With the podcasts that I have done and the inmates that I have spoken to, I have learned that there is a vast difference between the prisons state by state. It seems that there are vastly different ways to house and discipline inmates. Some prisons have a lot of programs so that the incarcerated person in question can have a chance to improve themselves and learn new skills. Those skills ranging from job skills to personal management skills to control things like drug addiction, violent behavior, things like that. While other prisons seem not to care as much about helping to keep an inmate from returning to prison at all.
Case in point, let’s take a look at the California prison system. I talked to Scott Dekraai, the Seal Beach killer. A little background on Scott. He went through a bad divorce with his wife. When his son told him that his ex-wife was beating him and he was showing up with bruises on his body, Scott did what any father would do. He went to the police and filed a report. Nothing happened to resolve the matter. Then he went to Child Protective services with the same result. Scott was also addicted to prescribed pain killers at the time due to an injury that almost left him paralyzed while working on a tugboat as the captain. In a fit of rage, he armed himself and went to where his former wife worked, a beauty salon in Seal Beach, CA. He shot and killed everyone in the salon including his former wife. As he left, he shot another man who was in the parking lot. He surrendered to the police within an hour of this all happening. Now, this accounting is what Scott Dekraai told me during an interview.
My interview with Scott was after he was sentenced and had been transferred to the prison in Tehachapi, CA. That particular prison is unique in that it houses everyone from serial killers and mass shooters to those who are drug dealers. Scott was on C yard, and that yard had many programs to help the inmates better themselves. Scott took classes to become a drug and alcohol counselor. He also took classes on anger management and several other classes to better himself. Along with all of that, there are groups there that focus on helping each other to get through the classes and be supportive of their journey to become better people. Scott has since transferred to another prison to begin his journey as a counselor. At the same prison in Tehachapi, CA there is another yard that the programs are not available. I got this information from a guy that I met through Scott. His name is Neil. Neil was transferred to the A yard and life there is very different.
On the A yard, you don’t have access to the programs that you do on the C yard. It is a much more violent place from what I gather and there is a lack of any support groups with few exceptions. Neil has a mention that he talks to as well as a counselor to help him become a better person inside. Neil also speaks out about domestic violence and drug use. He has come on my podcast, Sex Love and Serial Killers, a few times to speak on that topic. His personal goal is to help prevent others from going down the same road that he went down. That road got him 35 years to life in prison. He had also been in prison several times in the past. His goal isn’t to get out of the prison system, but to help others. He began this journey with Scott Dekraai on the same yard as I said. The inmate support groups I feel is what helped him a lot.
Then of course, I had to talk to Todd Kohlhepp who is in South Carolina. He is currently housed at the Broad River correctional facility in Columbia, SC. Here is what he had to say. A little background on Todd before we go on. Todd was convicted of 8 murders and also keeping a woman by the name of Kala Brown in a Conex box (Shipping Container) for over 60 days. I will say that he does not cause a lot of issues at the prison that he is at, nor does he want to. He as well as some of his fellow inmates have told me that Todd keeps to himself most of the time. I can tell you firsthand that Todd is a fairly nice guy. We talk about once a week, sometimes more, and we email each other daily. He doesn’t ask for anything such as money, Ect. If you want to know more about Todd, you can check out his autobiography titled “A Devil Reflects as told to Scott Cole” Which is free to read on Kindle Unlimited and for sale on Amazon. Click the link below.
South Carolina prisons are a complete shit fest of WTF and Oh Hell No. In the last eight years I have spent my time in several maximum-security dorms at Broad River in Columbia, Cooper B and Stono dorms at Lieber prison near Charleston and a short stay in Supermax also at the Broad River complex. No matter where you go in SCDC with roughly 29,000 inmates and maybe 4 convicts spread throughout the state, the only thing consistent is how messed up this place is. Predominantly 90 percent black, 10 percent white and broken up into a mix of gangs that make no sense. Some days they oppose each other with posting guard when one takes a shower and the next the Crips, Bloods and G’s are teaming up, usually to rob or screw over one of their own. Convict code is officially dead in this state where robbing is OK if the take is shared, snitching is OK as long and not against your own gang and then considered ” networking” with guards to get ahead.
Many whites are often extorted or ” put to work” by various gangs doing everything from holding contraband, sextortion with cell phones or running dope and store around. Racial in a non-structured manner with enemy lines moving hourly and if a white isn’t in a gang (for which they are always in “do boy” status) or in for murder, they have a target on them. Being labeled a serial killer by the state, not just deciding that’s what you are going to call yourself to have a tough prison name (with all the non-killers going by killer, shooter, murder\murda, I just go by Todd. I don’t need the assist) and being completely OK with adding another life sentence to the box of them I already have means I don’t have to deal with any of that bullshit. I’m White, the Caucasians who put up with that crap need to grow some balls. Most of the gang members of all the variations tend to go out of their way to be friendly with me or just stay away from me. I can’t tell you how many gang members wanted me to say hi to their moms on the phone to show they are doing time with a serial killer. I’m the nicest person you will ever meet unless you do me wrong. I don’t get into the racial crap, I’m equal opportunity with how you treat me dictates how I treat you.
Cells are all racially mixed and it’s an act of God to get a room change, which tends to cause a lot of violence since no other way to resolve cell problems. Many of the guards are borderline illiterate with many refusing to write up any inmate for breaking rules as difficulties with reading and writing are widespread. SCDC has a major problem with staff being direct members of or affiliated with the very gangs they are supervising, resulting in bringing in contraband including drugs and cell phones, ignoring gang violence or opening doors so the gangs can do as they please.
The steroid munching response team known as CERT constantly beat inmates after they are in handcuffs and property intentionally destroyed to feed their buffet line egos. There is zero professionalism here, they don’t act it and damn well can’t spell it. I was one of 60 in a dorm that had 20 cs teargas canisters dropped in and 40 pounds of liquid pepper spray used with 55 of us locked down, the other 5 refusing to lockdown without a shower, in a dorm where we regularly go 13-21 days between showers. Eventually people get tired of being treated like this and they just wanted a shower. Here you will be on a first name basis with your soap and sink. I wash with a sock puppet named Apryle for that special intimate time washing my junk.
Every dorm I’ve been in has been extremely nasty with filth, cockroaches everywhere and maintenance doing all it can just to keep up with keeping the buildings from falling apart. Wiring has been pulled out everywhere you look, every fire alarm ripped open for the plastic speakers so guys can have that shitty trunk rattle sound in here with even shittier music. Holes leaking water in ceilings, plumbing constantly messed up and backing up into rooms.
Dorms are designed by a grade school idiot with no floor drains for the frequent floods made by pissed off inmates (never floods the guard’s areas, then the mental giants think flooding their own rooms will upset the guards somehow. It doesn’t), even in the ” flood zone”, which is a dozen rooms 4 feet below main floor level. Cameras are all over the dorm, yet none in the many very large and very dark blind zones. The rooms are trashed everywhere and often there are football sized holes in walls between cells to pass contraband and occasionally there will be man sized holes made so inmates can visit each other. Maintenance patches one hole all while three more are being made.
The food is absolutely disgusting and while against policy, meals of leftovers that were left out and not wanted the first time often find their way into the next. Seriously, I cannot express just how bad and badly prepared the meals are in SCDC, almost makes short portions a non issue as more food goes in trash than in stomachs. The overpriced store on the other hand does one hell of a weekly business. Contraband is everywhere with drones making deliveries like its Amazon Prime of anything and everything we are not supposed to have, but your money says bring it. Most contraband is brought in by guards, often in their ” prison suitcase” where a cheap flip phone can bring a grand, cheap no name smartphone can run 3000. Every month the news reports staff being arrested, but the money is too good to pass up.
The drug K2 has completely wrecked the prison system by turning the majority into zombie junkies who rarely bother with anything other than chasing a drug that leaves you incapable of defending yourself or rational thought. ” Meth gay” is a phrase used often here. Knives and even axes are extremely common all while any skill at using them is rarer than unicorns. These guys have heart as they will go at it, just no skill at actually doing real damage past what a Band-Aid will fix. This is referred as ” wetting up” someone and that’s all it is, little scratch and few drops of blood.
Everywhere in this system there is a very serious problem with public masturbation to the point that you think it’s the monkey cage at the zoo. Every time any female, no matter how wildebeest ugly she is comes near, there is going to be a 21-dick salute known as a “gun line” and most are proud of it to the point its frequently topic of conversation. It is not uncommon for someone to be sitting at a four-person table in the chow hall, masturbating under the table in front of everyone. These are some nasty fucks here in the deep south.
One more thing I noticed that blew my mind was just how much noise there is, especially with ” cell warriors ” making daily threats to others out their food flaps, yet when doors open, they don’t do a damn thing but stand directly in front of cameras hoping no one will touch them AND surprisingly no one does. That shit would NOT fly in Arizona where ” Talk shit, get hit” is rule of the land. Unlike what I experienced out west where ” stand by your door” means now, not when you feel like it, here it’s like herding cats on meth. Rules are not enforced, problems pushed on to the next shift and punishments are widespread for individual acts. If you find yourself doing a lot of time in SCDC, the only positive is you will probably die well before your time as many do due to health conditions brought on by high starch diet and infections from all the filth. South Carolina is the hotel 6 one month away from being condemned of prisons. 1 out of 5 stars only because prisons are not supposed to be nice. Slave plantation living with indoor plumbing.
I spent 15 Years in the Arizona prison system starting when I was 15 in the Minors unit at the Rincon prison in Tucson that was very much a gladiator school. If you were not fighting today, most likely you will be tomorrow. ” Heart checks” to see if you would fight and if so, how well, were common. The Minors unit being part of and in direct contact with the adult prison population, the minor’s unit was truly hated as every time a lockdown was called, the adult buildings all had to be locked down to free up staff to respond to whatever violent situation we were causing almost daily.
I did most of my time in Tucson at the Rincon and Santa Rita prisons and took college night classes at Cimarron prison, all in the same complex. At the time I left ADOC housed roughly 55,000 convicts statewide. For the small state population, they have a very sizable prison population with prisons, several privately managed spread out everywhere. Later I finished my last year at the Florence complex, which is larger than the town it’s named after, until my release in November of 2001. Regardless of where you do time in Arizona, the rules are standard, and they are enforced. No means No and punishment is usually handed out at the individual level, not at everyone who wasn’t involved.
The food is decent, about what you will find at a high school cafeteria, and you get plenty of it. If you go hungry it’s your own damn fault for either not showing up or being sent back for not having mustache and beard properly trimmed. They are dead serious about grooming and personal hygiene.
The prisons are very racially divided, yet in a political manner, not in a hate way. On a 1000-man yard there are usually about 500 whites, 450 Hispanics split 60-40 from each side of the border and then between 30-50 blacks. Yet everyone maintains a level of mutual respect, and no one gets taken advantage of. The chow hall is segregated by convict decision with each race having their own location to prevent any issues between us. The whites additionally break seating down by where you fit into the food chain. Aryans to the back, child molesters sit it Chomo alley. If you wonder where to sit don’t worry, it will be explained to you long before you even touch a tray and there is no appeal.
ADOC desegregated cells in early mid 90’s after two punks of different races wanted to live with each other, causing racial issues everywhere when administration started forced integration until the different races shot callers resolved the matter peacefully. You can move in, but you are moving out come Tuesday or Thursday, standard moving days on every yard if there is a conflict. This had nothing to do with hate, the close quarters segregation is only done to help keep the peace as war causes lockdowns which stops the money flowing from drugs, gambling, tattoos and trade. True gangsters focus on the money to be made, not petty squabbles over skin color.
ADOC desegregated cells in early mid 90’s after two punks of different races wanted to live with each other, causing racial issues everywhere when administration started forced integration until the different races shot callers resolved the matter peacefully. You can move in, but you are moving out come Tuesday or Thursday, standard moving days on every yard if there is a conflict. This had nothing to do with hate, the close quarters segregation is only done to help keep the peace as war causes lockdowns which stops the money flowing from drugs, gambling, tattoos and trade. True gangsters focus on the money to be made, not petty squabbles over skin color.
There is very very few stabbings as just getting caught with a weapon is added time on your sentence. In 15 years I think I only saw 3 knives. I also saw three small pistols while I was there, but never were used. The ass beatings are free and often to those that deserve them. Convict code is rigidly enforced of no snitching, no stealing, always pay your debts and keep your word, stay in your own lane. While it most definitely is prison to teach you a lesson, it’s not a hard place to do Time if you have a little common sense and keep your hands off other convicts’ property. Arizona is the Marriott of prisons, not quite the Westin or Hyatt, but it tries hard. 4 out of 5 stars.
One of the other inmates at Broad River is a guy named Keunte Cobbs. He went into prison for killing a man.
As I told you before, this is my fourth time visiting this prison. Every time has gotten worser. You are absolutely correct when you say they are all ran differently. Honestly, its different levels. Level 3 being the worst. Here, they are way stricter due to the fact of the types of individuals they house. Allegedly, some guys from the biggest riot in US history are housed here. From the Lee County riot in 2018. Then you have your guys, the alleged serial killers. Next, the so called badasses. These are your types of people on your level 3 yards. Level 2 prison yards are a mixture of young and old. Both midway through their sentence or about to go home. They have lots of programs on those yards. We at the level 3 status consider them privileged yards. However, they are strict as well. In the sense of, this is a program yard, and they’ll ship you quick if you violate any rules. Scott no one wants to say it, but we are just slaves. This prison industry is the new modern-day slavery. They issue us jobs here, with no pay. Sometimes we go days without showers and recreation. This administration continues to break the law. I just keep everything documented. It’s very cruel and unusual. That relationship and God might be the only thing that keeps us grounded. My kids keep me sane. Knowing I have two living beings that need me is enough for me. If you need more info, please just hit me back. Everyone is doing good man, and I’ll make sure I tell them.
I am going to wrap this blog up with my thoughts on the subject and leave you, my readers, to your own opinion. When you are sent to prison it is not supposed to be pleasant. You committed a crime and now you are paying the price. With that said, there are basic human rights that should be at play even if you are incarcerated. First off, proper nutrition. I am not saying that inmates should be served gourmet meals, but a well-balanced diet can go a long way in controlling the population as far as health issues. I feel that prisons should be a place to reform those who have made mistakes, yes, even serial killers. People are more than their crimes. Do you want proof? Ok, here you go. I am sure that most of us have had speeding tickets, parking tickets, had a bad grade in school, or some other form of mistake. What if I told you that you are a bad driver for the rest of your life with no way to redeem yourself because you had a speeding ticket, would that be true? The same goes for the rest of my examples. Most of us change and evolve over time. We learn new skills, we learn not to speed after we have to pay a fine. We learn to get a better grade when we are in school or at least try for it. Inmates are still people. Should all of them be able to get out? No, of course not. There are some who have showing that they are a danger to the outside world, and they are where they should be. That doesn’t mean that we should take away their basic rights.
The biggest thing that I can see is that some facilities have a lack of motivation for their inmates. Things like recreation, classes, and other things that you can get for basically good behavior. Think about this. What do you take away from a person who has nothing at all? What is there to lose? If you allow an inmate to have a TV, showers, hobbies, and recreational activities then you have a strong motivator to keep them on the right path. You have things that you can take away if or when they decide to do something stupid. It is also a great teaching tool. People learn that there are consequences to their actions for the good or bad. If I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, then I get. Fill in the blanks. a TV, ice cream, to play basketball, go to the gym, ETC. If I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing, then I am going to lose the privileges that I have. Most of the prisons are privatized today. With that said, it seems to me that the focus in more on the financial aspect of incarcerated people and not the correction of bad behavior. Maybe that need to change.