Anika Hamilton

Hi all:

As some of you are probably already aware, I am in graduate school, working on my Masters of Public Administration. This is my final semester, and it has turned out to be the hardest and worst semester of my academic career.

Last night as part of my school assignments, my class and I along with our professor visited the Broward County Main Jail. To say the experience was interesting would not be enough of a description. That particular jail has the highest security level (tantamount to maximum security) in Broward.

We 'toured' the holding cells, the mental/medical ward, the juvenile cell, the male cells, the transgender cells, etc. The smell was bad, the walls and floors and furniture appeared in need of repair, but the aura of sadness at some places and complacency in others has drained me. I am so tired right now after seeing these men and boys in cells, shackled for transport or release, etc.

Inmates were laughing and talking on the payphones inside the cells. Visitors, there to see the kids graduate from the Bridges program, were by turns laughing and joking or quiet.

The corrections officers, some taking great pride in their work, have to deal with so much, with so few of them. The turnover rate at the jail is high, probably at most other jails too.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience. One I don't think I would want to go through again, nor would I in good conscience recommend it. But let me tell you, the images that movies provide is an understated view of what inside that jail was like. I would hate to see what the prisons really look like...

Anyway, until next time...