Most people think that prisoners have access to modern amenities while in prison, like Internet, education, even work. That is far from the truth. My son just recently moved to a two person cell. Before that he shared a 6 by 12 room with 2 other inmates. I cannot even imagine his living conditions. He said they managed to work out a system to give each one some privacy for bathroom use, but if the urge came during the middle of the night they had to make the best of the situation. They are locked in at 9 and remain locked in until 5 the next morning. At my age nature calls at least two times a night, so I guess I would wake everyone.
During the day the prisoners can travel to different places. They can visit the library, the yard for exercise, the mess hall, or return to their cells. They remain in the selected area for 1 hour until they are allowed to change locations. Matt described the environment as "high school on steroids." The inmates are usually loud, picking at each other, and watching their surroundings 24/7. I was complaining about how loud my school lunch time was with 100 second graders and he told me to multiply that by 10 and imagine it all day long. I got a headache just thinking about it.
The library does have a few books. Most are donated from inmates who leave and give their personal collection to the media center. Matt does not have Internet access, which makes it extremely hard to do his school work. His dad and I have paid for him to go to college while in prison. He attends the Ohio University's College for the Incarcerated. The college is accredited and all courses are 100% correspondence. He reads his lessons then takes a quiz under the supervision of a prison official. He asked if it was an official college and his dad said it better be since we just paid $1500 for a course! With typical Hobby humor, Joe said he wanted a bumper sticker that read "My money and my convict go to Ohio University!"
Matt can receive email but only through a specific website that is monitored by the prison. He has to send a request and the person on the outside responds. His email are not free but they are cheaper than phone calls. Phone calls are made direct and charged through his account with the Federal Board of Prisons.
Some prisons do offer jobs where prisoners can earn a small amount of money, but Matt has not been able to get a job at any place where he has been. There is a system of priorities and those who have been there the longest are the first to qualify. With prison overcrowding, jobs are difficult to acquire.
I have learned quite a bit about our Federal prison system during this journey. I know we pay way too much for a system that really doesn't reform the way it should. I guess that's why the Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:3 to " Continue to remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them." I never thought much about that verse until it became a part of my life. The only one who can truly reform is the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for all prisoners.
