American Prison: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment

Christmas in Natchitoches, LA—the town Bauer resides in during his time at Winn—boasts a parade that draws people from all over the state, and it reflects a Confederate history and culture that residents still take pride in. This culture is expressed through Civil War reenactments, a Sons of Confederate Veterans float, and the Confederate battle flag. Bauer works in the mailroom, processing and inspecting incoming letters. The supervisor, Miss Roberts, tells him that she found drugs in someone’s mail which earns her a $50 bonus. She hasn’t seen the money yet. She points out a list of banned books and periodicals, including seemingly benign titles like “Advanced Techniques for Discharging Chi Energy” and “Native American Crafts & Skills” (103). Also banned is any material relating to Black history or empowerment, yet Hitler’s Mein Kampf is permitted.

Mailroom duty requires reading all incoming letters, and Bauer is privy to a great deal of intimate information. Many of the letters speak of love, heartbreak, poverty, and aspiration—necessary reminders that inmates and their loved ones are human beings, not the animals the prison system reduces them to. Haunted by the letters and by his isolation, Bauer goes to a party at his friend Anthony’s trailer.