A few years ago I moved to Arizona. I was to be the office manager of a Real Estate
Appraisal firm. Unbeknown to me the Company owed back taxes to Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS came in and seized all of the Companies bank accounts and assets. All of a sudden I had
to scramble to find a new job. I did not immediately find work as an appraiser but took a job with
the Arizona Department of Corrections.
What I thought to be true and what the reality was; were two different things. I believed that
the individuals incarcerated were being punished and were not able or allowed to do much of
anything. Additionally, I believed that they basically sat in a jail cell and read books, drew
pictures or wrote letters. I also believed that they were law abiding while in prison. In other
words, I believed that they were limited in not being able to break the law. Additionally, I
assumed they had virtually no contact with the outside world.
I completed some training in self-defense, first aid, conflict resolution, Radio
Communications, etc. I was then sent to Cell Block 6 AKA Death Row. This is where my
perceptions began to give way to reality. I found that almost every inmate (as called by officers
and staff) had a Television and that free cable was provided with many movie channels available.
Most had stereos with many CD’s. They were required however, to wear headphones while
listening to their music. I was surprised to find that the law mandated many privileges to the
incarcerated individuals. Three hot meals a day were served the inmates. Also, family members
could send them care packages at Christmas up to about 100 lbs., containing homemade food and
clothing items. In addition, there is a prison store that the Incarcerated could order items from. A
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