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Believe It Or Not I'm Careless

Or, A sharp retort to an omission in publishing.

I thank all of the people who have graced me with understanding and forgiveness as I sit in a private prison here in Florida.

I do, however, want to channel my regular self for a few eye minutes as I did the digital equivalent of reading a newspaper clipping that my loved ones sent me.

At some point in living memory, a person named Tim Cassle of the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette wrote an article about their visit to a private prison, which was subsequently posted to the Management and Training Corporation website.

I don't know just how much of my situation is influenced by the Florida Department of Corrections, how much is influenced by the need to turn profit when operating a prison-as-a-service, and how much is sheer malice toward incarcerated individuals, but every time I pass the murals here with the words Believe It Or Not I Care, I mentally correct them to my situation:
Believe It Or Not, I'm Careless.

Bold Words.

I admit, it sounds harsh, but the reality of not receiving appropriate, timely medical or mental health care, and their blatant, in writing refusal to acknowledge a shortcoming in their system of meal tray alternative ordering leaves me less than charitable, and more willing to expose foolishness.

In my ideal world, I wouldn't be in this situation; people would not be struggling all across the state in this prison system to be properly fed, because the staff responsible would effectively be walking the Noble Eightfold Path with respect to treating inmates like humans; The elderly gentleman that I was helping because he is legally blind would have been on a proper pre-dialysis diet; All the diabetics would rejoice as they are no longer being given mountains of white bread, white potatoes, and white rice daily, but would instead be given more whole grains, fresh vegetables, and lean meat; I would rejoice, because I get the diabetic diet, but would reliably have the alternate entrée.

ALTO!

In this case, I'm not exactly shouting "Stop", even though I wish they would stop messing up my trays. In a regular FL DOC prison camp, when you approach the slot to take a tray, if you would like the alternate entrée at a meal, the procedure is simple:

  • Shout "ALTO".
  • Clear the way for another inmate to take the regular trays in queue.

You then move to either a different window, or stand near enough to the slot (depending on chow hall layout) to hear NEXT TRAY, ALTO, ALTO, and claim your alternate tray.
This procedure is similar for the 2600 calorie diet (the "diabetic" tray). Simply replace ALTO with 2600, stick your diet pass in the slot, or if you're wanting the alternate with your diet? 2600 IS ALTO. (The is joiner notifies the kitchen that it's one tray request, not a 2600 tray and a separate alt tray.)

Here in my privately run prison, the procedure is wildly different.
The day before, you sign up on an Alternate Tray List if you want the alternate. Medical sends a medical order (diet pass) to the kitchen, enrolling you in the 2600 calorie diet.
On the sign-up, you have to indicate what tray type you get if it's not regular; you then elect which meals you wish to have as the alternates.
This sheet gets turned in by the orderlies assigned to push meal carts, and if all goes to plan, your alts show up the next day.

I SAID, ALTO!!

As you're likely guessing, there is some kind of fault in the system.
I cannot, for some reason, get an alternate tray delivered to me with any consistency. This, combined with my choice of pescatarianism to follow my faith, causes a problem.

  • If there's fish, as long as it's not shellfish (yay allergy), I CAN eat it.
  • If there's sausage, I can't eat it.
  • Chicken? I can't eat it.
  • Beef? Can't eat it.
  • Turkey? Can't eat it.

I spend a lot of time hunting my own beans and fake cheese to have a meal.

I have written to ask for this issue to be fixed. The simplest fix? They have a computer generated list with my name. It shows "2600". Add a space and three letters.
ALT

That fixes the list. It's so simple!
Give me the beans, the BEANS, give me the beeeeeans. (I miss you, Donut.)

The answer I got back?
No. Sign up on the list in the dorm, or if I don't think the list is making it, hand write my own request and come to the kitchen the day before I need the alternate.

I didn't know that I had free run of the compound! Excuse me, officer, make way for the VIP. You cannot require me to stop at your checkpoint, peasant!

We have grievance procedures to follow, and I've done that more and more insistently, asking them to effectively just add three letters, ALT, to how they list my tray in their computer, and also asking them to evaluate how they are handling sign-ups for these.

You can imagine the answer I got... but it isn't the whole answer.

Side Journey:

There exists a Certified Food Option, which is basically Kosher foods. Everything I have seen in their bagged meals thus far, I can actually eat.
You're forced to wait 6 months from your last sign up to reapply; if your answers don't satisfy the chaplain, well, watch the clock.
Once you're on it, your commissary options are restricted: you can only purchase kosher-marked food. Purchases of nonkosher food can get you removed from the program.
There also exists a Vegan meal option. The kosher restrictions are easy mode in comparison to the near-obliteration of choices if you go Vegan -- namely, this blocks fish access.

Pescatarian != Vegan

I was told in writing, again, to keep signing up on the list, because this is procedure; after so many requests, request the Vegan option.

Yes, because I want to cut myself off from a needed source of nutrients I cannot otherwise get.

I tire of fighting to be fed properly.

But, like I ask you:
Stay strong. Fight wrong.
That's why I'm here.