Kite-Request Slip: These are pieces of paper half the size of an 8 ½” x 11” standard piece of paper. Inmates use these to send requests to staff and volunteers. At the top of the kite, there is a place for the date, the inmate name, the inmate number, his cell number, his work location, the name of the person with whom the inmate desires an audience, and the reason the inmate wants to see that person. There are boxes on each unit where the inmate may deposit his completed kite. Once a day the box is emptied and the kites are taken to the mailroom where they are sorted by the name of the recipient. For example, in the mail room there is a box labeled “Chapel.” In the morning the chapel supervisor picks up the mail, including the kites, sorts it by chaplain, and puts it in the chaplains’ folders.
The chaplain (or staff member) can answer the request on the kite and send it back to the inmate through the prison mail or can call the cell hall where the inmate lives or his work location to have the inmate summoned to meet. Inmates are only allowed in the chapel during certain times of the day. For example, you can’t call an inmate while he is eating or during count time. Inmates alternate what time of day they go to recreation. One day they will go in the morning and the next day in the afternoon. Unless there is an emergency, it is best not to call someone while he is at rec.
Passes: Remember the hall passes used in high school? They are used in prison also. When an inmate is sent to meet with someone, the control pod officer gives him a pass with his name on it, where he is going, the date, and the time he left. After he meets with someone, that person needs to sign the pass and record the time he left. Passes to go to the chapel are printed on yellow paper and have the names of the chaplains on them, which the person sending the inmate will check. Passes for other areas are printed on white paper.
Count: Several times a day inmates must be in their cells and stand for count as an officer goes past their cells. Count is also done at night, but inmates don’t need to stand then. If an inmate is not in his cell at count, they check to see if he is gone for a medical trip, court appearance, etc. If he can’t be found, everyone remains locked down while a search is conducted for him. Not being in your cell at count is a serious offense. Chaplains are especially asked to make sure the chapel orderlies have left before they lock up the chapel. The bathroom is behind the stage so it isn’t always evident if the chapel orderlies have left or not.
Mail: Letters coming in must be on white or yellow paper and written with black or blue ink or typed and printed out. The inmates name and number must be on the outside of the envelope as well as the name and address of the sender. Greeting cards aren’t allowed. All mail is opened in the mailroom and may be read before it is delivered to the inmate’s cell. All outgoing mail must be left unsealed for review before it is mailed out.
Tablets: Inmates recently received electronic tablets that can be used to make phone calls and to send and receive delayed emails. The recipients of the phone calls and emails must be on the inmates approved phone list. Phone calls are monitored and so are the emails going out and in. They may be rejected if they pose a security threat or contain certain language. In other words, inmates do not receive their messages instantly nor do their outgoing messages leave immediately. People on their approved lists can make payments to the carrier providing the tablets so the inmate doesn’t need to pay for the emails or phone calls. The tablets also have some games on them, announcements, legal material and music. Some things are provided free. A monthly subscription fee must be paid to get other things.
Commissary: Inmates may make weekly purchases from commissary. To do this, they need to complete a form showing what they want to purchase and complete a commissary slip to pay for their purchases. The can buy things like toothpaste, shampoo, candy, chips, Ramen noodles, bread, tennis shoes, sweatshirts, TV’s, radios, etc. There is a limit on how much they can purchase each month. The commissary items they purchase are brought to the prison once a week in sacks with their names on the sacks. They stand in line to receive the items. The sacks are opened and the contents spilled out onto a table so they know exactly what they received and can’t complain later that something was missing from their order.
Caring Packs: Approved family members and friends can purchase caring packs for the inmates from the same vendor that provides commissary. They need to place their order over the internet and pay for it with a credit or debit card. There are various packs available. The most popular one contains salty items like chips. There is a limit on how many packs an inmate may receive in a month. Men are constantly asking their families or girlfriends to send them caring packs!
Tokens: They can buy tokens, which resemble coins, to purchase pop from the pop machines. Each token is worth $1 and it takes one token for a can of pop. Since prison jobs pay $ .25 per hour, it will take 4 hours of work to buy one can of pop.
Driveby: This is prison slang for someone passing gas as they go past your cell.
Zee: This is prison slang for being broke. It means zero.
Sugar Mamma: This is a female who will buy you things. They are greatly coveted. If you have two or three of them, you are doing great!
Mary Mantoya
