Friday morning we woke up at 5 am and if you know me you know it has to be something pretty worthy for me to set the alarm for that hour. We got up and walked across the parking lot to Mickey D’s for our morning substance and shot of caffeine. Around 6:00 we headed to the car wash parking lot. To our surprise there was no one in the car wash, they were lined up outside the visitor’s parking lot. We just got in line and waited – and waited – and waited. About 7:30 Correctional Officer Bellar came out and took our drivers license. This is at the point where we learned that only 3 adults can go into the visiting room, per inmate. We made a decision that myself, Wilson and his Mom would go in first. I pleaded “he wants to see his brother and his parents, not a girl his brother married.” Ron had spoken and I was going in and he was coming in on the second set of visitors. At this time they opened the parking lot and we all found a spot and got comfortable. CO Bellar told us he would be back around 8:10 to bring in the first set of approved visitors. The walk from the visitor’s parking lot is probably 2 football fields long and then you have those steps. Climbing those steps was a bit of a challenge, not physically but mentally. You are going in and they have total control. Once you reach the top of the steps the gate opens automatically, which is when you say to yourself “we are being watched at all times”. Once you get in the first gate you have to sign a waiver that states you have no illegal drugs, guns, ammo, etc. That is when they state you have to be dressed in pants, not shorts – closed toe shoes, no sandals. After you sign your waiver and sign the visitors log you are told that no paper money may pass through the next gate. If you have any money you need to take it back to your car or change it into coins. If you choose to exchange it for coins you must carry that change in a see through bag such as a Ziploc. “Nothing is to go in with you except change in a bag!” Now it’s time for the metal detector. Wilson’s Mom set it off first “take off your watch ma’am”. She did and it light up like Christmas again “take off your shoes ma’am”. Once again – ring, ring. This is when she looked at CO Bellar and said “I am not taking my bra off!”. We all got a good laugh out of it and it helped to break the tension that was in the small room for those of us who were first timers. They wanded and her found out it was her underwire in her bra. Can you believe that? They didn’t make her take it off though. Now it’s Wilson’s turn. He set off the alarm 3 times as well. His culprit was the laces on his boots. Now it’s my turn and I made it through, underwire bra and all.
They inform us that we will step inside the next cell – yes cell and the first door will not open until the door behind us has closed. This is when you hear that colossal bang that you see on TV. At this point I realized I am closer to the Penitentiary than I am the free world. At Leavenworth there is ALWAYS a minimum of 2, and mostly 3, gates that you have to pass through to see freedom. Not one person has access to all the gates. If you are a CO on the inside you do not have access to the outside gate and vice versa.
Once you hear the shock of the slamming gate you realize that the gate in front of you is opening. Thank Goodness. As you wall into the rectangle shape visitors room you realize the years this building has seen. All of the chairs and small tables are plastic. Just like the chairs you may have out on your patio for extra guests. As I looked around I noticed there are chairs pushed up against the wall, then a small plastic table and then a single chair facing the chairs on the wall. The CO Rice tells us where we will be sitting and “do not move your chairs off the wall”. At this point they go out and locate Scott. They do not go and get the inmates until you are firmly in your seat. With a system that holds over two thousand inmates this can be quite a task. You learn this is why you let the inmate know you are coming. If not, they may be out on the yard and not in their cell. If there are a thousand men on the yard your loved one looks like an ant.
When the paneled cover door opens you can get a glimpse of what it is like on the “other side” but only for a brief moment. The inmate walks in, looking like they are ready for their first date. For inmates to come to the visiting room they must be in their penitentiary issued khaki shirt and pants along with their belt and black boots. Anything other than that and you get a one way trip back to your cell. Scott told us later that since he had never had a visitor at this location he had to borrow his cellmate’s boots to come and meet us. This is the part that I actually felt bad for the inmates - When that door opens and they see their loved ones they must walk past them to the CO’s desk and had them their identification card they were given on the other side of the door, after they were stripped searched. Once the CO has the card and gives the inmate permission they can turn around and walk over to where you are waiting. Leavenworth does have a policy where you can hug at the beginning of the visit and at the conclusion of the visit. Since most federal penitentiaries only have visitations through glass with each side on a recorded phone line this is a nice surprise to wives.
Scott opened the door and saw us and that is when I realized he is not a hardened criminal. He is not someone who lives to pump iron and kick ass all day. He is a normal guy. He is clean shaven, clothes are ironed and starched. I am a bit taken aback. This is not what I have been reading about and watching on TV. These guys walking through here were anyone you would pass on the street. I know that Federal Penitentiaries do not have the clientele that state prisons have but still. My view is beginning to change minute by minute.
Scott hugged his Mom so hard I thought I heard her bones crack. He pulled back at one point and said “Sorry Mom but I can’t help it” and hugged her again with just as much vigor. Next he grabbed onto Wilson and that is when the emotions took over. He had not seen his brother in 15 years. Wilson was 14 years old the last time he saw Scott. The last time his Mom had seen him it was through glass and there was no contact. Scott was very emotionally, and rightfully so. We learned that this was his first contact visit since 1999. Can you imagine not touching your family for 10 years? The only people you have contact with are officers and inmates. Not a favorable pool.
We sat there until around 11:00 when Wilson’s Mom decided to go out and let Ron come in. Both Wilson and I volunteered to go out but she protested and I think it had a lot to do with a nicotine habit. We got to speak to Scott for 10 minutes or so and it was so amazing. He was telling me about his crime, telling me stories about the penitentiary itself and how one inmate actually fooled the guards into thinking he was the fire marshall and walked right out the front door. He was later caught of course.
Ron came in and it was the flood of emotions all over again. This was his Dad and you could certainly tell. There was no denying this kid, he is a Wilson. You could watch Scott as he studied his Father’s face like he was trying to burn it into his memory for just one more year. We stayed that day until about 1:45 and loved every minute of it. When we left Ron said “I bet we just made his day. Hell, I bet we just made his year”. I bet we did too.
When we left we decided to drive into Kansas City and see a few sites before heading back to the hotel. That day was exhausting emotionally and physically. I was in bed and asleep by 6 pm. The next morning the alarm went off again at 5 am and we were ready to see what this day brought to us.
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