We Sat Down W/ Someone Who Went To The Same Jail As Diddy & Luigi - The Truth About MDC Brooklyn

The process of intake and booking at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn is a thorough and disorienting procedure for new detainees, as exemplified by the experiences of a recent arrestee.

Arrest, Booking, and Intake Procedures at Mdc Facility

An unidentified speaker recounted his ordeal after being taken into custody by federal agents who brought him to the MDC Brooklyn facility.

Federal Agents Entered, Arrested Him, and Brought Him To the Mdc Facility, Where He Endured a Difficult Intake: Strip Searched, Belongings Confiscated, and Medical Evaluation

After being arrested by federal agents, the speaker was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital for a medical evaluation. The doctors there declared him healthy enough for incarceration. Following his arraignment, he was shackled by hands and feet and transported to MDC Brooklyn. At MDC Brooklyn, he went through a strip search; his personal belongings were either discarded or placed in a box to be shipped back. He received a prison uniform, was photographed, and questioned during a basic intake process. Additionally, he was taken to a medical intake unit designed for new inmates, where he underwent more health checks, including chest x-rays, a dental examination, and tuberculosis tests.

During the booking process, correctional officers probed Michael about any gang affiliations. They assumed he was part of a gang and decided to house him in the same unit as Luigi Mangione, another individual with alleged gang connections.

Disoriented and Unwell During Booking Due to Pre-arrest Drug Abuse

The speaker's condition during the booking ...

An interviewee opens up about the intense conditions faced by inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), shedding light on the daily life and struggles within the facility's overcrowded and sensory-overwhelming environment.

Harsh, Overcrowded, Sensory-Overwhelming Open Dormitory at MDC

Interviewee In Noisy Dormitory With 120 Inmates Under Bright Fluorescent Lights

The interviewee was housed in an open dorm unit packed with 120 bunks in a space lacking windows, having only slits that barely let in outside light. The dormitory, described as full of noise with voices of men from all over the world, also housed a few toilet and shower stalls, laundry machines, and a tiny kitchen area. For safety, the full room remains lit brightly at all times, creating a sensory-overwhelming experience.

Stressful Dormitory Conditions During Drug Withdrawal

The interviewee recounts his first night in jail, detailing the stark sounds and lack of English spoken. This stressful environment was especially tumultuous during drug withdrawal. He also points out the discomfort due to seasonal changes, with no heat in winter and no air conditioning in summer.

Coping Mechanisms: Jobs, Exercise, Reading, and Fellowship

The interviewee finds solace in various activities. Luigi Mangione spends his time responding to letters and works cleaning showers every morning. Other inmates cope through jobs such as glass cleaning, exercise, engaging in conversations, participating in prayer groups, reading books, and writing, the last often done in the morning due to the scarcity of flat surfaces later in the day.

Inmate Daily Schedule and Activities in MDC Dormitory

Early Mornings Cleaning Before Inmates Woke Up

The interviewee is one of the few "early birds," waking up before others to wipe down all the glass surfaces for which he’s paid about 25 cents an hour. He appreciates the quiet before the day begins.

Post-Cleaning ...

The complex social dynamics and informal economic systems that emerge within prison walls are a testament to human adaptability and the desire for structure even in the most controlled environments.

Interviewee Discusses Inmate Social Dynamics in MDC Dormitory

Inmates Create Social Code For Peace and Cooperation

In the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), inmates have developed a social code to foster peace and cooperation. Despite occasional physical altercations, there is a common understanding among the inmates that conflicts are to be avoided. In efforts to maintain this peace, other inmates often intervene to de-escalate situations, knowing that backing down from a fight is a difficult yet necessary decision to avoid further trouble. This code has resulted in a form of communal living evidenced by shared responsibilities such as meal preparation and using communal objects like a shared Tupperware container.

Inmates Created Informal Economies Using Mackerel, Stamps, and Monopoly Money As Currencies

The inmates have created their own informal economies using commodities like stamps and mackerel, known colloquially as "Macs," which serve as a standard currency inside the prison. Mackerel, in particular, is a staple protein that doubles as payment for services like laundry and barber appointments. Inmates also use "Macs" to gamble in poker games or to purchase personalized items such as greeting cards. Additionally, there are creative solutions to bypass the spending limits at the commissary, where inmates with financial means find ways to trade and make deals to acquire extra items with the help of other inmates.

The interviewee vividly describes how these informal economies are echoed in the way inmates play Monopoly—fast-paced, with side deals, rule-breaking, and heated disagreements—mirroring the social and economic interactions within t ...

The conversation reveals two poignant and unsettling events experienced during incarceration: the death of an inmate and the screening of an explicit film by a corrections officer, shedding light on prison life's harsh realities.

Interviewee Recounts Shocking Incident of Inmate's Death

According to the discussion, there was a dramatic incident where an inmate died under shocking conditions, and the response to the incident was equally unsettling for those who witnessed it.

Inmate's Bathroom Death Spurs Dramatic Staff Response, Shocks Inmates

The death of an inmate in the bathroom of a dormitory set off a flurry of activity within the prison. The man was found dead on the toilet. Detected by a fellow inmate due to the victim's motionless feet under the stall door, the door was kicked in to reveal the untimely death. Upon discovery, correctional officers activated the body alarm, drawing a significant staff response, including administrators and medical personnel, despite the fact that the inmate appeared to have been deceased for some time. CPR attempts were made in vain.

Interviewee Struck by Inmates' Reaction, Raising Concerns About Communication of Their Deaths To Families

Inmates were instructed to stay in their bunks while staff attempted to obscure visibility as they handled the situation and finally removed the body from the scene. The inmates were not only shocked but vocalized their skepticism regarding whether the true circumstances of the inmate's death would be conveyed to his family. They disputed the claims made by the staff that the inmate had passed away at the hospital, a narrative opposed by one of the inmates with challenges disregarded by the staff questioning the inmate's medical qualifications. Concern for how this death and the communication around it would impact the deceased's loved ones became a topic of concern. Inmates hesitated to discuss it over the phone, fearing call termination, though the interviewee had documented the event through written communication.

Officer Shows Inmates Pornographic Material on Tv

The second memorable event involved an unexpected and morally ambiguous gesture by a corrections officer toward the inmates, revealing the deep human need for connection within the confines of a prison.

Corrections Officer Showed Pornographic Film to Inmates

A corrections officer is said to have made a deliberate decision to bring in a TV and VCR, placing them in a location not monitored by cameras, and played a pornographic movie for the prisoners. This event, referred to as a high-energy occurrence, appeared to cater to the inmates' intense need for contact or excit ...

The transition back into society after prison poses profound challenges for former inmates, as evidenced by one interviewee's personal recount of reacclimatization to daily life outside of prison.

Challenges of Reintegration After Release From Mdc

The interviewee described the complex process of adjusting to life after incarceration, including the physical, emotional, and social aspects that many might overlook.

Overwhelmed by Sensory Experience Upon Release

Upon learning about his impending release, the interviewee felt an overwhelming rush, signaling a drastic shift in sensory experience and emotional response. Once released, he recounted being overwhelmed by sensory inputs such as noise and light. His body had to readapt to even the most common external movements, with something as simple as car traffic inducing carsickness to the point of throwing up.

Interviewee On Reacclimatizing To Basic Daily Life Post-Prison

The interviewee experienced intense negative emotions, describing feelings of despair, humiliation, rage, and sorrow during his transition period. With his mind consumed with resentment, shame, and anxiety about the future, the adjustment was a slow and challenging process.

Even the anticipation of release, about eight hours prior, produced a burst of energy for the interviewee, though it was not necessarily a joyous anticipation, as it didn’t mark the end of his struggles. The emotional farewells with fellow inmates, one of whom was brought to tears, illustrated the deep connections made during incarceration.

Rebuilding Life: Overcoming Challenges, Reintegrating With Support, and Helping Others

In his personal reintegration, the interviewee highlighted the small luxuries that freedom afforded, like closing a bathroom door for privacy and having the agency to choose his own meals. In his apartment, surrounded by his own possessions, everything felt different, reprocessing the normalcy of a life with personal s ...