Last time, I wrote about the inmate who effectively escaped Waupun prison’s truck gate. Escape from a maximum security prison with its twenty-two foot high concrete walls is not an easy feat to perform. “He escaped through the ‘back door’,” says friend Jeff Smith, former Major of the Guard. I know it’s difficult to believe, but that same inmate who made it through the back door without screaming although stabbed with probing spears, later successfully escaped through our prison front door, as well.
By the way, any inmate escapee, no matter if he bolted from a minimum, medium, or maximum security institution, it was so noted on his face sheet. Prison staff subsequently tagged each escapee as a “rabbit.” Security officers were warned and especially vigilant if they were charged by their superiors to escort a rabbit to an in-state hospital, out on a court order, or on an in-state funeral visit of a close relative. I am certain, those officers were especially cautious because being so warned, they could easily lose their jobs if the man took off while under their care.
In the 70’s, the prison warden instituted inmate “cultural” groups. Those recognized groups included Europeans, Latinos, Blacks, and native American Indians. This particular rabbit who escaped through the back door was a member of the Black cultural group. Each group could hold an annual party, where relatives and loved ones on their approved visiting list could attend. Not everyone could be placed on the approved visiting list, including most ex-felons. Each approved visitor for a cultural event, however, had to have her or his name placed on a special list a month before the event, the list maintained by the security department.
Upon entering the institution and after showing proper picture ID, each approved visitor had the back of her or his hand rubber stamped with a special ink that could only be observed under a black light. One could not see the stamp without the aid of a black light. So, when the event ended, the sergeant responsible for checking hands used the institution black light in order to eyeball the symbol before each person, one at a time, could move on to the next sally port and locked gate. Also, to avoid any problems, the same rubber-stamped figure was not used for subsequent events.
Each cultural party was held in the “big top,” a large recreation room on the second floor, located above the inmate dining room. The Black cultural event was well attended and reportedly all visitors were on their best behavior, according to officers on the scene. A meal was served and everyone seemed to enjoy himself or herself.
When it came time for a white shirt supervisory officer to announce that the event was over, inmates had to form a single line at a specific exit door. Visitors were advised to remained seated while correctional officers pat-searched each inmate, one at a time, in order to detect any contraband on his person. If there was any question whatsoever as to whether or not he carried any contraband, officers escorted an inmate to a place where he was ordered to strip. Officers then gave him a full body cavity search with the aid of a flashlight. Most often, inmates hid contraband items, including weapons, in their anus or behind their scrotum.
By the way, if an inmate at a cultural event was discovered to have secreted any contraband on his person, the group would no longer be permitted to hold another cultural event--ever. Thus, if he wanted to remain breathing while incarcerated, he had better not be carrying anything at a cultural event he was not allowed to have on his person.
After all the inmates were searched, the door through which they had exited was securely locked. Then, it was time for the visitors to stand up and line up, one behind the other. The sergeant with the black light approved each visitor with the proper symbol on the back of her or his hand to go on to the next gate. Eventually, the exit gate sergeant permitted all visitors to leave the institution.
It was time for sergeants of the four cell halls, dormitory, and health services unit to make a count. They could only count inmates they actually eyeballed. Soon, one cell hall sergeant called Control. “Inmate who’s supposed to be in cell is not in his cell.” Control checked. The inmate was the truck gate rabbit and had attended the cultural event that night.
Apparently, with the aid of closed TV circuitry, white shirts identified the man. He left the institution, just another good looking black female visitor with blonde hair, wearing a nice dress, and even wore red high heel shoes. Second time was a charm—for a while. The man was eventually captured. When he was returned to Waupun, the warden said, “If I could legally make him wear a forty pound ball and chain, I would do so.”
By the way, the sergeant with the black light kept his job due to union backing. In the 60’s, he would have been fired—at once and no questions asked.
By the way, any inmate escapee, no matter if he bolted from a minimum, medium, or maximum security institution, it was so noted on his face sheet. Prison staff subsequently tagged each escapee as a “rabbit.” Security officers were warned and especially vigilant if they were charged by their superiors to escort a rabbit to an in-state hospital, out on a court order, or on an in-state funeral visit of a close relative. I am certain, those officers were especially cautious because being so warned, they could easily lose their jobs if the man took off while under their care.
In the 70’s, the prison warden instituted inmate “cultural” groups. Those recognized groups included Europeans, Latinos, Blacks, and native American Indians. This particular rabbit who escaped through the back door was a member of the Black cultural group. Each group could hold an annual party, where relatives and loved ones on their approved visiting list could attend. Not everyone could be placed on the approved visiting list, including most ex-felons. Each approved visitor for a cultural event, however, had to have her or his name placed on a special list a month before the event, the list maintained by the security department.
Upon entering the institution and after showing proper picture ID, each approved visitor had the back of her or his hand rubber stamped with a special ink that could only be observed under a black light. One could not see the stamp without the aid of a black light. So, when the event ended, the sergeant responsible for checking hands used the institution black light in order to eyeball the symbol before each person, one at a time, could move on to the next sally port and locked gate. Also, to avoid any problems, the same rubber-stamped figure was not used for subsequent events.
Each cultural party was held in the “big top,” a large recreation room on the second floor, located above the inmate dining room. The Black cultural event was well attended and reportedly all visitors were on their best behavior, according to officers on the scene. A meal was served and everyone seemed to enjoy himself or herself.
When it came time for a white shirt supervisory officer to announce that the event was over, inmates had to form a single line at a specific exit door. Visitors were advised to remained seated while correctional officers pat-searched each inmate, one at a time, in order to detect any contraband on his person. If there was any question whatsoever as to whether or not he carried any contraband, officers escorted an inmate to a place where he was ordered to strip. Officers then gave him a full body cavity search with the aid of a flashlight. Most often, inmates hid contraband items, including weapons, in their anus or behind their scrotum.
By the way, if an inmate at a cultural event was discovered to have secreted any contraband on his person, the group would no longer be permitted to hold another cultural event--ever. Thus, if he wanted to remain breathing while incarcerated, he had better not be carrying anything at a cultural event he was not allowed to have on his person.
After all the inmates were searched, the door through which they had exited was securely locked. Then, it was time for the visitors to stand up and line up, one behind the other. The sergeant with the black light approved each visitor with the proper symbol on the back of her or his hand to go on to the next gate. Eventually, the exit gate sergeant permitted all visitors to leave the institution.
It was time for sergeants of the four cell halls, dormitory, and health services unit to make a count. They could only count inmates they actually eyeballed. Soon, one cell hall sergeant called Control. “Inmate who’s supposed to be in cell is not in his cell.” Control checked. The inmate was the truck gate rabbit and had attended the cultural event that night.
Apparently, with the aid of closed TV circuitry, white shirts identified the man. He left the institution, just another good looking black female visitor with blonde hair, wearing a nice dress, and even wore red high heel shoes. Second time was a charm—for a while. The man was eventually captured. When he was returned to Waupun, the warden said, “If I could legally make him wear a forty pound ball and chain, I would do so.”
By the way, the sergeant with the black light kept his job due to union backing. In the 60’s, he would have been fired—at once and no questions asked.
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