DannyBoyinExile

There aren’t many things in TDCJ that can instantly spike your blood pressure and heart rate more than when a CO tells you, “Gimme your ID!”
That’s because, at that point, you KNOW that you’ve messed up, and are about to be written a case for whatever you did. You know that you’re about to endure the tedious disciplinary process (which is called many things, but “fair” isn’t one of them!), and are almost certainly about to receive some repercussions. It’s even worse when you don’t feel as if you deserved it. (I, for one, rarely feel very guilty!)
What’s worse still, is what we call a “secret indictment”. That’s when you don’t get caught doing anything, or get asked for your ID at all – and they just show up at your door with a case, asking for your statement and how you want to plead.
Alas, I just experienced this the other day. I was minding my own business, like I always do, and playing with my tablet (like I always do!). A Sergeant shows up and asks me, “Matthews? What’s your statement for this case?”
I’m like, “Surely you jest! I haven’t HAD a case. For what?”
“It says you were out of place, talking to somebody through the window of the A4 dayroom.”
A shot of adrenaline wouldn’t have caused my heart to beat any faster, but I tried to remain calm. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy. I haven’t had a case, and haven’t been anywhere near A4.”
He said, “It says she identified you by asking for your ID card.”
I couldn’t help feeling some righteous indignation, because for once in my life, FINALLY, I was innocent!
“Sir, NOBODY has asked me for my ID. Nobody saw me at the A4 window. You’ve got the wrong guy!”
“Are you not Bo Matthews?”
“No! I’m DANNY Matthews!”
“Is your number 20-something?”
“No! My number is 70-something!”
Tyranny is alive and well in the world, no doubt. But I must admit that there is practically nobody who would continue to try and prosecute you (or persecute you!) when it’s obvious that you didn’t do what they claim you did.
He could have simply pushed the case through anyway, and told me to save my excuses for the judge – but he didn’t. Clearly there was another inmate running around with the same last name as me, so he set off to find him. (My advice? Check the A4 window, where he seems to hang out!) 🙂
I don’t know what ended up happening to the other guy, but I made it through the ordeal unscathed. I try to always remain calm, and remember that the first step in making a situation better is simply to not make it WORSE. Nobody around here enjoys a secret indictment, but they ARE survivable, if you can keep your composure. Prison is what you make it (just like life is what you make it), so I always prefer to make it better. So says DannyBoy.