Los Santos Insider | A Look Inside Twin Towers Correctional Facility

[Degu]

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A Look Inside Twin Towers Correctional Facility

Written By Gabriel Stone, 10/06/2023

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The Graduation of Class 479

On the 7th of May I was invited along to the graduation of LSSD's class 479, and in just a couple of days they'll be seeing the graduation of class 480. The ceremony was hosted on ULSA's sports track as usual. After a naked male had stormed the stage and was dragged away from the proceedings, the ceremony was able to get underway with no further problems. I had attended a number of these ceremonies before, but the difference this time was that Captain George McLaughlin invited Los Santos Insider along to find out what happens next.

 

Following the ceremony we had a brief interview with Chief Arevalo. The number of graduates for class 479 seemed substantial so I asked Arevalo if the LSSD had seen an increase in recruitment, to which he replied "I can confidently tell you we've been growing at a consistent rate. We've been hiring on the administrative and the patrol side and numbers have been increasingly growing at a healthy rate as of now." I also asked if Arevalo had felt positive about the quality of the recruits to which he stated "Couldn't be more positive, Mr. Stone. We've reworked numerous internal processes to ensure we're only bringing in the best of the best. Our process is intense and difficult for a reason. We have some of the best academy instructors in the world."

 

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Twin Towers Correctional Facility

 

 

With the interview concluded we travelled to Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF), where all the new recruits would be tested for the first time by the inmates. It's where all new deputies start out, and in this time they find out if they've really got what it takes to be a fully fledged deputy within the LSSD. Recruits were lined up outside by the coach they arrived on. Captain Laughlin informed those present that anyone who wants to be anyone in the LSSD passes through the doors of TTCF "I churn out the hardest deputies to work this facility here. Couple of the Sergeants behind me learned how to be a Sergeant under me at this facility." 

 

 

Deputy Willingham explained that only surnames were to be used on '1000 block' and then went on to describe the significance of the term "block" within the LSSD jail system. 1000 block being the first floor, 2000 block being the second and so on, each floor having its own significant purpose. 

 

Two large groups,of new deputies including ourselves, were taken on a tour around the facility and were introduced to life inside TTCF. For the most part we were kept separate from the inmates at first. As we were shown around we took notice of a number of freshly renovated facilities alongside the older facilities. 

 

 

In the male block, or "Pod A" we were guided into "the bubble" which was a room overlooking the main area of the pod with the inmates at their tables below. The inmates of pod A 131 were called over for shower time and lined up. In the meantime the new deputies were briefed on what to expect, informed that inmates would recognize their 'newness' and put them to the test. They were also told the ways in which inmates tend to separate into racial groups, each of which have their own tables. He also instilled that respect should be shown to inmates until the point at which respect is not given back.

 

 

When the showers were free, I was guided in to take a look at the shower facilities and introduced to some 'internal criminal politics', according to McLaughlin, they never shower conflicting groups together. 

 

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The Boardwalk and Yard

 

 

After this we moved onto the yard, a semi-large area with a basketball court, training equipment and seating areas atop AstroTurf. This was a few minutes prior to the inmates being let out into the yard. Instead of a bubble, the yard has the boardwalk which is a metal bridge over the yard from which deputies can patrol and watch the goings on. They're equipped with less than lethal launchers in case of any incidents down below. We were sent up onto the boardwalk as inmates were released into the yard for their 20 minute segment.

 

Inmate Interview, Greene

I was introduced to inmate Greene, a black male in his early 20's. He agreed to an interview with me and so naturally my first question was to ask what he was in for. "Armed Robbery 'n Evasion... allegedly. I plead no contest, and been kept inside based on the charges." he told me he was in for thirteen months but only had one more month to go before he would be released. 

 

At this point in the interview, the inmates in the yard down below us could be heard chanting "supreme white power" over and over again, to which Greene understandably seemed unsettled and stated his disinterest in going into the yard.

 

I asked Greene how he felt after over a year inside TTCF "It's changed my views of how I was behaving, I can tell you that much. Put s**t into perspective that I'm a grown ass man with a whole lotta options. A n***a like me ain't gotta keep getting down wit' timed meals 'n scheduled sunlight." after a positive outlook on his time inside, I couldn't help but wonder what had led Greene down the path he had been on "Long story, short? You grow up around it, and it molds you. N****s without guidance don't have an image to become, so they grow up with the image that ends up fallin' in front of 'em. That's it."

 

For my final question I asked Greene if he wanted to be that role model once he left the facility and he said "Not a role model, man. Just somebody who's tryna step outta the cycle. Maybe I can help a couple of people."

 

By pure chance, on the 9th of June, the day I began to write this article, I ran into Greene on the street. He informed me that he hadn't been back into jail since he'd gotten out and was doing well.

 

The Yard

 

 

To my surprise we were led down into the yard while the inmates were still there. I was introduced to the groups. The white inmates were exercising on benches while the Southsiders were in a different corner doing exercises of their own. No one was particularly interested in talking, but the white inmates I spoke to were quick to 'pose' for a photo and display their ink, while the Southsiders refused photos entirely.

 

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Pod B

I was guided then to 'Pod B', where the female inmates are housed. The difference between the two pods was stark. There were very few inmates present and it was relatively quiet and relaxed. I was introduced to a female inmate that was willing to do an interview with me, none other than Ruth 'Rue' Taylor, The lead singer of Broken Windows.

 

Inmate Interview, Ruth 'Rue' Taylor

Ruth was asleep on a bench when we arrived and quickly stated how disgruntled and bored she was regarding the recent confiscation of all her things. She introduced herself to me as Ruth, Rue or Roofie.

 

Just as with Greene, my first question was what had landed Rue in here in the first place and she answered "So uh, basically what happened is that a crazy ex of mine broke my Gibson guitar? Those things are expensive, you know? Smashed it to pieces over some jealousy issue. But I'm in a band, so I needed money for a new one? But like... I'm from [redacted]. I don't even have an address so I can't work either. "

"Anyway. Friends find this cool spot up in Vinewood Hills, you know? Some spot we know the people aren't gonna miss their electronics. Kinda house that a few missing laptops, it wouldn't hurt them. I brought a gun because I wanted to come prepared. Anyway... We get caught. And because I'm a convicted felon, owning a gun's like... Straight to jail. Got done for evading arrest even though I wasn't driving and being a felon with a firearm. " 

 

Rue told us that she was in for five months but had already served three. She also said that with what she saw on the daily, no one should be surprised that she carries a gun. Also like with Greene I asked Rue how she had found her time at the facility, however I picked up on Rue's distaste for her lack of activities and focused more on whether or not she felt enough help was provided to inmates.

 

"I'm a heroin addict. I've repeatedly asked for help with the withdrawal under the Baker Act. Best they've done is shove me into SHU in a straitjacket." she claimed. I then asked her whether she'd like to see more activities available within TTCF, such as penpal programs, work programs and so on "Penpals would be nice, man. It gets kinda lonely in here. You've got some phone calls you can make but it's only limited, and if most your friends are homeless? They can't much afford to pay the phone fees either." she said, further adding "And activities, I guess. Sewing or some s**t. Something to keep you busy. Books and s**t are all fun and games but you can only do that for so long before you're tired." 

 

To conclude I was interested to see if Rue's outlook for when she left TTCF was as positive as Greene's, however I was hardly surprised to find it wasn't "When I'm out of here I'm still a convicted felon and I don't have a home to go to. It's back to the streets for me. I literally can't do anything else. No one's gonna hire me, I'll just be panhandling. Maybe I'll stay sober for two weeks and then it's right back to the same old s**t, just how it goes." the dismal outlook was one I could understand, homelessness is a difficult pit to dig oneself out of.

 

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Final Interview, Captain McLaughlin

To conclude the tour, Captain McLaughlin offered an interview. I first asked about the many clean and new-looking facilities we'd been through and whether lots of work had been done on TTCF recently 

 

Stone: Right so we saw a lot of very clean, fresh looking facilities today. Has there been a lot of work done lately to bring TTCF into the "modern day" as it were?

 

McLaughlin: Twin Towers Correctional Facility and its sister facility, Los Santos County Jail, are probably the most up to date facilities we have out of the dozen or so staffed by the Sheriff's Department. 

 

We work intensely with Pillbox Hill Medical Center, the local and state government, the federal government, everyone we can to make sure this is a facility that will not only hold, but rehabilitate. 

 

Saying that, you can see we've still got a long way to go, but the facility is heading in the right direction.

 

Stone: We saw two very different opinions of the facilities today. One man seemed to have an optimistic outlook while the lady we interviewed seemed unhappy with her time here. Does the LSSD have any plans for programs to be introduced to the facility in Future? gardening, crafts, educational, work, other kinds of rehabilitating programs to help inmates back into society?

 

McLaughlin: I believe the facility has all the capabilities to benefit the inmates if they use it right. We're always looking for who to partner with to bring new programs into the facility. LSFD, PHMC, et cetera.

 

We recently had inmates leave the facility to be taught basic first aid by LSFD paramedics. If the inmates are willing and want to put the work in, we'll definitely allow for them to rehabilitate with extensive programs.

 

Stone: And last of all I suppose I'd like to ask you, do you remember when you were first a recruit here? What was goin' through your mind that day? is it scary? exciting? so on.

 

McLaughlin: Yeah, I did my first days in 2006 here. It's a hard place to work, but it breeds the type of deputy you need to see on the street. LS is not the type of city for a deputy to walk into unprepared. This jail, its sister facility, and the other correctional facilities we operate prepare deputies to walk out onto the streets of Los Santos and be the best they can be.

 

Stone: They give the newbies a hard time?

 

McLaughlin: As I said, inmates here will test deputies to see if they have the mindset to work this facility. The good deputies, the great deputies, ninety-five percent who make it through the academy? They meet those standards I set here.

 

The inmates'll always try see who they can disrespect. It's like that in every jail in America. We show them, that when you wear the badge of a county sheriff in this county, you can't do that.

 

Stone: What makes a great deputy? Who makes it in this world?

 

McLaughlin: Someone who is able to learn every day on the job. Nobody knows it all. I still learn to this day. I'm sure Sheriff Hewitt still does. You can never know too much in this profession.

 

Stone: Thank you. I think that's all I want to ask. Appreciate you taking some time to speak to me sir.

 

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In Conclusion

I met with two inmates of very contrasting views upon their time within TTCF. Greene felt he had been shown the error of his ways and that he might turn over a new leaf, while Rue felt that not enough was being done for her and other inmates, and that her life was stuck in a hopeless cycle due to her homelessness. Captain McLaughlin seemed to be of the opinion that inmates get more out of TTCF if they make use of what's offered to them while they're there.

 

With new renovations, the facilities were looking fresh and new in a number of places, however I couldn't help but feel there's a lot of untapped potential as well. It was a rare and insightful opportunity to be allowed into TTCF, to which I thank Captain McLaughlin for extending the invitation to Los Santos Insider.

 

Have you been held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF)? If so, what was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.

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[Bubonic]

Name: ESBOY
Comment: now get cameras inside without them knowing, youll see the true side of TTCF.