I knew about the stabbings, the violence, the unsafe shower situation.
Here’s what I didn’t know: you don’t get to see a dentist for years at a time, no matter the situation, even if you wanted to pay for the procedure. They dont fill cavities, they pull teeth.
Your release date isn’t always your release date. I’ve seen an uncomfortable number of inmates pack their shit up, expecting to go home, only to be told in the morning they don’t have the paperwork. Sometimes, you don’t get an answer for months, and there’s nothing you or your people can do to get things in order. You have to hurry up and wait, because at this point, months of your life don’t mean anything anymore. You’re just a convict.
Finally, this isn’t Shawshank. You’re not doing time with the same people for years at a time. You make friends in two year chunks. That’s about as long as you’ll know someone before one of you rides out to another joint, or goes home. Get used to quickly bonding over something trivial, like fantasy football, becoming friends, and then letting go, prepared to never see them again.
Easy Trouble 