Under Lock & Key is a news service written by and for prisoners with a focus on what is going on behind bars throughout the United States. Under Lock & Key is available to prisoners for free throughout the country through MIM's Free Political Literature to Prisoners Program, by writing MIM(Prisons), PO Box 40799, San Francisco, CA 94140.

All CategoriesBrutalityCampaignsCensorshipControl UnitsEducationGenderInternational ConnectionsLegalMedical CareNational OppressionOrganizingPolitical RepressionPrison LaborRacismReleaseReligious RepressionRhymes/PoetrySpanishChinaCivil LibertiesCultureEconomicsElectionsEnvironmentalismEuropeMiddle EastPolice BrutalityPuerto RicoTheory Any StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingFederal Any Authorby prisonersby MIM(Prisons)a USW study groupAK47 GambinoALBaby AntBoudiccaC-BlowCainJalscoKing KnowledgeKing SolomonLoco1Mfalme Sikivu (UFD)NABPP Minister of JusticePAKPrince Ajamu Khalfani-ElPrince CaponePTTRadSehu Kessa Saa TabansiTulsaVenomed 1Wiawimawo Date Descending Date Ascending
Search for exact phrase:

Info on control units in Ohio

[Control Units]
by an Ohio prisoner
September 2008

I’m in a controlled unit that’s called 4B. It’s a special unit of the Maximum Security Prison of Ohio (max security level is rated 4 while 4B is a secluded section of the same prison). This is also where they administer the death penalty. People are sent to 4B for assaults, drugs, fights, etc. I came from a close security prison #3). One must do 6 months, 1 year or 18 months here on 23 hour lock down before going to general population, depending on your case. General population is called 4A here, at the same prison.

There are 6 cell blocks of 4B, 9 cell-blocks of 4A, 1 cell block of “the hole” (segregation) for 4A, 2 cell blocks for “protective custody” and one for Security Threat Groups” (gangs). On the 6 cell blocks of 4B you have 80 prisoners in each. The cells have bars and some brothers conduct themselves like animals (cursing, yelling, throwing urine and waste, etc.). Televisions are hung on the walls outside of the cells. Racially it’s probably 60% Black, 30% white, 10% other. This first opened after the riots went down here in 1993 (the Lucasville Riots). Going to recreation we have to chain up on ankles, arms behind backs and placed on a collective chain.

find out more about our campaign: Shut Down the Control Units

Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons
contact us