By Socalbd
Background: I recently spent four days as an inmate during a live action roleplay. The event took place at a closed but partially refurbished maximum-security prison. This was my first time doing something like this, and I knew I wanted to keep a journal about my experience. However, I wanted to stay in the headspace as much as I could. More about that below. To say it was the experience of a lifetime would be an understatement. But more than that, the community of men I spent four days with was incredible. I was honored to share this experience with them. My thanks to the organizers for their countless hours of preparation. Special thanks to those that had my back, physically and mentally, and allowed me to ride the range of emotions that challenged, scared and comforted me over the four days.
The letters: I arranged with the captain of the guard prior to the event to be able to “write” letters home to family. I would be provided with paper, pen and envelopes in my cell. When there was time, I would write my letters. Each evening, I would place the letter in an open envelope and have it delivered to the captain of the guard. He could read the letter, check it for any information not permitted to be revealed about the prison (he would line out any such writing), he could write comments in the margins if he wanted, and would then “mail” the letter for me. Mailing meant placing the letter in my duffel bag that was being stored during the event. At the end of the event the letters would be waiting for me inside the bag, and I would be able to go back and read them along with any edits the captain of the guard made.
