My Field Trip Experience: Inside Charlotte Correctional Institution

 

Hey guys!

I wanted to share to you all about my experience going to Charlotte Correctional Institution, a minimum security prison. For those who have never been to a prison (as an inmate or visitor), I suggest watching Lockup: Raw and Lockdown; everything you see in those episodes is exactly what I saw, but without the fighting! There were no fights during my time there.

The places that we were being shown were (not in specific order):


Metal Detectors: the metal detectors is the first place to visit before entering prison. Before walking into the prison, EVERYBODY is checked before entering. Even the Assistant Warden himself was taking everything out of his pockets (his wallet, keys, walkie talkie), and his shoes! I guess he wanted to serve as an example that not even him can escape a search!

Visiting Room: this is the place where all visitors come in to see their boyfriend, father, friend or son. We were seated here for about 15 minutes upon arriving, listening to what each department's responsibilities are. After our tour, we would come back to the visiting room and have our questions at hand to be answered.

Chapel: this is a place for worship in the prison. We were advised that there was painting in process, but after much thought, the Assistant Warden lead us into the chapel. When I walked in, there were about four guys painting this little hallway leading to the recession room (I was thinking to myself "these guys must be professional painters). Before walking into the recession room, there was one man who was holding the door for everybody, and myself being courteous  I said "thank you." When I finally walked into the recession room, it literally looked like a mini-church, with their bibles and all! But I noticed something odd... There were two other guys painting the walls, one on each side of the stage. The man on my right hand side turned around to see what was going on, and kept looking. One of the Correctional Officers told him to turn around and keep doing his job, and that was just straight weird! I asked one of my classmates if all of these guys painting were inmates... She said "yes!" I cannot believe I just said "thank you" to a man who probably kidnapped, raped, strangled, and killed a person!

The Yard: this is where all the inmates in open population hang out, work out, and do something else. As we were passing by, all the inmates in the yard stopped whatever it was that they were doing, and started at us as if we were the last drop of water in the desert.

Cell Housing Units/Pods: this is where all the inmates in the institution call "home." All the inmates (about 40) were outside of their cells while the Assistant Warden was explaining to us how their cell is.

GED Classes: the Assistant Warden lead us to one of the GED classes where about 10 inmates attended.

Law Library:

Open Housing Units/Open bathrooms: this is where you see inmates sleeping on bunk beds.

Chow Hall: this is what we know as a "cafeteria." The Chow Hall is where inmates get their grub on, but have to abide by strict rules!

Psychotic:

Dental: I was surprised to see a Dental clinic IN the prison!

Emergency Room:

Solitary Confinement: the term itself best describes what this housing unit is like. The cells in this unit are wide, but the only thing in the cell is a bed with a 3-inch mattress, and a horizontally-narrowed window reaching toward the ceiling. After we were leaving solitary confinement, all the men started acting up, yelling and whistling. At one point, I heard one inmate ask his neighbor where he was from; they were having a normal conversation.

Visiting Room: