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00:12GB unit. This is where the unit still stands.
00:23We're seeing from inside the Bristol County House of Corrections.
00:27Inmates incited a six-hour long standoff on Friday when correctional officers attempted
00:32to move them to different blocks.
00:36On that day, we were going to move some inmates out of this unit and put them behind a locking
00:41door unit. They didn't want that. So they decided to refuse to move and damage the unit.
00:48Sheriff Paul Haro says that the inmates destroyed the jail, breaking apart different items such
00:53as beds to make weapons.
00:59No operators got hurt. No inmates got hurt. We were very lucky that day.
01:08There are over 3,000 jails in the U.S. detaining over half a million. Each one, a world of
01:16its
01:16own. Running a jail is tough. Surviving inside is tougher.
01:23Let's go. Let's go.
01:24For 120 hours, five days, our cameras are inside, capturing the officers, inmates, and moments
01:34that define life behind bars.
01:50Bristol County, Massachusetts was once among the wealthiest places in America, built by fishermen
01:55and factory workers. With those industries now gone, the county faces poverty, opioid addiction,
02:02and local street gangs that prey on both.
02:06Here, the Bristol County Sheriff's Office oversees both the Bristol County House of Correction
02:11and the historic Ash Street Jail, the nation's oldest continuously running jail. Together, they
02:19process and house nearly 15,000 individuals every year.
02:28You guys can just go right around. You guys have already been searched. How are you doing,
02:34buddy? Get in there good. All right, thank you. You too.
02:47Superintendent Joseph Oliver arrives to conduct a compliance inspection of one of the housing
02:51units.
02:53Good morning, gents.
02:54Good morning.
02:55As inmates become more violent than in years past, the Bristol County Jail operates under
03:00strict controls to maintain order and safety.
03:04So as you're walking by, you're looking for the light inside the cell?
03:08You're not able to see in the cell? How are you doing, buddy?
03:18In general, cell decorum. So when you look in the cell, you want it to look clean. But
03:23because it looks clean doesn't always mean that. That's a good thing. Some of the cleanest
03:26cells have the most contraband now. The inmates know aetherium them on beds need to be made.
03:32Nothing on the floor. Can't have anything sticking to the walls, back windows, the radiators.
03:38So the officers alone right now, but a little later today, the officer will be going around
03:42doing cell inspections, and they'll make sure all the cells are in compliance.
03:46Regular cleaning and bed making requirements make it easier for officers to spot contraband,
03:52weapons, or other prohibited items hidden in cells.
04:01Afternoon. You're going to start making your bed, okay? Appreciate it.
04:05The biggest problem we have with this jail, we have 22 housing units. 11 of the housing
04:09units don't have locks on doors. The person who designed this jail had a history and experience
04:14of designing college campuses. And so for some reason, the designer, the architect said, let's
04:20go ahead and design something with communal bathrooms, and we'll do it more like a college
04:24campus. And you can't put a lock on a door if an inmate doesn't have a toilet in the cell.
04:29And at the
04:30time, there were locks on doors, but then our state Supreme Court said, well, you don't have toilets
04:34in cells, so you have to take the locks off the doors or put toilets in the cells. And the
04:39decision was to
04:39take the locks off the doors.
04:42The jail holds roughly 700 inmates across 22 units. Originally built for low level offenses, it now
04:50faces pressures from more serious crimes like assault, drug trafficking, and murder, stretching
04:55the facility beyond its design.
04:58When I first started over 25 years ago, we didn't have the gang issues we had like we do now.
05:03Because
05:04we have so many gangs, and you have a lot of in-house fighting within the gangs, it's becoming
05:10hotter and hotter the housing because of the in-house battling that's going on. So to do
05:14that, you need more units to stretch these guys out so they can be in a safe location.
05:21But because we don't have the locking doors that we should have, ultimately there are times
05:25that we're going to have to put these people behind unlocking doors, which is a serious safety
05:29issue for everybody.
05:33Along with an increase in gang violence, Bristol County Jail also faced one of the highest inmate
05:39suicide rates in the state. When officials introduced new safety measures to bring those numbers
05:44down, the tighter restrictions sparked resistance, and ultimately an inmate uprising.
05:59We had to call out for outside assistance from other agencies. Our own SIT was activated.
06:06I was the assistant superintendent. I was actually off-duty. And I called in because
06:10I had gotten a text message that something was going on at the gym. So I reported in from
06:15the street. And when I got here, agencies were already here and they were already planning.
06:20So I just jumped into it. Response was quick, and we were able to take the unit back over.
06:28The GB unit where the uprising occurred still remains unoccupied, as the jail waits for funding
06:35to complete the installation of cell door locks and toilets.
06:39If these cell doors locked, we would have been locked down at the time this all happened, which
06:44would have been a lot better for us.
06:53Unit GC is the first stop for most inmates that arrive at the Bristol County Jail.
06:58Its dorm-style setup provides an introduction to jail life, where inmates often charged with non-violent
07:05offenses like theft, drug possession, or low-level assault adjust to routines, rules, and social
07:12dynamics in a communal setting.
07:14You see what I use for my pillow? This is what you use to wash your laundry with. This
07:18is your underwear. This is a spare towel that you get, your uniform. So what you do is you
07:24take it, you fold it up, you roll it up like this, and then you just roll it up in
07:30a nice
07:30little tight ball.
07:32From the holding cell, they bring you here, it's a GC, and it's like a military camp,
07:37kind of, you know, bunk beds, and it's like a gym, as you can see. You just, you go to
07:40a different unit, and from there you gotta wait trial or whatever.
07:43I would say it's tougher in here than it is in a regular block. In a normal cell, you
07:48go in your cell, they lock the door, it's not like that here. You can walk around the
07:53whole area, go bunk to bunk to bunk to bunk. People sitting on each other's bunks and everything,
07:59it's just chaos. Then you got your bullies that come over there and just, you can be
08:03sleeping in the middle of the night, go through your stuff, take what they want. You know,
08:08the next morning you wake up, you're missing half your canteen. It's just, it's not cool.
08:13Some crazy stuff goes down, you know what I mean? It's just somebody could be having a
08:17bad day, you know what I mean? Somebody can, you know, people miss their family,
08:20whatever, you know what I mean? It just makes them snap.
08:25My daughter was just in a bad car accident, a head-on collision, and it's just like so
08:31hard for me to find out what's going on with my daughter and everything, considering like
08:35I'm being held on with no bail. I got bailing on something else, and my family's trying
08:41to take all them, everything that they got, to put into my daughter. I'm trying to figure
08:45out how I can get out so I can go be at the hospital with my daughter, because she's in
08:50critical condition. She's on an induced coma, and it's just like I can't, I don't have
08:55no way to find out what's going on. I'm not there for her, and I feel like a horrible father
08:59because of what's going on. It's hard. It's really hard.
09:13A transport van arrives, carrying a new group of inmates, who are about to be booked into
09:18the facility. It's the first step in assessing any potential gang affiliation, and determining
09:27where an inmate will be housed. Before entering the jail, every arrestee must sit in a body-scanning
09:36chair. The device uses low-level imaging to detect hidden contraband concealed in clothing
09:42or body cavities. How you been talking, man? Oh, you remember me? Yeah, I remember you.
09:47I thought I was locked up that whole time. You'd be surprised, man. Sometimes I think they're
09:52new and they're like, oh, I'm here in here. He's going as a G1.
09:58Take a left, and you're going to step in that yellow box for me. What's your first name?
10:03Tabo. Were you born in Boston? You're Muslim?
10:08Yes. How many children you have?
10:10Two. Are you addicted to any drugs or alcohol?
10:14Yeah. To both? Yeah.
10:16Are you affiliated with any gangs? No.
10:20For inmate Tabo Matla Lugosi, what started as a simple errand quickly turned into a costly mistake.
10:27What happened here tonight?
10:30I got into a car accident. We were driving. We were driving actually to get diapers for my kid.
10:38As we're driving in the car, someone hits us on the side. I'm in the backseat. The car hits my
10:43side,
10:43so I get locked inside the car. By the time the cops come, they're like, oh, what happened? They ask
10:49us.
10:50I'm telling them, yo, I'm just trying to get some diapers and go home. That's it. I'll walk home. I'll
10:55walk home right now.
10:56And he's like, yeah, well, what's your name? And I wouldn't tell him my name because I knew I had
11:01a warrant.
11:02And I knew I was just, if he found out my name, I'm getting arrested.
11:06So then he sees there's a bag. He goes inside the bag. He opens it. And my, like, I have,
11:15like, medication that I take.
11:17And my full name was on the medication. And he arrested me right there. It was terrible.
11:25And I haven't talked to my girl ever since it happened. Like, she doesn't know if I'm okay or not.
11:30She doesn't know where I'm at. And I feel completely **** about it.
11:36And I haven't talked to nobody, like, in the past two days.
11:41And when I can't talk to my family, it just makes me sad. It makes me upset. I don't know.
11:46Like, I have a suspended sentence to two years. So if I don't get reprobated and the judge decides to
11:57not reprobate me, he's going to give me two years.
12:00And I'm going to be two years away from my kids.
12:19Inmate Matla Lugosi remains in booking as he waits to be classified and assigned to a housing unit.
12:26I just want to talk to my kids, talk to my mom, tell them I'm sorry. And my fiancé, she
12:34called me an Uber.
12:36But my friend came and pulled up. And he was like, I'll just give you a ride.
12:42I should have just took the Uber, left, and came back. But I don't know. I haven't seen my friend
12:50in a while.
12:50So I just wanted to go smoke some weed with him and chill.
12:54And I'm just trying my best, really, to just change my life.
13:00Like, I started selling weed at 13 years old.
13:04And obviously it progressed. I started selling pharmaceuticals, like pills, at 16.
13:10Um, 18, started selling crack.
13:14And I've been selling every drug you could possibly think of.
13:22I'm just trying to switch my life around.
13:34In terms of classification, we have a points best system where we'll come up with a medium, maximum, minimum custody
13:42level, which will aid us in housing.
13:45However, we have a high gang population here and a lot of gangs that don't get along together.
13:49So we have to always be careful with who we're housing with each other because at any moment we could
13:56have an issue where we incite a gang war.
14:00I've been here 28 years. When I first started in this prison, the primary populations in this area were the
14:06fishermen and prostitutes and a lot of heroin addicts.
14:09But now the crime has changed completely. Now it's much more violent, more gang driven stuff.
14:14You still have people that steal. And these inmates are much more violent towards staff, towards each other.
14:20So Tavo, he is a medium custody level inmate based upon his charges and criminal history.
14:26He will probably just go to one of our regular general population units.
14:31If he doesn't have any keep separates, that will obviously expand the units that he can go to.
14:37And if he did have keep separates, well, hopefully he can go to our H, A, F, A, or our
14:44Ash Street facility in New Bedford.
14:55Also under the sheriff's purview is the Ash Street facility, the country's oldest continuously running jail, which once housed Lizzie
15:03Borden in 1892.
15:05There's two buildings for Ash Street. The first building was built in the 1830s.
15:09And that's actually the building that Lizzie Borden had her cell in.
15:13And in the main building right now, which is built in the 1880s.
15:19So we have 100 inmates, we have about 225 or so cells.
15:24Yeah, this is my toilet. This is my sec.
15:28This is where we keep our cosmetics.
15:30So there's really not much to it where it's kind of a kennel.
15:33This is how we see, that's why.
15:36You can see when COs are coming, you can see who's in the hallway, you know what I'm saying?
15:39Every inmate that's in Ash Street has to be behind a locked cell because of gang issues or enemy issues.
15:45But I would like to close it and bring all those inmates back here.
15:48But I can't do that until I put locks on doors and let some cells in this jail.
15:53And that's the only thing holding us back.
15:54It's smaller but it's a little more low key over here.
15:58At my age, I like it better over here.
16:01Why is that?
16:02It's just a little more laid back, you know, simple.
16:05Over the course of growing up.
16:07Yeah, I got some years here.
16:09My ID number is 109, that's from the 90s.
16:12Let's see if you can call it.
16:16Let's go!
16:26All right guys, good morning.
16:28Captain Ferrer, recruits.
16:30If you don't know me, nice meeting you.
16:31Welcome to the shakedown.
16:34Officers and recruits are preparing for a shakedown following a tip about possible contraband in the Dartmouth facility.
16:40Today's target is going to be HA unit.
16:42We're going to take one guy out in the handcuffs.
16:45He stays outside the cell.
16:46We're going to strip search his cellmate.
16:48When they're done with the strip search, they're going to walk themselves out to the yard when they're fully dressed.
16:51And then the cellmate's going to go back into the cell.
16:53Strip search, dress, out to the yard.
16:56We're looking for drugs, paraphernalia, weapons, everything.
17:00But we have some intel from our SIU department.
17:03Second page here is your target cells and what we're looking for specifically in that cell.
17:08So we're going to that cell.
17:09Please pay attention to what you're searching.
17:13SIU?
17:14We've got some information in.
17:15Put these machines in the readings.
17:17Be careful.
17:19Anybody have any questions?
17:21All right guys, walk in columns.
17:23Let's side by side.
17:24Go in organized, all right?
17:25Yes, sir.
17:27SIU is a department that investigates any type of inmate activity.
17:31And we get information in various ways.
17:34Sometimes the correctional officers have a rapport with a certain inmate.
17:36We also have family members sometimes will be concerned.
17:39They'll call and give us information.
17:41We have inmates contact the confidential tip line.
17:44A phone number where inmates can call directly to our office.
17:47In this particular situation, we got a call from an informant that had given us information in the past.
17:53And made us aware that there could be some weapons in the unit.
17:55You guys good?
17:57We're heading in.
17:59There's some tension in the unit between some rival gangs.
18:02And typically when that happens, people start to harm themselves.
18:06And that's always a concern to us.
18:08So when we get that information, we try to act on it as quick as possible.
18:12I'm here, I'm here.
18:12Hold it.
18:13I'm here.
18:15I'm here.
18:16I'm here.
18:16I'm here.
18:17Sit down.
18:19Guys, make your way right to G1.
18:21On your left side, G1.
18:23Stop there.
18:23Make your way.
18:26I'm coming out.
18:28So we're going to start down here, work our way around, and then up the stairs,
18:31then we're going to empty out into the yard.
18:32In the yard, they'll be supervised while they're out there.
18:35We'll have a complete and empty unit to search.
18:37Open up 19.
18:39M-19.
18:41With all inmates removed from their cells and into the yard,
18:45officers can safely begin the search of the entire unit.
18:51Guys, it's inside.
18:52We have K-9 coming through.
18:52Give them space, please.
18:54Give them space.
18:56Canines are specifically trained in detecting narcotics and are able to scan areas too small
19:01or concealed for officers to search on their own.
19:06Make sure you guys check the fans, because they can take the fans and fire a shank.
19:10They'll be mad at anything.
19:15You might have a shank.
19:17That's a piece.
19:19Underbar.
19:20Found it.
19:21Underbar.
19:22You hear?
19:24Some of these cells, the way they're set up, they've got units like this.
19:28Sometimes they wrap around the cell.
19:30This one, he found it right in this plate.
19:35It's pretty stationary, but he's got his fingers in there.
19:38He's able to feel it.
19:39Hold yourself.
19:41This could be in someone's neck.
19:42This is sharp enough where they can reinforce it, fold it in halves, make a pretty good handle.
19:48Good fight.
19:49Good fight.
19:53There is a homebrew upstairs.
19:56Homebrew?
19:57Yeah.
20:01So in this toilet is homebrew for the fermentation.
20:05They use cut up apples and bread, and then they'll order sugar and canteen.
20:09All the ingredients will be sit there and marinate.
20:11They'll stir once in a while, and then they'll taste test it.
20:13As they think it's fermented, they'll either distribute it amongst friends or sell it and get drunk.
20:18How long does it take for this to become alcohol?
20:21It could go from three to a week.
20:23The longer, the stronger.
20:38It's a shrink.
20:48Yeah.
20:52This is pretty much what they call a shank.
20:54We used to, like, punch someone.
20:56It was located under the heater after we knocked it a few times and fell out.
21:01It's hard metal.
21:03Not sure what it's made out of, but it definitely can do some damage.
21:08The more we can find stuff like this saves lives, inmates' lives, our lives.
21:13So doing stuff like this on a daily basis really, really helps.
21:16It goes to SIU, and then they just start their process in there.
21:21Are we done yet?
21:22We good?
21:22We're done?
21:24It's a 24-hour operation when it comes to contraband.
21:26It's very, very difficult to control.
21:28We try to minimize it as best as possible.
21:30But remember, they have 365 days a year to manipulate these items.
21:34And we have to keep in contact with figuring out how we're going to find these items.
21:37So it's not easy to do.
21:39Given the jail's significant gang population, it's critical for the Special Investigations Unit to quickly review every piece of seized
21:47contraband to determine whether unit assignments need to be adjusted.
21:53So we got four shanks that we found during the shakedown this morning in the HA unit.
21:58If they have an issue with another inmate, they use it to intimidate them, or sometimes they can actually stab
22:04you with it, you know?
22:07This looks like a piece of a tablet, and they sharpen it.
22:10They sharpen it to a point where, you know, this looks like a piece of a fan motor that they
22:18sell in the canteen.
22:20They take the fan apart, and they grab the piece of metal in there.
22:25They sharpen it to a point.
22:26They're trapped with a piece of bed sheet, and they use it, like, as a handle, you know, to actually
22:32puncture a wound into you.
22:34Same thing with this one.
22:36This looks like a piece of fence.
22:38This is the one that can do the most damage.
22:41I mean, nice handle here, a nice six-inch piece of steel sharp into a point.
22:46Definitely can kill somebody very, very easily.
22:50These three we found in a cell, so we can discipline the inmates that were assigned to that cell.
22:55A formal disciplinary report is written to the individual that was in that particular cell.
23:00And then the disciplinary board officer will have an interview with them.
23:04And then a lot of these guys, they'll plead guilty, and they get sanctioned.
23:09Freedom that you have in the unit, we're going to take that away from you and lock you in a
23:13cell for 10 days.
23:14Does it work?
23:16You want my honest opinion?
23:21I would say 50-50.
23:22It works for some guys, and for some guys, you just don't care.
23:25They're going to go back out to population, and they're going to do the same thing.
23:47So this is IEE, our IMU unit.
23:50These guys are all single bunk, meaning they're living alone.
23:53These are high risk, highest level assaultive inmates.
23:57If an inmate is a danger to themselves, others, property, or the operation of the correctional facility,
24:04they are put in disciplinary detention in the special management unit.
24:0840 days!
24:1040 days!
24:12We're down here for 45!
24:15Ah, we suck!
24:16Come on, girl!
24:17Hell yeah, why are you down here?
24:19.
24:19I did for a shaking and fighting.
24:23They threw me .
24:25Are you okay with being on cell?
24:27Yeah.
24:27So we're going to put you in restraints, and we're going to go in, all right?
24:29.
24:30Inmate De Leon is no stranger to disciplinary detention, having been sent there numerous times for a range of jail
24:37infractions.
24:38.
24:50Tell me about this place.
24:52It's difficult.
24:53We're in here 22 hours of the day for the most part.
24:56You lose a lot of privileges that you get on being on the block.
25:00If I was alcohol, I'd be able to be on my tablet, call people.
25:04We get a bunch of apps.
25:05We get music and .
25:06We get to walk around the unit freely.
25:09And you can just be around people.
25:11You know what I mean?
25:11I'm in here by myself.
25:13Depending on how strong you are mentally, it could possibly drive you crazy.
25:19.
25:20Yeah, multiple times.
25:21Like a bunch of contraband fighting, refusing orders from CEOs.
25:28Just anything, honestly, can get us loved.
25:32Is it not easier to kind of conform?
25:34I mean, technically, yeah, it would be easier to just listen and follow the rules.
25:37But it gets tiring doing the same thing every day.
25:40Like, they're programming.
25:41At the end of the day, I'm just going to come here and do some time and go back and
25:43do some more time.
25:44It's not like I'm going home.
25:46It's like, what are they going to do?
25:47Put me in jail?
25:47I'm already here.
26:01That's usually where we watch the movies right there.
26:04We usually have sports on that TV right there.
26:07Inmate Malta Lugosi has been transferred to the GC unit after spending his first night in jail.
26:13Oh , this is my big bro right here.
26:17This is my other big brother.
26:22Okay, yeah.
26:24I'm going to tell the truth.
26:25I am a gang member and I love being a gang member.
26:29I love my gang.
26:30It's simple.
26:31It's a brotherhood and it happens to be what it is.
26:35We locked down.
26:37This blood is holding down.
26:38You don't want to tell the cops that because they have certain units for these gang members.
26:44You'd rather be on like a free block.
26:47Inmate Malta Lugosi's gang affiliation presents a housing concern as the presence of rival gang members in the unit could
26:56elevate the risk of violence and place all other inmates at risk.
27:01A Muslim try?
27:03No, you're not.
27:04You told me it should be.
27:05Not yet.
27:06Not yet?
27:07I can't eat this because I'm Muslim.
27:09This is bologna.
27:10The pasta is old.
27:11I can't eat it because it's not a glass.
27:16You want it?
27:17No, I'm good brother.
27:18You eat that man.
27:26As the night shift begins, officers are alerted to an incident inside the special management unit where inmates charged with
27:33violent crimes such as assault, armed robbery and murder are housed.
27:38So are we doing off the fire suppression device in the cell of the SMU?
27:44Yes, I'm good.
27:49When an inmate breaks a fire sprinkler, the cell is filled with high pressure water, flooding the unit and creating
27:56a dangerous situation for both the inmates and officers.
28:10It may have been destroyed his sprinkler and flooded out his cell, flooded out other cells.
28:19With the cells flooded with water, officers must also be wary of any broken metal pieces that could be turned
28:25into weapons.
28:26Left places in the restraints, go in the cell, remove from the metal sprinkler parts so they don't have access
28:32to metal in their cells.
28:34And sometimes guys comply, other times they don't.
28:40through the cell, but this kind of BMW is a vicarious rock.
29:01It is a digestive bar.
29:05Message situations.
29:05The techs have both spoken.
29:05Justice Mahoney the critic.ỗ야
29:06PollingtonAudrey is a great big shift. The state
29:10The inmate is shackled to minimize the risk of resistance, assault, or flight during his
29:17transfer.
29:53Officers in the MAX unit work to detain an inmate suspected of breaking the fire sprinkler
29:58inside his cell.
30:08They do it to act up.
30:09Sometimes they do it because they're bored.
30:11Other times they do it because they didn't get their way or they want something.
30:21Unfortunately, we have to respond to the situations.
30:23In that case, his lack of compliance let him be replaced in a restraint chair.
30:31He'll be in the restraint chair until he complies.
30:34And if he complies, he'll come out of the chair, and he'll be in sag now after that.
30:39We'll put him in a cell that has no sprinkler because there's already cells in there with
30:42broken sprinklers.
30:43They'll go in one of those, so we'll get a chance to print one of them.
30:47I'm about to pass out.
30:49I can't read.
30:50Can't put circulation in my arm.
30:53.
31:0410, 20, I got 20.
31:06Negative 20 in a hole.
31:09In Unit GC, inmates try to make the most of their time inside using routine and activity
31:15to help them get through each day.
31:18Remember I told you about my fiance.
31:20When I made that phone call, she told me, I've been sleeping with your cousin for the
31:25past two days, and it's over.
31:30I can't be with you anymore.
31:31And I guess now they're living together.
31:34That broke my heart yesterday.
31:36Like, it killed me.
31:38Wait, overnight all the time?
31:39Yeah, I was like, mm-hmm.
31:41But at the same time, I met some girl when I was in lockup.
31:46I met some girl named Destiny.
31:49She was in the female unit.
31:51Right when I seen her, I was like, you're too beautiful to be locked up.
31:54Like, why are you in jail?
31:55And she's like, oh, it's just a driving violation.
31:58So I said, okay, all right, cool.
32:00Well, let me get your number then.
32:02She was like, all right.
32:02And she bailed out, actually, for $1,000.
32:05And now me and Destiny are talking.
32:08And we're actually together now.
32:10Like, we're a little couple.
32:12I don't know.
32:14I like her a lot.
32:16I'm doing perfectly fine now.
32:17I'm good.
32:18Like, God blessed me with this really weird situation.
32:22But I ended up meeting probably the love of my life.
32:28Bingo.
32:29Nah, man.
32:30Come on, bro.
32:31Again?
32:31Again.
32:32Yeah.
32:33So it's been a few days.
32:35Yeah.
32:36Still going through stuff with my daughter.
32:38Found out she's out of ICU.
32:43They had, like, hours and hours of surgery on her when she had that.
32:47Thanks, man.
32:48I appreciate you.
32:49I appreciate you.
32:50You did my prayers.
32:51You did my prayers.
32:51You did my prayers.
32:53Thanks, guys.
32:55But she's lost her leg from the accident and everything all because of jump drivers, man.
33:00I don't know.
33:02It messes with me.
33:04But I got some good news today.
33:06I went to court and I got bail on my violation.
33:10And hopefully tomorrow my girl bails me out tomorrow so I get to go home and go see my
33:15daughter at the hospital and everything.
33:18I can't wait to see my little baby girl hold her hand and just let her know daddy's home.
33:23Daddy's there with her.
33:25Has it changed you this last experience?
33:27Yeah.
33:28Yeah.
33:28Yes, yes.
33:29Because when I first came in here, I was drinking a lot every day.
33:32I was crazy, like, all over the place.
33:37But since I've been in here, man, like, my mind's opened up to so much stuff because I've
33:41seen so much.
33:42I'm not coming back.
33:44Yo, run me on the board, kid.
33:46Oh.
33:46See you later, buddy.
33:47I didn't even see that .
33:48Deuces.
33:59Vernet, you ready?
34:00We're going to take your odds to conduct a hearing.
34:03Lieutenant Bradham is a member of the jail's disciplinary board, which examines evidence
34:08tied to inmate rule violations.
34:11Is this for the thing that happened last night?
34:13Yes.
34:13Today, she's reviewing the case against inmate Vernet, accused of damaging
34:18a fire sprinkler inside his cell.
34:20When an inmate breaks the rule and regulation of the facility, they get written up by the
34:25officer.
34:26And in the morning, the disciplinary team will set up hearings and will come and see these
34:30individuals down here.
34:32If inmate Vernet is found guilty, he'll be sanctioned, which could mean extra days
34:37in disciplinary detention and even more privileges stripped away.
34:43All right.
34:44Jean-Marie's going to conduct a hearing on you, and I will be back to speak to you about
34:48the sanction, okay?
34:51I'm going to conduct a hearing this morning.
34:53Why don't you sign, sign, quit.
34:56I'm dead for a copy.
34:58Lied.
34:58Lied all on this.
34:59He lied all on this.
35:00You heard.
35:01Y'all seen last night.
35:04Just make, shut up, bite.
35:06How do I bite if my head was the other way?
35:08So what exactly, what happened?
35:10He lied.
35:11I'm just standing up.
35:12They're mad because everybody's turning up.
35:14So they took the anger on me, slammed me on the floor, trying to say I'm resistant.
35:19Good.
35:19Look at my wrist.
35:20They've been bending my wrist in the handcuffs.
35:22Peeing my foot.
35:23My leg right here all bleeding from them squeezing.
35:27The nurse came.
35:28Checking out my hand.
35:28Trying to say it's good when it was bleeding.
35:30No, she was lying.
35:31And I'm not pleading guilty to this ticket.
35:33I'm pleading not guilty because this did not happen.
35:35I did not pop the sprinkler.
35:37Y'all can't say I popped the sprinkler if I have a celly.
35:40My celly's gonna admit to popping the sprinkler.
35:42You feel me?
35:43So I'm not pleading guilty to this.
35:45I'm pleading not guilty.
35:51So what exactly, what happened?
35:53You lied.
35:54They're mad because everybody's turning up.
35:56So they took their anger on me.
35:57I did not pop the sprinkler.
35:59Y'all can't say I popped the sprinkler if I have a celly.
36:02So I'm not pleading guilty to this.
36:04I'm pleading not guilty.
36:06Inmate Vernet meets before the disciplinary board
36:09to answer allegations that he damaged the sprinkler
36:12inside his cell and was non-compliant to officer orders.
36:16How could y'all say I broke it if there's no cameras in the cell?
36:19How y'all trying to put it on some knee?
36:21OK.
36:22She can't come up to you.
36:25Hey Vernet.
36:25How you doing?
36:26I watched the video footage.
36:28Yeah, I did not do none of that.
36:30So you broke the fire suppression device in your cell.
36:32When being removed from the cell, you've been removed from the cell.
36:34You began to be resistant.
36:35That's what we watched on video.
36:37You were jumping around.
36:38You were being resistant.
36:39So you got brought down to the ground.
36:40You were placed in a restrained chair.
36:41I was not.
36:42I'm peeling all of that.
36:43So you want to peel the whole D report.
36:44I did not.
36:44I tried to bite you.
36:46I know how I tried to bite the staff.
36:47His hands is on my head.
36:49You don't even better play me like I'm dumb.
36:51Last night, he was supposed to be next for a shower.
36:53And the officer told him, just wait five minutes until the other individual is done.
36:56And he didn't want to wait.
36:58So he broke his fire suppression within his cell.
37:00And the officer witnessed him do it.
37:02So it's going to be $175.91 in a 10-day lockup, okay?
37:07How am I getting charged if he's taking the rat for it?
37:10None of you guys want to take responsibility for those-
37:12So you already seen that they did take it?
37:14I can't discuss other-
37:15That's a lie.
37:16That's a lie.
37:16That's a lie.
37:17That's a lie.
37:18Okay.
37:18You can appeal my decision.
37:21You have seven days to put your appeal in.
37:23And Colonel Torres will run the decision.
37:28All right.
37:30This individual appeals every disciplinary report he gets.
37:33He's young and he feels like it's a cool thing to pop a fire suppression device,
37:38refuse orders from staff.
37:39Close the M5, set.
37:42So he's pretty much putting on a show.
37:44As they call it, give the inmates rec.
37:47Pretty much entertainment.
37:54Okay, just look straight ahead at the camera.
38:02Okay, you're all set.
38:03We're going to change your own.
38:05So basically we take a picture when they come in,
38:07and then we take a picture, an updated picture when they leave.
38:09So like the local PDs and the resting law enforcement agencies
38:13have an updated picture on file.
38:17As one inmate is processed for release.
38:19For others, the waiting game continues as their cases make their way through the court system.
38:25I talk to my mom every day.
38:27She's my hero.
38:28She's my biggest motivation.
38:30My mom raised me by herself.
38:32I went to Catholic school.
38:33I always got good grades.
38:35I was a straight A student.
38:36I just ended up getting into the streets because of the money.
38:39The money was so fast and easy to get.
38:42When you work 30 hours a week at FedEx, and you're busting your ass carrying all these packages,
38:48and I look at my check and it says $600, and I could have made $600 in an hour.
38:54It's kind of like, what the hell am I doing?
38:56It makes me want to go back to the street.
39:00I'm going to be making some jailhouse taffy.
39:01Jailhouse taffy.
39:02It's very good.
39:03Blueberry, lemon berry lemonade, and juicy fruit red.
39:07You make this stuff at home as well?
39:09I do with my kids.
39:10He does.
39:12I apologize for the appearance.
39:13I haven't slept in like two days, so I look like a zombie right now, but it's okay.
39:17Why haven't you slept?
39:18Just the fact that I can't see my family is like destroying me.
39:22You know what I mean?
39:23It sucks.
39:27That's why when I get out of here, I'm all set with drinking, bro.
39:30Alcohol can kick rocks, man.
39:32For real.
39:33I've been doing this for a little bit, and you know, you have individuals that just keep coming back.
39:41Unfortunately, that's just a revolving door.
39:44You try to counsel them in a way like, you know, there's more to life than continue to go down
39:48this road.
39:49And some of them, they're stuck in that gang life, and they don't know anything other than that.
39:53So he gets one for free, bro.
39:55Oh, good luck, buddy.
39:55Yep, you got that.
39:57Do you want that jabby, man?
39:59Yeah, brother.
39:59I got you.
39:59What kind you want, bro?
40:01I want one of the blue ones.
40:02Right here?
40:03Yeah.
40:03That work?
40:04Yeah.
40:04Do that pursuit?
40:05Yeah.
40:05I got you, bro.
40:06I can't wait to go back to school, start back up.
40:12My mom said she's going to help me become a paralegal in her law firm, and I'm pretty excited about
40:19that.
40:19Are you done with the streets?
40:21Of course I'm done with the streets.
40:23I got too much to live for.
40:24I got too much to achieve.
40:26You hope that when they leave here, they have a goal to set when they walk out the door.
40:32I had an alcohol problem.
40:33Like, I was, like, bad into drinking.
40:36Every couple years, I'd come back here for something stupid, you know what I mean?
40:39Sometimes we take things for granted, you know?
40:42When we're home, like, we just, I don't know, like, when we come here, like, we realize, you know, like,
40:48our wrongdoings.
40:49And hopefully this is the last time, by the grace of God, when I get out of here, bro, I
40:54want nothing to do with drinking, bro.
40:56I don't want to be around people that drink.
40:58I don't want to, you know what I mean?
41:01And that's what corrections is, you know?
41:04We're trying to give them the best opportunity not to fail in society.
41:07I should have listened to everything that you told me, Mom.
41:09I love you, my mom.
41:11I obviously want to achieve my own dreams and my own goals.
41:14I still have a chance to change things around.
41:16I think we're all bound for greatness.
41:18We're all great.
41:20And we all can all be beautiful.
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