This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

On the Inside from the Outside


by an Ionia, MI prisoner

In the state of Michigan there is a small town. Inside that small town there is a prison. Inside that prison there are the oppressed. The prison in question is the Michigan Reformatory (MR) located at 1342 W. Main Street, Ionia, MI 48846.

From the outside looking in, one cannot tell how badly and ill-treated the prisoners are on the inside, from the outside you are unable to see the stompings, beatings and racist usage of power against the inmates. From the outside you are unable to see the psychological training methods they use so that if prisoners ever get released they will have a better chance of being reincarcerated. The prison guards have their favorite N----s, who fail to realize that the same guard he played with today is the same guard who set him up yesterday, so he wouldn't get a parole. Yes, the guards are corrupt. I remember one time, three weeks ago, as a matter of fact, where two inmates got into a fight, one was caucasian one black. The white inmate never got a chance to hit the black inmate, but when they were taken to the hole the black inmate's face looked as if he was hit repeatedly in the face with five lb. dumbbells. On more than one occasion you'll hear someone scream from unnecessary torture while he is handcuffed at the wrist and ankles.

But you can't see this from the outside. Three days ago inside the cafeteria the prison ran out of cooked spaghetti, so they cooked some more, only it was gooey and half done. Last week a black inmate informed a guard that he felt an epileptic seizure coming on and needed to see the doctor, the guard said that's too bad, and said the inmate would have to write a note to the clinic and see the doctor tomorrow, at that moment the inmate fell to the ground eyes in the back of his head and was shaking convulsively, meaning he started having his seizure.

The media does not cover these things. Why? Because the prison doesn't allow surprises. They know ahead of time who is coming to visit the concentration camp, and therefore make preparations so everything seems just like it does when you are on the outside looking in. Inside prison, the prisoners are slaves, the warden is the master, the guards are the overseers, the jobs are the product that we slave over. In prison one makes 25 cents an hour, some much less. This prison has contracts with big corporations, we make sofas, chairs, desks, night stands, etc. for a quarter an hour then they are sold in sore for hundreds of dollars, but you wouldn't know this because you're on the outside. You probably don't believe that prisoners are slaves, but doesn't it make sense? I mean we are treated like dogs (Matter of fact if we were treated like dogs it would be much better.)

But for those who refuse to believe that slavery still exists in the United Snakes of Amerikkklan--the Thirteenth Amendment of the United Snakes constitution states: section 1. Neither slavery no involuntary servitude, EXCEPT as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the united states, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Prison is wrong, it in no way helps an individual to stop committing crimes but the opposite. Slavery is wrong, but how can you the reader know? You're just on the inside from the outside. I am on the inside from the inside.

Honors due to Nat Turner (1800-1831)

MIM adds: for more information on the conditions of and wages of workers in Michigan's prisons please see RAIL's FACTSHEET on Michigan prisoner labor. For information on the regulations governing prisoners' healthcare in Michigan please see the Michigan Department of Corrections notice to prisoners on required co- payments for healthcare.

This prisoner raises many additional issues which need researching. MIM and RAIL are working to help prisoners educate people on the outside about conditions and regulations inside Michigan's prisons. You can help us by looking up some statistics at the library, using those statistics to write up a factsheet or other informational flyer, inviting RAIL or MIM to give a presentation about these issues and more at your school or activist group meeting. If you're interested in working with us to educate more people about the conditions of prisoners in Michigan, or if you want help doing this work in your locale, please contact us:

Maoist Internationalist Movement or
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League
P.O. Box 3576
Ann Arbor, MI

or send e-mail to: mim@mim.org.


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