Page 4 - Cellblock 5 News Today

Then im out the rest of the day. >> donald avila is serving a four-month sentence for parole violation. >> just a bunch of guys living together. somebodys going to get on your nerves, and youre going to get on somebodys nerves one of these days, you know what i mean? >> inmate johnson recalls his first experience with prison violence after going to general population, commonly referred to as the main line. >> when i hit the main line, maybe about like two weeks -- not even a good two weeks, a bi...

Than 120 years old, and as a result, the facilities are a patchwork of prison technology. for example, arriving inmates are kept track of by a modern computer database while officers on duty keep track of their weapons and keys by using a more low-tech method. some inmates will be housed in world war ii-era cellblocks where each tier is visible from the ground floor. others will do their time in the dungeon-like confinement of cellblock 5. its a place where the sun never shines. >> you become a ...

Know, not that. it really shocked me. how cruel and emotionless these people can be. >> it does get scary sometimes. you hear a lot of the war stories from around here. >> ive been stabbed. ive had my knee broke. >> i had a back injury first, stabbed. >> i was assaulted by an inmate in handcuffs. >> i was stabbed seven times. >> if you show the inmates fear, then theyre going to go ahead and feed on it. >> keeping that fear in control can be difficult inside this 100-year-old prison because what...

Owner. went into the home, home invasion, took the safe, and the purpose of the whole crime was to go to the jewelry store and it didnt work out like that and the guys -- i was the youngest one in the crowd, so the most impressionable one, and the thing is i was basically the one who took the fall. so if you can just -- its kind of a -- its sad. i get -- i still get choked up thinking about it because i wish i could just take everything back. coming up -- tension boils over in the yard between...

Some inmates will be housed in world war ii-era cellblocks where each tier is visible from the ground floor. others will do their time in the dungeon-like confinement of cellblock 5. its a place where the sun never shines. >> you become a walking dead man in here. you understand what im saying? youre a walking dead man. aint nobody really see you. its like the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. >> 33-year-old inmate herman johnson is doing 12 years for a felony drug conviction. he is cu...

There was this -- it was crazy. >> we do have a lot of blind spots, making it a little difficult as far as observation if, in fact, when something happens such as a riot or we have some type of altercation. the officers at the end of the tiers for visibility, but it still makes it difficult for observations, especially 150 yards down the tiers. >> sergeant rudy carmella supervises cellblock 5, one of the oldest operating prison structures in the united states. >> to walk up to a cell, to look --...

Line up for yet another sort of inspection. each man must disrobe and shower in a full view of prison staff. clothes are carefully examined as inmates pass through a metal detector. for all of the scrutiny over things inmates are not allowed to have, one of the things some of the inmates are allowed is conjugal visits. well chain-linked fence and barbed wire are made available for family visits for inmates who are eligible and demonstrate good behavior. >> in other words, i behaved myself well e...

Happens such as a riot or we have some type of altercation. the officers at the end of the tiers for visibility, but it still makes it difficult for observations, especially 150 yards down the tiers. >> sergeant rudy carmella supervises cellblock 5, one of the oldest operating prison structures in the united states. >> to walk up to a cell, to look, to see what is going on, you have to sometimes look inside. so it puts us at close proximity to whomever, whatever is in here. sometimes it could be...

Shines. >> you become a walking dead man in here. you understand what im saying? youre a walking dead man. really dont nobody see you. and its like the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. >> 33-year-old inmate herman johnson is doing 12 years for a felony drug conviction. he is currently housed in cellblock 5. >> in here you lose a lot of things on the outside. and you really find out a lot about people by coming to prison, you know. >> paul poplin has been to prison several times over t...

>> ive been stabbed. ive had my knee broke. >> i had a back injury first, stabbed. >> i was assaulted by an inmate in handcuffs. >> i was stabbed seven times. >> if you show the inmates fear, then theyre going to go ahead and feed on it. >> keeping that fear in control can be difficult inside this 100-year-old prison because what was state of the art at the turn of a previous century is now the biggest challenge to the officers safety. when we return, cellblock 5, the most notorious cellblock ...