DannyBoyinExile

Any time an incident occurs around here, which requires immediate assistance, the CO on duty will pick up his radio (which was called a “walkie-talkie” back in my day!) and call in a Flash Flash Flash. Shortly thereafter, a swarm of COs and/or medical personnel will run to the scene, to deal with whatever chaos has ensued.
Right behind the Flash Flash Flash code, the officer will give a summary of what is going on, as well as (most importantly) WHERE said backup needs to get to. For example, “Flash Flash Flash! I have two offenders fighting on C2, two row.”
Or, “There are multiple inmates fighting in B chow hall.”
Or even, “An officer is fighting with an inmate in A hallway!”
Lately, though, the most common reason for a Flash Flash Flash (and it’s quite common, indeed) is for a “nonresponsive inmate”. That means an inmate is sprawled out somewhere, unconscious – and could very well be DEAD, for all the officer on duty can determine. In fact, many inmates throughout TDCJ HAVE died, after overdosing on Fentanyl or some other illicit substance, so these calls are always taken seriously by the staff. I mean, it wouldn’t be THEIR fault if the idiot died – but they don’t want them doing it on their watch, which tends to make them look bad. Not to mention all the paperwork that would ensue!
For this reason (possible deaths, I mean, not paperwork), the responders are always equipped with Narcan – which does wonders to bring people out of narcotic overdoses. I’ve personally witnessed guys who I would’ve sworn were dead, whom the COs could get NO response from, and had to be carted off on a stretcher. Miraculously, I see the same guy in the commissary line a week or so later, complaining that he’s on restriction now!
You can’t help but get desensitized to these nonresponsive inmate calls, after seeing so many of them. As inmates, we’ll quickly just step right over an unconscious inmate and keep going. Because it’s happened so many times (in some cases, to the same INMATE so many times!) that we know there’s a 99% chance that he’ll be OK shortly – and looking for another hit. Knowing that, nobody wants to be the guy who gets an entire wing put on lockdown for 24 hours for reporting it to the staff! (Sadly, the unconscious guy never feels guilty for being the CAUSE of the ensuing lockdown!)
As I write this, my wing IS on a 24-hour lockdown. (23 hours and 59 minutes, to be exact, which is why they call it a “23:59” ) I’m not sure what the purpose is of placing a wing on lockdown – minus the guy who caused it, and went to lockup – but it’s become standard procedure for nonresponsive inmates.
I can’t really complain, because I understand exactly why we’re on lockdown. While I was at work the other day, THREE SEPARATE INMATES had to be carted off to medical after smoking too much “Man Down”. That was clearly justification for giving our wing some “Time Out”. I just hate that it happened on a weekend, so I have to spend my days off from work being locked in my cell! But I understand.
I am mature enough to admit that I’m glad to see the administration doing SOMETHING to try and deal with the problem – as opposed to other administrations who will overlook problems like that for fear of making themselves look bad – and do nothing about it.
I read that on one unit, they had to administer Narcan to 27 different people IN ONE DAY! Some inmates are happy to be on a unit like this one, without all the drama that comes along with the illegal activities. While others WISH they could be at a place like that, which obviously “has it going on”.
As for me, I’ve learned that any prison is what you make it. Whatever you are into, you can find anywhere, if you look for it. That goes for drugs, drama, money – or just peace and quiet. I try to learn what I can from any situation, and focus my efforts on MYSELF, because that’s the one person I CAN change. At the end of the day, our decisions are ours alone – so it’s up to each of us to make the best decisions we possibly can. Because the consequences that come from them will be ours alone as well. So says DannyBoy.