DannyBoyinExile

The overall atmosphere of any particular unit in TDCJ is directly affected by each unit’s administration. No two units are exactly the same, because no two ADMINISTRATIONS are exactly the same. Each individual Warden and Major has his or her own pet peeves, and decides which activities the inmate population can get away with – and which ones they certainly CAN’T get away with.
The city of Austin may be the capital of Texas, but Huntsville is definitely the capital of TDCJ. That’s where TDCJ headquarters is located, where new policies and procedures are implemented, and serves as the heart that pumps these policies and procedures to the other units across Texas.
For this reason, many officers are trained in the Huntsville area, then promoted and indoctrinated until they know precisely how TDCJ wants its prisons ran – then transferred to the other units across the state, to get them in line as well.
I’ve noticed this firsthand, during the past eleven years I’ve spent on the Wynne Unit. Some changes I completely agree with – others, not so much. But change is always coming, whichever side of the fence you happen to call home!
We just lost an Assistant Warden, who was promoted and sent to another unit, as well as a Major, who was also promoted and transferred. These changes rarely affect me personally – but I happened to work for this particular Major, so his absence leaves this “Major’s SSI” with no Major to work for!
I was patiently waiting for the next Major, to see whether they’d hire me as well, and keeping the hallway clean every day, like I normally did (and like he TOLD me to continue doing, before he left). Alas, I didn’t make it very long…
The other Major (the Queen) saw me picking up my clothes from the laundry – with my last name and “Major’s SSI” on the pocket – when she informed me that I WASN’T the Major’s SSI (she has her own), and that he wasn’t even on the unit anymore. I was merely continuing to keep the hall clean and smelling good, like he TOLD to do, but she promptly changed my job, and now I’m back in the mattress factory. That sucks, of course, but clearly the new regime doesn’t require my services.
I like to think that I’m a natural, when it comes to working the hallway. I stay busy, and make it a priority to keep the place looking and smelling good. My people skills are top notch, and I can get along with all the inmates and staff I encounter each day. And I went out of my way to be polite and make myself useful to the guards. They called my name at least a hundred times a day, needing help with this or that. I never complained, and felt that being courteous to them was just part of being a good hallway worker.
Clearly, everyone didn’t appreciate all the work I put in out there. So now I’m back to the mattress factory – which happens to be my fallback position, each time I’m fired from a better job! But I haven’t given up hope. Officers are always being promoted, and transferred on and off the unit, so no change is permanent around here. Plus I’ve built a reputation as being a really good worker, with a good attitude – and plenty of experience, for sure! So it won’t be long until someone else needs a good SSI and hires me.
Until then, it’s back to the basics. With my work ethic, I can make myself look good just about anywhere, I just have to keep in mind that this disappointment can be a steppingstone to an even better situation. Besides – if you can make yourself stand out even at a job you don’t particularly like, it’s only a matter of time before you are noticed, and given an even better one. Just be careful not to be the nail that sticks out the furthest – and is the first to get hammered down! 🙂
So says DannyBoy.