant is too poor to pay. It doesn't matter if you're innocent or guilty, whether you go to prison or not; all of these vultures get paid. Paid well.

If you're sent to prison more taxpayer's money is given to the prison system to "feed, clothe and house" you. I believe the amount is close to $30,000 per inmate per year. Food and other materials are purchased in bulk quantities form the lowest bidders. Prison labor defrays much of the cost for construction and upkeep. "Industries" in various prisons across the state produce our clothing, boots, some food, etc. The common guard isn't paid very well. A lot of money is never spent on the prisoners, but every year each prison's warden claims to be operating "in the red". where is the left-over money going? Into certain state and federal politician's and prison administrator's pockets. It's all covered up with paperwork which shows we received a bunch of things we never got. then the politicians tell you, "we need to raise taxes because the prison don't have enough money to keep all of these DANGEROUS CRIMINALS locked up!" they play on the public's fear to put more money into the system and into their own pockets.

Definitely. Don't you think petty criminals like burglars would be more effectively punished by having to pay fines and victim compensation? That will never happen because as long as there are "20,000 prisoners in county jails waiting for a prison bed to come open", the politicians can push for more money from the taxpayers. Prisoners are money in their pockets.

Racial tension is pretty high. The races voluntarily segregate from each other. You learn when you come here to stay with your own kind; if you do otherwise, you aren't respected by your own race or the race you choose to run with. This prison's population is about 70% white, 28% black, and 2% other. The "other" are mostly Hispanics. They are accepted by the whites and shunned by the blacks.

Gangs aren't really a big problem at this prison. About once every two years, the blacks start complaining about the low percentage of black inmates and staff here. A couple of the more vocal turn up dead and the rest quiet down. The guards and administration unofficially condone these actions.

Whatever race is predominant at a prison controls and polices it.

Incoming mail is cut open "to be searched for contraband". They are not supposed to open outgoing mail or legal mail unless the inmate is present.

All calls to family and friends are recorded. Calls to lawyers are not recorded (or so the warning on the phone says). You are allowed only a certain number of numbers and have to punch in your prison number to access the switchboard. (Editor's note: most mail I have sent to Jammer was received with little problem. One xerox collage with nudity, politicians & guns on it was rejected.)

We have a fight or stabbing about every two weeks or so. It gets worse in the summer. this prison isn't as violent as some of the others in the state.

I've heard about seven rapes since I've been incarcerated. Five were committed by blacks against young white boys who acted black and ran with blacks. In a situation like this, the other whites don't try to protect or avenge the attack since the white boys "deserved it for acting like a nigger".

The other two rapes were "black on black" crimes.

When I was new to prison, I was approached by a black "bullqueer". He said, "you gonna be my boy, aint choo?" and I stabbed him in the neck with a pencil. We fought until someone said the guard was coming. A half-dozen white guys told the bullqueer they'd kill him if he bothered me again. About an hour later the bullqueer came to my cell, apologized and said, "I was jest playin'. I don't needs no mo' trubble. It ovah."

Because I defended myself and made it clear I wasn't going to be a "punk", the other whites stood up for me. If I had acted scared and weak, they wouldn't have stepped in. I haven't been approached by a bullqueer since.

About 90% of the blacks and 40% of the whites engage in homosexual activities. Most try to stay "undercover", but there are a few in every prison who go so far as to dress like women.

Some of the female staff have affairs with inmates. This can be risky; I know a guy who got charged with rape because he got caught screwing a female guard who didn't want to lose her job.

Most of us straight guys just masturbate a lot.

One of the black guys complaining about the prison's racial composition got stabbed and walked all the way from his unit to the clinic (about 300 yards) before collapsing at the clinic door. He laid there for ten minutes before any of the guards or medical staff "noticed" him. He bled to death before anybody made any effort to help him.

Every prison I've been in has been better than my home county's jail!

There are about 25 here. A few are laid back but most of them act like everybody who's got less time owes them something. I've seen one burst into tears because I got less time than he did for the same charge.

No. the "chair" is in the state capital, so all the death row prisoners are held there.

The servings are the same size as servings given out a elementary schools. The inmates who work in the kitchen are too busy trying to steal food to sell at their units to properly prepare the meals to be served in the chow hall. What little we do have to eat is usually either burned or practically uncooked. Only on days when the state or federal inspectors are scheduled to visit or certain holidays do we get a filling, well-cooked meal.

The prison administration wants to keep us hungry so we'll buy more junk food from the prison's commissary.

Yes, but the machine breaks down often and stay that way for days.

For the compound, the doors are taken off "deadlock" at 6:30. You go back in for count time at 10:45. count clears at 11:30 and the doors are off "deadlock until the 3:45. When count clears again at 4:30, the doors are off "deadlock" until 9:15 when we are locked down for the night.

Inmates are given a key to their doors that works anytime the doors aren't on "deadlock". when the doors are on "deadlock", only an officer's pass key will open the door.

About 7' X 15'. Much of this space is occupied by a sink, a toilet, a metal writing table, a large shelf for the inmates' possessions, and the bunks.

Several times a day unless the prison is locked down due to a murder or heavy fog.

Yes - and it's paid for by the inmates. We recycle aluminum cans and paper, and several of the prisoners' clubs sell doughnuts and fast food to pay for it.

Every politician trying to get elected says, "Elect me and I'll take away the prisoners' cable TV!" When that happens, the prisoners will be throwing guards' and councilors' heads over the fences.

Those of you who think we need to have all our sources of entertainment taken away have no idea how difficult it is for us to keep our sanity as it is.

Both are allowed. You are allowed to have 24 cassette tapes.

Second Degree Murder.

Six years.

Yes. I've become racist and homophobic. I hate the government and everyone involved in the so-called "criminal justice system".

Two others. This is the "quietest."

Getting stabbed.

Read, write letters, play board games, watch TV.

I'm the prison's biggest pornography dealer. I subscribe to magazines for $25 or less, then resell the individual copies for three or four packs of generic cigarettes. I also gamble on Scrabble games when I can find an opponent who doesn't know how well I play.

Green money is considered "contraband" (although a lot of it is in circulation here; some of the larger drug dealers will only deal in "green"), so the basic monetary unit here is the "pack". A pack of generic cigarettes costs $1.21 on the prison commissary.

Drugs are by far the biggest "black market" business in here. Other markets exist for pornography, "free world" clothing and shoes, cassette tapes, jewelry, art supplies, artwork and homemade "wine".

Another "hustle" is the "store"; a person buys a lot of food from the commissary and resells or loans it at profit to other prisoners.

Gambling is also a big business for some. A few guys sell ballgame and auto racing tickets. A ticket costs a pack, winner gets a carton. Poker and craps games go on right under the guards' noses.

Stores, drugs, and gambling rings create another "hustle" to some of the tougher guys; they become "enforcers" who collect debts that are overdue for a percentage (usually half) of the debt.

No movies. A religious singing group visits about once a month and a couple of our prison bands hold "concerts" occasionally. Other than "evangelistic" ones, no other "free world" bands are allowed to play here.

Most of the guards mind their own business. They'll tell you, "I don't get paid enough to be hassling you guys." About one in fifteen is a "G.I. Joe" who thinks it's his or her job to harass the inmates. They tend to settle down after they've been here awhile. Most of the harassment of inmates comes from the administration. If a staff members takes a dislike to an inmate, he/she will "shake down" the inmate's cell (come in under the pretense of "searching for contraband" and vandalize his property), spread rumors to other inmates to cause conflicts, give him disciplinary "write ups" for minor and rarely enforced rules, or have him put in "the hole" or protective custody.

Many times. They took my TV and radio away, put me into a cell alone for 23 hours a day, and brought my meals to me. I LOVED it! Most of the guys are banging on the doors to get out after only a few hours; my theory is they have so much guilt and self-hatred they can't stand to be alone. I consider it a vacation from a bunch of idiots. I had my porno magazines, a bottle of cocoa butter lotion, and almost total privacy so I was content during my stays there. In the last year they've double-celled "the hole", so it's not "solitary confinement" anymore. They ruined the whole experience for me, so I try to avoid going there now.

Most escapees from here simply walk off from the annex. Most escapees don't stay gone for a week. Here's a couple of interesting escape ATTEMPT stories from the compound:

1-One guy had his partners seal him inside a cardboard box and load him into the back of a supply truck. He made it into the next state, but made too much noise getting out of the back of the truck. The driver heard him and had a couple of police cars waiting when he opened the trailer door.

2-Another attempt was made by a group of 15-20 inmates. They had gotten hold of some bolt-cutters and had cut a hole through one of the two fences surrounding the ballfield. One of them got the no-so-bright idea to throw a black rubber gym mat across the razor-wire between the fences. The vehicle that patrols the perimeter of the prison spotted the mat and reported it. another 15 minutes and they could have been gone!

Did I tell you about how I've been harassing the "gangstas" in here? I do "drive-bys" on their monkey asses! I wait until a bunch of them are gathered around the telephones, at a poker game, in the TV room, etc., then walk by and cut a fart; they are usually screeching too loudly to hear it, but a second later, I'm out of the area and the smell hits 'em - next thing you know they're all blaming each other and fleeing the area: One time, after a particularly vile emission, two of them got into a fist-fight arguing about who was to blame and got dragged off to the hole! Ha Ha Ha Ha!!