The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.

having us pick up rocks on the rec yard and pile them in a corner. Beryl found this to be
a ridiculous practice.
He also ignored the transgressions that his boss found unacceptable: unmade bunks, a
family photo taped to the wall, having too much linen. “Y’all got death,” he’d say. “In my
mind you’ve already been punished enough.”
But for most, the unwritten rule on death row has remained: disinterest, allegiance to
policy, frequent staff turnover to reduce familiarity, and above all a belief in the status
quo. Flouting the idea that inmates are “less than” is not to be accepted.
Some guards ask for transfers because accepting this rule means squelching the
inclination to live and let live. Lt. Perry moved to another unit when every attempt he
made to change the culture here was thwarted by the warden. His desire to run our
cohort just like any other population made sense in terms of security, since there are
fewer problems on death row than anywhere else at Central Prison.
But his requisitions for new equipment went unanswered. Perry found he had less to do,
and less authority, as a unit manager of death row until and unless he punished us.
It happened to Dr. Kuhns too. From 2010 to 2017, he directed psychological treatment
at Central Prison. A man of conviction, he established a number of therapeutic
programs on death row: creative writing, chess, drama, yoga, Toastmasters, art and
more. These groups improved our self-esteem, emotional maturity, and the overall
behavior of our entire unit.
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