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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1973)
New prison In this fourth part of a five part series, Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex inmate George E. May examines the policy changes in the institution since he entered nearly three years ago. The last article in Friday's Daily Nebraskan will describe "Boot Hill," the prison cemetery. (May's parole hearing will be Thursday, today's article is written in anticipation of a favorable decision.) by George E. May Number 27571 I sat icstlessly in the straight chair and wondered if today would be my day. I looked at my watch and it seemed the hands had stopped. I pressed it to my ear to see if it was still ticking; it was. I was number seven on the list and would know my fate within the hour. For the umpteenth time that morning, I reviewed the events of the past 30 days-since I last talked to the parole board. On that Tuesday morning, they had set today as the date for a final parole hearing. Could anything go wrong now? Was I psychologically prepared to possibly be turned down in my bid for freedom? Didn't most of the guys who received a "final" get a parole? The incessant buer took me away from those tormenting thoughts and I entered the parole hearing room. 4 5 t.w. .1'. Wj mmmv jMtu walks down the George E. May dairy barns. Irate . . . SL. - -ft ''! - . f F tW JM n shore stuff S tu dents themselves final used hlli r A I'tjmr tnrr, I imoln Knriils I iHHiIy Sturdy. I inht Ul HUl M'i slil II Slut f, (,jtr;Y Siiuppiiix ( tlltir, I imoln I ntnihi W, hm Stn Snrth llth I inrolr Hrumli iy I ii "hi ln Imiiiii iorJmun. I imoln Wlu i li r I iih ulii J l f. IhinalJ policies revive freedom, dignity Minutes later, I emerged with a parole a hundred dreams having come to pass. My euphoric feeling is hard to express. I was emotionally drained. Is this the feeling that the drug addict seeks? The feeling of contentment and well-being? I can't imagine any artificial stimulant feeling this good! A few minutes later, the other fortunate ones joined me in the last walk through those clanging doors. We had received our civilian clothes, personal belongings and money the S30 that the state awards me and the $125 that I have involuntarily saved. It is one-half of my labor charge for the 946 days I have been working in the penitentiary. I also signed the Conditional Release Agreement which allows the parole authorities to rescind my parole if I misbehave. As we passed through the turn-key area, I recalled my thoughts when I was headed in the other direction. It seems a little incongruous that I was scared then-and scared now. We now were one door away from freedom, awaiting transportation outside. My thoughts drifted back inside the walls to the six or seven fellow inmates who I'd encountered after I received the parole. I felt sad that none of them congratulated me-not a soul shook my hand or wished me well. And we had been photo by Ted Kirk road leading from the prison's students semester, However, ASUN can do little or nothing about the complaint, unless those students personally contact the ASUN office. Their names will be held in confidence if they so choose. who signed 'Irate Psych 70 students" wrote a letter to ASUN complaining about the testing practices being in that course this breaking bread together for years! There were just a few cryptic remarks like, "see you later" (are they kidding?), or "don't take any wooden nickels." Nothing personal like, "drop me a line and let me know how you're doing," or "I'm happy for you, good luck." Comradeship is one of many missing ingredients in this place. A county car drove up and some fellow with handcuffs and leg irons was being helped from the vehicle. Another commitment. They never cease. The scene reminds me of many months ago when I entered and I mentally retraced the changes since my arrival here. During the first year here, I felt deeply embittered about the dehumanizing atmosphere of prison. I can understand the need for a structured, institutionalized setting for many law violators, but not the practice of stripping a man of all his dignity because he deviated from the norms and mores of society. Unless, of course, you wish to follow the "pound of flesh" maxim. When I arrived, there was still rigid censorship of mail and the threat of isolation (in "the Hole") for violating any rule. (That included a bland diet of unsweetened mush with milk and two slices of bread in the morning, and four ounces of vegetables with an unseasoned, boiled potato and two pieces of bread in the evening. A man's family was allowed to visit only twice a month. Any visitors or correspondents had to be approved and if the police department in their home town determined they had a police record, it affected the chances for clearance. If maintaining family ties is an integral part in rehabilitation, such regulations defeat that purpose. During my first year of imprisonment, I did not even correspond with my mother and would not be doing so today had I not met a sympathetic administrator. Neither she nor any member of my family had been arrested, but I did not wish to communicate with her if she would be subjected to the stigma attached to my situation. During my second year, the whole place seemed to move toward a new philosophy. With a change in administration and a progressive warden, the tensions seemed to lessen and the attitudes seemed to focus on treating each inmate as an individual. doily nebraskan tditor ln-Chiof : Torn Lonsworth. Managing Editor: Cheryl Westcott News Editor Michuol (O.J.) Nelson. Copyright 1973, The Daily IMobraskdn. Material may bo roprinteo without permission if attributed to the Daily Nebraskan, excepting ii.iti-ri.il cowered by anoth copyright. Second cl.iiS pottage paio .t Lincoln, Nebraska. Address: The Daily Nebraskan 34 Nebraska Union14th & R itreotsLinr.oln, Nebr. The PL's CORNER 16th Posters itx:zpj Pipes Papers Incense Posters Jevlry Censorship of incoming and outgoing mail was discontinued, except for the removal of contraband items. The threat of isolation is still there, but more discrimination is used and a regular diet has replaced the bland bill-of-fare. Visiting privileges have doubled and the trustee dormitory (a minimum security unit outside the prison wall but inside a fence) has a visiting area where a man and his family (although, still, only after police screening) may spend an entire day together. Even the dining room has changed. Prisoners can now eat with whomever they like. No more 13 hours in a cell each night-now we have a gymnasium for evening recreation. And prisoners behind the walls who can afford a television (priced at $82.40 or 206 days of work or 412 days after the mandatory half wage deduction) can watch it until midnight each night. Probably the greatest morale builders, other than the Vocational Rehabilitation program, are the Work Release program and the periodic furloughs given to model prisoners. The furloughs are important in strengthening community and family ties and the Work Release program allows the inmate his first opportunity since incarceration to demonstrate his worth. He works days and returns to prison or a Work Release Center in the evening. The money earned is used to help maintain his family, pay his room and board at the facility, make restitution to his victims or to bolster his savings account This is the first time he has been able to make decisions affecting his welfare and the prosperity of his family. He is at last allowed to demonstrate that he can become a responsible person-an asset to his community. But more than anything else, he is beginning to be his own man again, paying his own way. What a change I've lived through in this prison. A good share of the reforms should have taken place years ago, but they are happening now. Slowly, but surely, an apathetic public will decide that after 200 years of prison failure, penal reform must be the order of the day. The metamorphosis has begun. The long-awaited transportation has arrived and I am on my way. You ask if I'll make it? You bet! If I managed to survive three years in that jungle called prison I can make it anywhere. 68508. Telephone: 4024722588. Last Sals For five yean the Poster Joint has stood at 16th & Q providing a friendly little gift shop for gift seekers. Now it' over we're going out of business. But before we end it all, we've decided to buy several shipment! of new merchandise and sell them them at wholesale prices. It's a kind of going away sale. A thank you gift, if you like, from P.J. s corner to you. And now, good bye. It's been real Lincoln. . . it s been wonderful. and Q (wge 2 daily nebraskan Wednesday, may 2, 1973 i
