Entrepreneurs and others

Not everyone here is blessed to be able to go to commissary. In fact. I'd say only about half the population has any amount of money given to them by family or friends each year. However, just because the guys with zero balance don't have cash in their account doesn't mean they go without commissary. There are many ways that guys get the food and hygiene products they want and/or need. No, I'm not talking about THAT way. Some methods are legit, while others are shady. Along with bartering, these "hustlers" keep the inmate economy afloat.

The first method I'll explain is the most legit. Due to ginormous laundry loads in the unit washers and dryers, most of the time our clothes come back barely cleaner than when we sent them. Enter the hustler. Clothes washed by hand is a service performed all over the state, usually one guy in every dorm who does the washing. Hand-washed clothes come out whiter than they ever would from the unit machines.

Some guys get very serious about it and work eight hours each day. I've seen one guy who even had a menu of options drawn up - basic soap, detergent, or bleach - and a signed contract with every customer. Most of the time a washing goes for 50 cents (two soups or a stamp) per item.

Next are the guys who make and/or repair stuff. Some guys make needles to custom tailor clothes or repair shoes that have holes in them. I've had several shirts trimmed down to my size and each time it has been the gay man's work that has been best. Not to stereotype, but they know their cuts!

Others will fix hot pots so that water will boil instead of merely heating up. A few guys tinker enough that they make speakers for radios. We are only allowed headphones so a well-made speaker is a hot commodity (in more ways than one!) I've heard some speakers loud enough to rattle the pre-cast concrete walls of our cells. A tailored shirt goes for $1 (a meat pack or bag of dehydrated refried beans) while a good speaker costs around $10.

Then there are the hustlers that are just illegal, period. These usually involve stealing well-sought items from the state, whether it's the food out of the chow hall, markers form education, or wax from the floor crew. These hustlers tend to be compensated well for the risks they take, though I've seen many who do it solely for the thrill.

Unfortunately, the state does not do much to help our living situation in most cases, so, instead of waiting for the state to fix things or lift restrictions on items that are not dangerous in the least, many guys would rather do it themselves. Of course, many of the most dangerous items are stolen from the state, such as screwdrivers and ingredients for hooch.


These are just a sampling of the myriad of services that entrepreneur inmates provide to fill up their own locker. There are so many opportunities to hustle that the only who can't get what they need are the disabled, stupid, or lazy. I'm very blesses to have a supportive family that puts money in my commissary account, but, in the event of a terrible misfortune preventing that money from coming, I know I could find other ways to meet my needs.