Kingston Penitentiary Tour-Part 4 The grounds and shops

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The outside of the main cell block shows some of the history.  The last major update was over 20 years ago, with most of the major done well over 100 years ago.

The outside of the shop block.  The reason for the difference in appearance is the fact that much of the building was burnt in on of the 3 big riots of KP.

Aboriginal Grounds.  An area to try and address the unusual high proportion of aboriginal in the prison community. 

View inside the center court of the shop block.

The inside of the metal ship.  The shops were built by prisoners much earlier in the life of the prison.

Drug sniffing dog foot prints..

Intricate brick work in the metal shop ceiling.

The inside view of the South East corner, site of the last escape.

Locked screens, with bars just visible behind them..

Guard tower from the inside.

On the west wall, an old entrance was sealed over.

The Northern Sally Port.  A secure location for any vehicle entering or leaving the prison to be able to be inspected.

The prison is so old, even the newspapers in the waiting room are over 3 years old. 

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Kingston Penitentiary Tour-Part 3 The main cellblock

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When the tour began, we got taken into a second V&C room for our briefing.  On the way out, we saw what I  (and many others I suspect) thought the only way Max Security prisoners ever got visitors.  The classic locked in and talk on a phone.  Surprisingly, this is not the norm for visits, but reserved for those that have not earned or have lost the privilege of the open visit.

But that still wasn't the biggest surprise in terms of the way prisoners got visits.  I had been prepared by TV and movies to expect the "Conjugal visit" trailer, where the con gets his "gal" for an hour or two.  No such trailer exists here.  Instead, they had PFV or "Private Family Visit" apartments.  Every few months, a con could apply for a 72 hour visit, with up to 15 family and friends!  In that time, the families were left alone, cooked for themselves and had a chance to just be a family.  No guards or cameras inside, just a phone for emergencies.  Not every prisoner was eligible, but there were 6 of these self contained units, and they were pretty much in full time use.  We did not get to look inside, but they were described as a basic 3-4 bedroom starter home.

This is the main gate, as seen from the inside.  This includes a disused "Sally Port" that was designed like an airlock to allow vehicles part way In/Out for inspection.

Before we got in to the main cell-block, we got to see the outside of Keepers Hall, an area that holder admin officer, but used to have small cells in the basement.

Entrance of Keepers Hall.

Lower windows, what used to be the cells.  Even the admin offices have bars!

You have to ask yourself, what forces bent these bars!

This is inside the dome, the center of the 4 wings.  You can see that there are 4 stories of cell blocks, each apparently able to be very separated.  The main way of controlling inmates, is containment, keeping the population in discrete units to be able to avoid major riots.  Obviously fairly successful, since KP has not had a major riot since 1971.  Our visit was limited to the ground floor. Note the secure cage in the center for guards protection.

The view straight up the dome.

This is a secure stairwell to the other stories.

 Another eye opener.  The first wing we toured was in the old style format.  It had a lower bunk, for those prisoners that were too old/injured/or otherwise would have a difficult time getting on a top bunk.  Narrow, with some bathroom privacy, a fold down desk and a locker.  Note there is no window to the outside.  This is one of the reasons KP was closed, since the modern designs have the ability to get fresh light and air to the cells, controlled by the prisoner.

This dummy appears to have been made by some guards to give the lived in look.

From here you can see that within one wing, two floor are not fully segregated from each other.

Stainless Steel all in one sink and toilet.  Talk about stylish!

 This cell got me thinking as well.  The wall between two normal cells was removed, a big open space created and the bed was in a different room from the desk.  My first thought was..is this "First Class".  Snitches only?  Then I found out...Handicap stalls.  This is for those prisoners in WHEELCHAIRS?!? That had never occurred to me.  Of course there are prisoners in wheelchairs, but I had never thought of it.

 This is a more typical cell from a different cell block wing.  No, this is not bunk beds, this is a loft bed over a desk.  No wider, but a more effective use of the vertical space, giving an area for entertainment devices such as CD players and TV's.

 So, who does there laundry..they do!One set of machines for all the prisoners.

These photos show a decorated cell.  I did not know they would be allowed to block the view to get more privacy.  And the amount of electronics and entertainment equipment was a bit of a surprise.

With all the free time, some prisoners spent time decorating.

Another cell left "like it was when in use"

The secure booth in the middle of the dome.

One tour challenge was keeping open doors designed to close...

The view down the hall of the "Dissociation Unit".  What most of us would call "Solitary".  Short term only, usually for protection and close observation.  And no, this was not where the worst of the worst lived full time.

Inside a Dissociation Cell.

Inside a Dissociation Cell.

Inside a Dissociation Cell.

These are the chairs that were all over..Harder to make into weapons I guess.

The view to the Hospital Wing.

Close up to the upper levels.

After the 1972 riot, the wing heading south on the ground was so badly damaged, it needed a complete rebuild.  The decision was made to turn it into a "Regional Treatment Center", where there were multiple programs such as substance abuse, or issue with Sex.  There was also a library and on the walls, a reminder that prisoners still hold some rights...

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Kingston Penitentiary Tour-Part 2, Visitor Centre

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Upon entering KP, you know you are in a secure facility.  Every door is heavy, every window has bars. Even the doors, they are windows and bared.  No way to hide on the other side to ambush.  Everything is designed for security and safety.  There are bins like at an airport.

And all the rules and regulations are posted for the visitors.  There are lots of them, some obvious--some less so.  No Gum? Feet on the floor?  Sounds like rules from kindergarten.  Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour will not be tolerated? Sounds like a high school dance.  They had a dress code, and list if proscribed items: No sun glasses, Hoodies, Lipstick???, Chap Stick???, Hats or cell phones.  I can understand these somewhat, but would never have guessed it going in.

As you get closer to the V&C (Visitation and Communication) centre, there are adult and child sized foot prints painted on the floor.  Later we found out, these are to keep proper spacing for the drug sniffing dogs to walk though the visitors.








And on the wall..any of the fliers you didn't read on the way in are available.  Including..in RED..Getting Married.  Really?  I was quite surprised that a maximum security prison, and there are enough people who want to marry a prisoner that the top slot, is reserved for that.  And before you ask, no, the fliers were not there anymore. Apparently, the information is hard to come by (try Googling it to see what I mean).

The Actual V&C is broken up into different rooms, a large one with windows looking into the yard, where we waited.  They had another sign about acceptable conduct.

Really?  A room full of strangers, kids, guards watching..and the rules have to spell out "No Intercourse? And we are NOT talking about a private room here. 

I did not take any pictures..too many other people.  But I did take a picture of the corner play area.  It made me sad that there are so many kids involved in the system that they need an area like this.  It reminded me of a waiting room in a Hospital.

And they would not even let adults play ..how very sad..and understandable!

And the view from the windows, that in the real world you were not allowed near, was a bird-feeder..such an innocuous room overall.

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