PRISONER EXPRESS

The effect of neighbors on the quality of life is congruent between prison and the free world. It is doubtful there is anyone who has not experienced neighbors both good and bad. Many times, in the free world where choice is possible, we choose our homes to be near people we like or to avoid those that annoy us. In prison, our neighbors are selected at random and all we can do is try to make the best out of a bad situation and hope it won't last too long.

Since bad neighbors are the rule in prison, where the number of psychotic prisoners has grown exponentially since President Reagan cut funding to psychiatric hospitals in the mid 80s, the rare exceptions are all the more appreciated. My current neighbors are some of the best I've known in 14 years in Texas prison. They are also some of the most dangerous men in Texas prison. They house 'high risk' prisoners on this row and half of these houses men that made national news due to a criminal escape and subsequent actions. It's more than a little strange how intelligent and kind these men are. They are level ones and able to make store. I'm a level two and limited in what I can buy. Rusty bought me a pint of ice cream and root beer last night. Montana got me a bag of coffee last store. These were gifts but I can buy whatever I want or need for an equal value in stamps (I'm allowed to buy stamps). That is unusual in Texas where level ones charge two or three times the price when a fellow prisoner has a need such as mines.

Good neighbors are making my time of reduced privileges much more bearable and less costly. We have our share of nut cases. That's normal. But your average prisoner could learn a lot about doing time from the real convicts living around me. They know the meaning of unity and support fellow prisoners when the administration is trying to punish them. Free or imprisoned: good neighbors have much in common. They are there when you need them. Good convicts make good neighbors and I expect a good neighbor would make a good convict.