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Ware State Prison
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Life Inside Ware State Prison
Ware State Prison is a maximum security men’s prison located in rural Georgia. With over 2,000 inmates, it’s one of the largest prisons in the state. For those living behind its razor wire fences, life in Ware is harsh and regimented.
A Typical Day
The days start early at Ware. Lights come on at 6 AM, signaling inmates to get out of bed. After a quick breakfast, inmates have menial jobs to go to or vocational classes to attend. Jobs range from kitchen duty and cleaning to groundskeeping. Vocational programs teach skills like auto repair, welding, and computer coding.Inmates get a short break for lunch before returning to their afternoon work assignments. The afternoon is filled with more of the same until dinnertime. After dinner, there’s some free time where inmates can exercise in the yard, go to the library, or just hang out before lights out at 9 PM.
Living Conditions
With so many violent offenders crammed inside its walls, Ware State is a rough place. The cell blocks are loud, chaotic and tense. Racial divides and gang affiliations dominate the pecking order. New arrivals need to choose their allies carefully to avoid becoming victims.Inside the cells, as many as four inmates share a cramped space with only the bare essentials – bunk beds, a toilet, and a sink. Privacy is nonexistent. The food served in the dining hall is bland and repetitive. Access to fresh air and sunlight is limited for many inmates who spend most of their days confined indoors.Medical care is bare bones and inmates often complain about long waits to see doctors and nurses. Mental health services are also lacking for the many inmates suffering from psychological issues. The understaffed and overworked guards seem indifferent to the prisoners’ suffering.
Danger and Violence
Violence is a constant backdrop at Ware, with inmates getting into fights over petty disputes or acting on grudges. Weapons are fabricated from everyday items like shards of glass and metal. The guards conduct frequent shakedowns and strip searches to confiscate contraband. Solitary confinement cells overflow with inmates who have gotten into trouble.Gangs are a major problem, coercing weaker inmates into trafficking drugs and contraband. The big yard is where gang members congregate and plot their illicit activities. New inmates have to show their toughness quickly or risk becoming targets.Sexual assault is also a grim reality. Vulnerable inmates often fall prey to their cellmates or gang leaders who exploit them. Most victims are too afraid to come forward to the guards who may not take their reports seriously anyway.
Coping With Prison Life
Doing time at Ware State tests the mental fortitude of everyone locked up behind its imposing walls and guard towers. Some inmates retreat into themselves, trying to survive each day while counting down the months and years of their sentences. Others seethe with rage at the system and plot their revenge.Many prisoners find distractions to cope with confinement. Work programs allow inmates to learn useful skills to apply when they get out. Some immerse themselves in religious faith, finding comfort in prayer and meditation. Family visits are the highlight for inmates maintaining connections to loved ones on the outside.Still, Ware State often seems like a dead-end place where dreams and hope come to die. The long-term inmates shuffling through the yard appear hollowed out after years removed from normal society. Overcrowded, underfunded, and stretched to its limits – Ware State Prison is considered a warehouse where the state’s worst offenders are sent to be forgotten.So in summary, doing hard time at Ware State Prison is about enduring soul-crushing boredom punctuated by bursts of terror. Inmates live in constant fear of violence from their fellow prisoners or abusive guards. Privacy, safety, and dignity are all in short supply. The days bleed into one another as inmates count down the years until their release. For many, Ware State leaves deep psychological scars that are hard to heal even after getting out.
References
Here are some references I used in the article:Report on living conditions in Ware State Prison: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/ware_state_prison.htmlArticle about violence and gangs in Georgia prisons: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/inside-violent-world-georgia-prisons/T08ZQzWY0kU64pkq7kJx0N/Interview with former Ware State Prison inmate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3hkboQ0VWIWare State Prison statistics and demographics: https://www.doc.ga.gov/ware-state-prison