Prison isn t the safest place for notorious criminals, especially those guilty of horrific crimes against children, as proven by the attack on Larry Nassar over the weekend.
they emphasize that stateville is reserved for their most hardened criminals. when it really comes down to it, you know, you in the penitentiary. so i mean, you know, certain things they could have, like maybe some more school. but guys get over there and they don t really take it seriously. so, i mean, for the most part, no. you know, you re in prison, man. when i m walking galleries i m talking to inmates and i get inmates that say they don t like it at stateville, i think that s a good thing. we don t want stateville to be a nice place. stateville is not designed to be a nice place. stateville becomes an even worse place for inmates who cause trouble. don t holler at me. yes, sir! we ll see just how bad things can get when we return to lockup: stateville. every auto insurance policy has a number. but not every insurance company understands the life behind it. those who have served our nation. have earned the very best service in return. usaa. we know what it means
that s it. this is what the next six months hold for maurice. this is the penitentiary. the real deal. in addition to the problem prisoners like maurice, the segregation unit also houses inmates with psychiatric problems. stateville doesn t have a psych ward, so until it s determined that an inmate needs more comprehensive care off site, they are observed here. what is the emergency? that creates daily challenges for the staff. i m here for threats. i m in here for being assaulted in h house and i m going to have mr. snyder and the head of investigations down here. i want the media. you want an awful lot, don t you? no. listen. i don t want no problems. i m having a problem with myself don t beat on my door. don t beat on my door. don t beat on my door. i haven t done anything to anybody. yes, you did. you disturbing the peace down here. i can t live in this cell.
but with institutional reforms came a redirection of time, energy and money. one by one, the trade programs fell by the wayside until today one last program remains. the stateville industries program produces office furniture, including desks, bookcases and tables. the only men who work here are long-time model prisoners. one of those men is william earl basset. basset has been incarcerated since 1963 and in stateville since 1966. originally he was serving a maximum of ten years for burglary and forgery at another illinois penitentiary called menard. i had a short parole coming but a guy was messing with my food in the dining room and i just i went off, tried to get him and got involved in a prison riot down there.
prisoners, a few are eligible for and volunteer to participate in the prison s one therapy opportunity. a group that meets once a week. i m angry because i m locked up. i m angry because i m not with my family, my children. i can t do the things i want to do. they tell me when to eat. they tell me when to sleep. they tell me when i can go, when i can t. that s a whole cycle to me there. are you ever angry not just about things that have happened to you or things that other people have done to you, but are you ever angry over some of your own decisions? do you ever say to yourself, how could i have done this? why did i do this? these men have a chance to gain some insight into their behavior. they are the rare exception at stateville. illinois corrections officials say there are many more programs available at the state s other prisons. they emphasize that stateville is reserved for their most hardened criminals. when it really comes down to it, you know, you in the penitentiary