Prison Break

I’m going to prison! This trip is all about new adventures, new experiences, and trying to get a good strong picture of American life, and prison life is very much a big part of it. Prisons always seem to make populate plots for movies or even songs from Johnny Cash. The Spring Creek Correctional Center is the only maximum-security prison in all of Alaska and it happens to be right here in Seward, just across Resurrection Bay. Jolund, the father and husband of my host family, works as an administrator at the prison and offered to give me a tour.

Spring Creek has been featured on MSNBC and Court TV and is well known for a number of things. First of all, you walk out onto the prison yard and see that you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I would be surprised if there is another prison in the world that has a more beautiful backdrop than Spring Creek. As stated in one of the TV programs I can imagine it plays a role in rehabilitation. They have the well-known House 1, housing the worst of the worst. And as an innovative program and the first of it’s kind in the United States, they house young prisoners together, which is operated as an accredited high school, principal, teachers and all. They even have a bonsai tree club.

Walking into a fully active prison is an interesting feeling. They take every precaution and it’s interesting the read the red warning signs on the fences that say if you step too close it may result in being shot to death. There were a number of prisoners around (yes, these are the worst of the worst) while I had my tour. It’s very fascinating to see the culture and lifestyle of prison from the inside. It finally gave me an accurate picture of everything. Most people get there education of prisons through the mass media and movies, which don’t provide the most accurate picture. It was another great experience, very cool. Thank you, Jolund.

Oh, I even ate prison food for lunch!