The Audio Long Read My life as a prison officer: ‘It wasn’t just the smell that hit you. It was the noise’
6 snips
Mar 21, 2025 Alex South, a former prison officer and author, shares his gripping insights into life behind bars. He highlights the overwhelming sensory experiences and emotional toll of the job. South discusses the troubling reality of acutely mentally ill inmates in segregation units, revealing how both inmates and prison staff struggle in such chaotic environments. He emphasizes systemic failures that lead to violence and overcrowding, calling for urgent reforms in the prison system. His candid anecdotes shed light on a world many rarely see.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mensa's Dirty Protest
- Alex South describes an incident involving a mentally ill prisoner named Mensa in a segregation unit.
- Mensa, believing in a microchip conspiracy, destroyed his cell and flooded it with sewage.
Overcrowding Crisis and its Consequences
- Prisons face an overcrowding crisis, leading to early release programs with high recidivism rates.
- Assaults, suicides, and feelings of unsafety are rampant among inmates and staff.
Segregation Unit Conditions
- Alex South details the challenging conditions in the segregation unit, including pervasive smells and constant noise.
- Mensa, a recurring figure, harassed female officers and lived in squalor.