On Monday a memo was posted in each dorm that raised a few eyebrows and more than a few tempers. Starting yesterday, the unit was going to begin doing in-and-outs at the top of every hour. In-and-outs are for division of cell and dayroom time. The cell doors are shut all the time, except for getting anything you need out of the cell for the next hour or going to the bathroom.

Immediately, several guys shared arguments against this new policy. First, we don't have any toilets in the dayroom, so for those unfortunate few with poor bladder control, it becomes a messy situation quite easily.

Second, our cells are not equipped with panic buttons like at other units. If someone is in serious medical trouble, there is not a way to alert the guards.

Third, a few guards are so unfriendly toward inmates that they will probably use this as a new form of institutional punishment and leave us in our cells or dayroom. I overheard someone talking to the major about this point a few days ago. The major replied that he could think of some guards who could be a problem and if they did cause trouble, write them up in a grievance and they will be taken care of.

Yesterday the in-and-outs started, at least in some dorms. The team of guards that worked on the trio of dorms where I reside were too lazy to even think about implementing the new policy. We inmates continued to move freely from the dayroom to cell and back until the night shift arrived. The strict rule went in to place, to the chagrin of those of us wearing white.

I didn't mind much because I tend to stay in my cell during the evening. If things work like they did yesterday, hit or miss, in-and-outs won't be so bad. It is pitiful to see the guards here so lazy they won't even follow orders. I'm glad this set of orders isn't followed through very well, though.