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CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – It was 10 a.m. on Sept. 27, and about 80 Edward C. Killin Elementary School fifth-graders were arriving at the Camp Hansen Brig on two yellow buses.
"Attention in the brig: Commence lockdown. Cease all prisoner and detainee movement."
The facility was secured. It was the first time the children visited a prison, but statistically four of the jail-house tourists could be back. One in 15 Americans is incarcerated for some period of their life, according to a 2001 Bureau of Justice Statistics report.
The school's faculty members are hoping to curb that number among their students, according to Timothy McCarty, a fifth-grade teacher with the school. They hope a tour of the brig will change some of their students' futures by allowing them an inside view of how breaking the law can negatively impact one's life.
"The consequences can be pretty severe," said a prisoner who, for the sake of privacy, will be referred to as Mack. "Being separated from loved ones and friends is difficult."
Mack, who spoke to the children during a question and answer session, has been in the brig since April for deserting the Marine Corps. He expects to be released in November. He said he deserted to spend time with his family, who was going through hard times. Since then, he has not been able to communicate with them except through letters and won't see them during the eight months he is in the brig.
"I learned to cherish family and everything I didn't appreciate before, like waking up in my own bed," he told the children.
His words caught the attention of many of the children. Their hands rose one after another when the guards opened the floor to questions.
"What did you have for breakfast?"
"Do you have any friends here?"
"Would you do it again?"
Mack didn't smile while he answered.
"I had french toast for breakfast. ... I don't have any friends in here. I consider them more like acquaintances. ... I wish I could go back and undo it," he answered.
"It's like a very long timeout," said one of the students in response to Mack's answers.
Once Mack returned to the prison population, the children explored the brig's facilities. They saw prisoners eating their lunch as static filled a small TV in the dining area. They also visited a day room surrounded by two floors of cells. After having lunch in the day room, the guards let the children walk through the cells.
As bad as things may seem in the brig, it is much better than spending jail time in a state prison, according to Terry Johnson, a chaperone for the tour and a former adult basic education teacher for the Utah State Prison.
There are no weapons inside the building, and life is much safer for the inmates and staff, said Johnson. He also emphasized the professionalism of the staff and the safety of the children.
"The guards did a great job. There are so many variables, but they maintained a very controlled environment," he said.
With their new insight into prison life, the children got back on buses bound for Killin, talking about their experience and laughing about Mack saying he watched FOX's 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?' the night before.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2007 23:12 |
| Story ID: | 12961 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 11 |
This work, Killin Elementary School fifth-graders tour Camp Hansen Brig, by MSgt Warren Peace, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
