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#45 Richard Keech 7-16-2000 DON'T SEND ME ANYTHING
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Sun, 16 Jul 2000 02:03:19 EDT
#45 Newsletter 7-16-00 DON’T SEND ME ANYTHING
©COPYRIGHT 2000 Richard Keech
(Editor’s note: Readers frequently ask what can they send to
Richard. This
should answer the question once and for all)
Here’s another trip report from your " traveler ". I'm still
on a grand tour
of that alien land that none of you will ever see. It's not in
America.
It's the California Prison empire. It's somewhere on the other
side of outer
Mongolia.
As I have explained before, the people of this land are ruled
under an
intriguing system, best described as one of "controlled
fairness" .
What that means is that every one in this land receives exactly
the same
treatment. Everyone gets the same clothes. Everyone gets the
same food.
Sounds fair doesn't
it? Well that's "controlled fairness ".
I have a blue cotton shirt with long sleeves, in fact three of
them. Guess
what? Everyone in this land has a blue cotton shirt, three of
them to be
exact. That's fair isn't it? I had cornmeal mush for
breakfast. And, you
guessed it this time, so did everyone else.
It's not a bad life. For many of the men here it's the first
time in their
lives they ever got a fair deal.
Now, if what I'm describing sounds like it could be a bit
boring, you're
right. Variety is still the spice of life. This land suffers
from a lack of
it. Recognizing this, many if you have generously offered to
send me things
to add variety to my wardrobe and diet.
Thank you, it would be nice, I really could use the extra color.
But, no,
please don't. Don't ever send me anything.
That's the reason for this trip report, to explain why I make
this curious
statement.
You see, there is a system for sending gift packages to the
citizens of this
land. But, it's a cruel one. It's designed to hurt the
families of the men
who live here. I don't want to see you treated this way, my
friends. That's
why I say, " send me nothing ".
Their system has all been very carefully spelled out on paper.
It lists
those items deemed acceptable for shipment to a citizen, how
they may be
packaged and in what quantities.
It's all in writing, seems clear, and in the real world where
you live would
be fairly simple to work with. Not so in this land.
Why? Because the simple rules governing the selection and
packaging of your
gifts are subject to interpretation by a staff that will be
merited for
discovering
"contraband".
This is called the R and R operation. (receiving and release).
It is run by
prison staff, (correctional officers-a fancy title for guards).
It's at this point that the concept of "controlled fairness"
takes on a new
meaning. Here, it means you will get hurt, so will your
family, and, in the
same sense of fairness, so will all the rest of the package
recipients and
their families.
What happens is this: a package comes into the receiving area.
It's a gift
package from one of you to one of my friends. It will be opened
and
inspected by the R and R staff. It will first be searched for
weapons and
drugs. It will then be checked to see if everything in it
conforms to the
approved packaging, commodity instructions. And, therein lies
the rub.
We have a staff who will be merited for finding " contraband ".
We have
procedures that define anything not in compliance with their
precise
instructions as being
"contraband".
We have a happy staff who can't lose . They will end up looking
good. They
will find lots of "contraband".
There is no way a package full of gift items can get through
this screen
unscathed.
So many of the rules are subject to dual and conflicting
interpretations that
what gets through is strictly a function of the conscience of
the staff R
and R screener.
Your gift package will first of all be screened against the
easily
misinterpreted list that was intended to guide the giver.
An example: "Nuts must be shelled and may be in cans with metal
pull off
lids, or clear plastic bags."
Sounds clear, doesn't it?
However, in another spot on the form there is a statement that
says " no
heat-sealed or glue-sealed packaging ". You suppose they close
and seal a
plastic bag? Those nuts came in clear plastic bags. Those
bagged nuts can
be classified as contraband because they were heat-sealed.
Your package will also be checked against obscure procedures and
rules that
are known only to the prison.
An example: your gift package has five simple ball point pens.
Nothing in
the instruction sheet says anything about quantity. However
deep in the back
of one of the guides used by the staff there is a limit set.
According to
that limit no citizen of this land can have more than four pens
. Guess
what, that fifth pen will be removed from the package as
"contraband".
In a days time a clever staff operation can fill one corner of
the building
with
"contraband". It reads so well on on the records. " Today's
screening of
incoming packages by our dedicated staff found illegal
contraband in over
ninety percent of the boxes received. "
So a number of items in your gift package were rejected as
"contraband." Is
the punishment over yet? No, there are several more twists of
the knife left
for you and your friend.
As the balance of your gift package is released to your friend
he will be
required to fill out a form advising the R and R staff on how to
dispose of
his "contraband" property. He will be given several options,
all bad.
His first option will be to "donate". They never tell him to
whom. Most
citizens feel this is rubbing salt into wounds. That donation
will probably
go home with the R and R staff to their families.
His second action will be to spend some of that money you had
sent him so he
can pay the R and R staff to repackage his " contraband " and
send it back to
you. This is the cruelest option of of all. He knows you spent
money you
could ill afford to make that package up. He knows you did it
to show your
love for him. How will you feel now, he thinks, when you see
your gift of
love rejected?
Should he select this option he had better have money on the
books. They
won't wait for you to send him more.
The last option is: he can authorize the staff to scrap his
"contraband".
Not a bad option, but, the citizens will warn your friend he
must insist on
seeing the deed done. If he doesn't, scrap will mean give the
contraband to
the R and R staff to do with it what they want. (Like take it
home).
One of my friends fought the system for two weeks to salvage
eight boxes of
chocolate. He won, in a way. They dumped the chocolates in a
trash barrel
while he watched.
There is a last option for your friend, but tell him to forget
it. He can
fill out a 602 form and "appeal" the R and R decision. He
won't win. The
cards are marked and the deck stacked against him. He'll lose.
Challenging the system is like asking for another pull on a
rigged slot
machine wheel. (your chances are better on the rigged wheel) .
So there you have it! I don't want to see any of you hurt by
such callous
cruelty. There is a good selection of minor luxuries in the
canteen. I can
get what I need from there. Don't send me anything!
Richard Keech
semper fi
Richard Keech 