Making Prison ‘Normal’
The Colorado Department of Corrections calls it “normalization.”
“We have plants,” Damian explained flatly.
The logic: Make life in prison as normal as possible.
But “normal” is a matter of perspective. As a result, “normalization” is a contested notion between inmates and prison staff.
“Everybody doesn’t really understand what it is,” Damian said. “Some staff think it’s going to make offenders think we can do whatever we want.”
That’s not the way Damian sees it. He interprets “normalization” as a method by which he no longer makes his own decisions.
One example: The prison’s bowling league that meets on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
If you’re an inmate who works in the kitchen at night when the bowling league is happening, the prison administration releases from work duties to attend.
“By letting dudes off of work to go bowling, you’re sending the wrong message for ‘normalization,’” Damian said emphatically. “Instead, give us more responsibility.”
He continued: “How are you helping me? How are you preppin’ me to be street-ready if you’re letting me off work to go bowling? You’re telling me it’s OK to do that. It’s not OK.”
Damian’s suggestion: Give prisoners 40-hour-a-week jobs.
“Only 10 percent of the population here in this particular prison — not even — actually works 40 hours a week. That’s №1. That’s, hands down, gotta be №1,” he said. “Obviously, if you get out and don’t have a job, you’re gonna fail.”
Damian added: “And make it, like, a meaningful job.”
At Limon Correctional Facility, Damian is a shipping clerk. He’s responsible for shipping more than $1 million worth of goods each year.
“Never lost anything,” he said proudly.
The first step of Damian’s “normalization” is to find inmates jobs and make them accountable to those jobs.
“From there, I don’t know, make sure the dude gets there by himself. Buy an alarm clock.”
About the Author
Andréa Maria Cecil is a career editor and writer whose experience includes six years as Assistant Managing Editor and Head Writer at CrossFit Inc. headquarters. She spent the first 12 years of her professional life as a journalist — starting with The Associated Press in Detroit and Baltimore — before transitioning to content marketing with an emphasis on authentic storytelling. She is the editor of “Speal: A David and Goliath Story” by Chris Spealler that sold 10,000 copies worldwide.
