There has been much to do, when holding one’s self accountable. I’ve sat and witnessed the many, become victims
to the very environment that’s meant to be productive and rehabilitative. With understanding, I’ve asked myself, if the
inhumane actions done to individuals incarcerated, resemble the same inhumane treatments of individuals who are
in society? I ask myself and God, does the tears and cries of the downtrodden, matter, even though we’ve made the
mistakes that landed us in these unfortunate set of circumstances?
I can’t speak to the mistreatment of the incarcerated, without speaking to the mistreatment of the staff who are in the
trenches with us. My rationale for this expression, is to see and recognize the lacking of Human decency, as it
pertains to ALL PEOPLE; even the Men and Women who work to earn a livable wage…they are also victims of the
Carceral System, as it creates the traumas that often goes unnoticed or unconsidered.
These People…these Men; Women; Sons; Daughters; Fathers; and Mothers, have been hard pressed to do the
right thing, as it aligns with the Human Spirit. In all honesty, I’ve had Staff, care enough about me than the
inhabitants who live around me; those who’re within the exact same position and experiencing the same conditions.
I’ve had Staff and Inhabitants of this environment, care enough about each other, from a humanity stand point, that it
establishes a fondness and respect for the people they are. But it’s too often, that such truths and behaviors are
misrepresented as “Fraternization”, because the respectful smiles and treatments of an individual incarcerated, goes
against the identity of what the Imprisonment of Human Beings has always been.
On August 16, 2024, Greensville Correctional Center, was so short of staff, that they couldn’t manage the regular
issues that are necessary for Housing the Men here. My Unit Manager showed so much strength and
fortitude, while enduring the overwhelming stress of being the Unit Manager, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Floor Officer,
and the floating officer, to ensure that the Officers who worked in the building, were able to have the necessary
breaks. I watched this Woman; this Mother; this Concerned and Professional Person, look Beat Down; Bruised;
Defeated and Unconsidered.
I watched as the choice swirled in the conscious mind of an overworked; overlooked and unappreciated employee.
The unfortunate circumstances, made a Mother have to choose between being a “professional oppressor”, due to
the many unaddressed issues, that makes one choose their profession, over being Mothers; Fathers; and Human
Beings. I watched as adjustments had to be made, as a result of a staff shortage, which couldn’t allow a Mother to
go home, at the respectable hour to pick up her child. I watched her shoulder the burden of the World and the
Heavens, only to become a victim of the lazy mentality, of those who are in authority over Her or work alongside her,
in this environment.
This is not an essay to point fingers or name names. But what has become true from the past, up to now, is that
there’s no accountability of those issues that are often great sound bites or article fillers. Frankly, there is no
Humanized treatment of the staff or the residents of this institution. The fraternal order of “Correctional Officers”, are
only working as the means to support their lives and their families, remaining unconcerned of who suffers the Mental
Strains; the Broken Families; as well as those Questions of one’s very own worth, within a much Bigger Human
Family.
There’s so many OUTSTANDING People, who are currently employed here, at Greensville Correctional Center, that
are leaving here, in order to work at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. One of the best People, who’s a Unit Manager of the Reentry Building and Army Veteran is also leaving. She has always been the proper example of a Good Person; a Great Manager of any and all affairs, that addresses the issues of people… if
their jumping ship, what does that say about the environment and the people who manage/control it, as an overall.
Those are just a few of the people who are losing their own humanity, due to the expectation of separating their humanity from their occupation. They have relied heavily, on those of us, who has made the choice to work towards
Building Bridges and Mending Fences. Yes, those Bridges takes effort and time, but when there’s no efforts put towards the action, which leads to solutions, we fail at the proper outcomes we’re trying to gain.
This next expression is very close to me, and that’s because it speaks to the excessive force, utilized, without having clear and present evidence, to justify such force or the order of that force, being utilized. Please know that I compose this, at a risk of being viewed differently; handled differently; as well as treated differently. But I WILL NOT sit around and allow the very nature of People, to be disrupted, corrupted, or looked at with a biasness, that can’t be shown out of uniform, as it is displayed while in the uniform. Meaning…if you have an ulterior motive, towards the
population of incarcerated Men and Women, then state it; embrace; and outwardly display it, for the Free World to see, as well as the incarcerated one, to know and accept. {NOTE: This is to speak to the Mentality of the environment and how such a Mentality, has not only risked the lives
of people, but the very Humanity that separates the People from animals}. As I am held to the standard of a Human Being first, and Man second; how is it fair and decent, to absolve the Staff Officials of such a standard? So this is
just a few of the Inhumane treatments that’s occurring, within these Imprisoning facilities.}
Alfonso “Ghaza” Skyles (aka. Quillz) (#1134129)
Greensville Correctional Center
Brilliance Behind Bars 