This cartoon is of a prison guard as a sheepherder. We’re the sheep.
One main task of guards is to count the prison population. Count happens multiple times per day. This act is like a shepherd counting their flock. Also like a sheepherder, guards must escort us around and make sure we don’t escape.
Earlier this year, guards in my state of New York went on a wildcat strike, which means it was unauthorized by their union. The strike lasted three weeks. The striking guards pushed for the ability to use solitary confinement for longer periods of time, three years after a state law limited its use to no more than 15 consecutive days.
Ultimately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gave in to some of the guards’ demands and suspended the 15-day rule.
Many New York guards are forced to work 16-hour shifts because the state prison system doesn’t have enough staffing to run all these prisons. Being overworked is a completely reasonable grievance, and the guards also won some overtime work changes as a concession from the governor.
But what does it say about their priorities that they also wanted greater ability to lock us in solitary, despite the fact that the United Nations has said it should be banned in most cases?
