by Phillip Torsrud

I recently served 30 days in Waupun’s 180 bed segregation unit. Segregation is designed to punish prisoners, so considering that prison is no picnic, punishment in prison is no holiday. With that in mind, there are obviously a number of things which prisoners don’t like and could complain about. There is one rule in particular that is unnecessary, unhygienic and could have made me money if I were a litigious inmate.

First, let me explain what great crime led to my being segregated. I was working in the kitchen as the inventory clerk, which mainly consists of keeping track of all the items in stock needed to run a kitchen.

In november, there was a hostage situation that led to a lock-down. That means that nobody kept the books for two weeks as the guards prepared the food. At the end of the month, I did a physical count of every item, multiply by weight, deduct from last month’s weight the difference and that was the inventory for November. Then I went to doing the daily inventory of deducting everything used per day. Not rocket science, but time consuming and I worked seven days a week, from 4:30AM, to 5:30PM.

In the beginning of December, I wanted to put in my request to the chapel for free Christmas cards. Everybody is entitled to 5 free Christmas cards every year. As you go into a cell hall, there’s a rack with all the forms you might need for medical, visiting, complaints, etc... However, at the end of a long day’s work, I was thinking about other things I needed to get done. After forgetting three days in a row, I recalled that the other clerk had shown me that the interview/request form was on the computer and that I could use it, so I did.

Scandal! The officer who works in the chapel brought the form I’d sent, back to the kitchen and showed it to the Sergeant. If anything, I’d thought the officer would appreciate the neatly printed request. Initially, I wasn’t told what was going on and was ordered to sit in a chair while two guards stood by, watching me, in case I decided to make a run for it. Meanwhile, the food service administrator and manager searched the clerk computer, looking for this form. After about half an hour, the form still wasn’t found. I was then asked if I’d printed the request off the computer which they then showed me.

After admitting such evil, I was then asked to show them where it was on the computer, which I did. In the conduct report they said after this, “the room was secured”, as if it were a major crime scene with blood on the walls. Very melodramatic, as if writing, “Please send me some Christmas cards,” could lead to mayhem.

At the hearing, the Captain read my statement and had no questions. He gave me 60 days in segregation, the maximum for the charge of “Misuse of State Property.” I was then strip searched, just in case I had any illegal Christmas cards, given the orange suit, and taken to my new cell.

In segregation, you have to be standing at your door with the light fully on to get your meals, medications, supplies, recreation, and showers. I say the light has to be fully on, because it’s always on, there are just different degrees of brightness. Inmates did not ask for the night light, but tax dollars shall not be spared nor the environment, to make inmates miserable.

The way they do showers is absurd. They announce shower at 6:00 am and then an officer walks as fast as he can around the unit, marking off only those who are at their door saying, “shower”. The only other times I’ve seen officers move that fast is in response to a body alarm or when there’s food available. If it weren’t for the fact that you only get two showers a week in segregation, this little game might not be so ridiculous. What petty bureaucrat could envision trying to find a way to deny someone a shower?

Since falling asleep in segregation can be a task, with the light on and the cranks yelling all night, lots of people have missed showers due to blocking out all the noise and not hearing the announcements. Every last one of these prisoners would have liked to engage in some form of violence when denied their showers, even the non-violent offenders. At least they were non-violent. The system will straighten that out.

The regime knows that everyone wants a shower. So why play this game? Showers don’t start until after breakfast, about an hour and a half later. Those that miss showers are given a change of clothes. Big deal! You have to wash up in a sink where the hot water shuts off every fifteen seconds, for fifteen seconds. You can’t pour any water over you, cups are not allowed in segregation. This prevents angry inmates who have been denied showers from “dashing” officers with urine or feces.

Let’s say I jumped out of bed and in my haste to make it to the door and I tripped and butted my head against the wall? Not likely you say? If I head butted the door and drew blood, just enough to get sent to the hospital, and said I fell trying to get to the door, how would I do on a lawsuit? I went to the hospital to have a three inch gash over my eye glued, basketball injury, and it was an enjoyable little trip. I don’t get out much. So, why not do this in segregation where I’m locked up all day? It’s beneath my dignity, what little is left after 18 years of this.

How would the state explain it’s policy of denying prisoners showers, in court? Did the policy not lead to my head injury? Is this not cruel and unusual punishment? What about my blurred vision, headaches and depression? Should the state pay for that? I could go on and on, but you get the point. I’m young, 33, what’s it like for those old prisoners to run to the door at 6:00 am? Nobody in authority cares. If the policy leads to an injury or lawsuit though, it’s not their money that’ll pay for any of it. It’s more important for them to appear tough, by picking on people behind locked doors. Very brave and noble!

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Notes:  After release from segregation, the conduct alert was overturned by the warden and I was given my job back.  Also, about 6 months after posting this blog, the practice of making inmates stand at their door to ask for a shower ceased.