When visiting with these inmates, I asked why they felt they needed protection. Most of them said it was because they owed money; 99% of the time they said, “I'm in debt”. And when asked, they usually said, “I'm in debt to a gang”. And when asked for what, they said, “For drugs”. And the response that blew my mind was, “I'm in debt because I haven't paid my 'rent'”. I said, “What? You're in a penitentiary and solitary confinement for your protection because you haven't paid your rent?” It's because gangs demand rent money from other inmates, and there are other ridiculous reasons for being in debt.
Is there any action at all? I mean, this has got to be a costly thing in an overall picture. What are we doing in our institutions to bring this kind of thing under control? Are there any steps that are being taken, and if so, how much additional funding are we going to need to do that?
I'm not paying my “rent” and I'm in prison? Come on!