Well; a Jail is normally run by the County (USA) and the Sheriff, whereas a Prison is run by either the State, or the Federal Government and a Warden. A Jail isn't normally that large. A Prison houses quite a few inmates, and varies in size and makeup. I am a Corrections Officer at a Prison that houses somewhere in the neighborhood of over 2,000 inmates of varying security levels.
Tight turns isn't something that is planned, in most prisons; as they are potential ambush points. However, when it can't be avoided; mirrors on the walls are used.
The Prisons you see that are multi-leveld with balconys and bars for doors are referred to as "Galleries". Most of today's prisons house inmates in cells of 1 or 2 in capacity, utilizing doors instead. Some prisons are all on one level (mine is one-level on the side I work, and bi-level on the other side (which I occasionally work at as well). Passage to any area; especially the Chow Hall is either controlled, or controllable. There are numerous things to be concerned about when talking about the physical makeup of a Prison; I suspect Jails are similar.
Aside from
Housing Units; main areas of traffic are:
- Programs (school, library and other activities)
- Big Yard (with weight pit)
- Small Yard (with weight pit)
- Kitchen
- MSI (factory, where prisoners work)
- Walkways to each area
Where I work; I carry a radio, keys and cuffs on me...no weapons of any kind. Any weapons we have would be too late in coming, to save anyone in immediate danger. We only have gun towers on one side of the complex; my side has none. The level of inmate goes from 1 (unsecure), all the way to 5 (maximum). My facility is labeled as a level 2; however, we regularly host anywhere from level 2 to level 4. There are no doors on my side, it's all open-bay setting (8 men to a cube). You have to walk among them everyday; backup may or may not make it in time, if they want you...they can take you at any time. You have to be able to communicate effectively with these guys...both for your sake, and you co-worker's.
I would sat that anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of the population I work with are doing life (life in Michigan is your natural life). There is no death penalty, so they really don't have much to lose if they want to take you out.
Since Michigan closed down all it's mental health prisons; the mental patients have been put into General Population throughout Michigan (which has contributed to the Department's costs significantly, just by the meds alone). They are a particular problem for us, as well as the other inmates.
-Keith
