Grrrrrumph in Book Two: The Fifteenth Year of the Third Millennium of the Common Era

Ah yes. Back to “Life.” Court from 1pm to 2pm followed by the Law Library where… what is this?
Oh… request that my department does more paperwork. Super. Oh… wow, look at this… Head of Corrections upset at Law Library’s expectation of assistance. Bite me. I just started my day at the Law Library and already I’ve had to put out a paper-work metaphorical fire… and I’m looking at approximately 90 Kites to respond to just for today. Is 90 a lot? Well, I was averaging 30. So… 90 is three times as many. Why so many? Because when I’m not here, they don’t get done!! Because I am the only one that works this department. So… Ms Head of Corrections… if you want to be pissed that I expect some assistance from your staff that is better trained to deal with inmates AND much better paid… I’m not being a pain in the ass… I’m doing everything I can. I can’t wait for this to all boil over in a meeting at some point. I make this solemn vow: if I have the opportunity, I will personally invite any detractors to the Law Library… where they can see our work load… and then they can tell me how I’m supposed to do it all by myself, with no security coverage or protection, and still be considered part time!

Super fantastic shitballs.
Apparently, inmates have been using the Law Library to locate and identify the sexual offenders in order to beat them up. I have no power to do anything. Send it up the line (as did all of the Corrections Officers). Tell all the big wigs… the Law Library as it currently exists is starting MAJOR fights in ALL housing units. Their response? “Don’t know what to tell you. Problem’s not on our end!” What?! WHAT?! You give the inmates access to legal files and give them absolutely ZERO supervision… bitch when I ask for a little bit of help… and then act as if you have no influence on making this a safe space?!

Infuriating Update: The guy that started the fights? Has not been placed on lockdown. Seriously? You don’t even punish the guy for misusing the Law Library? What’s worse… you don’t punish him for inciting fights? What’s worse… you fully allow him to continue to come to the law library? AND THEN YOU TELL ME THE PROBLEM ISN’T ON YOUR END?! Have you completely lost your senses!?

Exhausting. Been here for less than two hours and… exhausting. Five kites filed with threats of violence… and yet, I’m required to respond with the information requested. I’ll be taking them to my boss to say: Jackass, here’s what I deal with!
I even had a kite with someone, specifically, by name, asking me to look something up for him on my home computer. No. I am not your attorney. I am not your advocate. If you are pro se: hit the books or computers. If you aren’t: talk to your attorney. I recognize the name… older gentleman in for a long stretch for sexual assault… he hates computers so that is why he wants me to do his legwork for him. Sorry, hate to be a dick but NO. Inappropriate.

Partially, honestly, to keep myself from going entirely around the bend, I calculate my hours in advance for what I can.
Today I was in court andI had RAP interviews. 6 Hours
Tomorrow, I’m in court and I have RAP interviews. 6 Hours
Thursday, I have Intake Interviews. 3 Hours.
Friday, I’m in court. 3 Hours.
SO before any time in the law library… I have already accrued 18 Hours of Part Time Work.
Today, I’ll be in the Law Library from 1400- 1800. 4 Hours
Tomorrow, I’ll be in the Law Library from 1030- 2100. 10.5 Hours
Thursday, I’ll be in the Law Library from 900-2100. 12 Hours
Friday, I’ll be doing some paperwork clean up in the law library to prepare for the CO to come in and finish up on the weekend… because yes, even AFTER all the work I put in, it isn’t all finished (imagine that) so a CO has to come in and help. 3 Hours.
So Law Library alone: 29.5 Hours

Making my total hours worked… for a part time job that pays me less than Burger King would and gives me zero applicable legal experience… total hours worked comes to 47.5 hours.

Now, reading that last bit might have you thinking “Why not just quit?” And here’s the humor: Wife already gave me permission to do just that! Wife looked at how much work I’d be doing, the lack of security and safety, the fact that I now have to allow that vicious killer asshole in here, and all of the other factors and said, “Yeah. If you want to quit, I’d understand!” But here’s the thing… this is the only job I’ve done since starting Law School. I’m relying on my superiors (assholes that they may be) to be good references for when Hiring Agents call from jobs I’m applying to. So that is where I feel stuck. I’m already like a wild animal gnawing my foot off trying to get work… the last thing I need is a big flaming bag of “Don’t call my last job” to keep me from ever working!

I reckon I’ll take crap for not getting any housing units through today; but honestly… that’s what happens when you cover my desk with 5 layers of kites, give me that shit show about the sex offenders, 8 RAP interviews, a court shift… besides… since I’m the only person that works the Law Library anyway… it isn’t like you shouldn’t expect some days where we can’t get inmates through.