They act like they’re big shots, until reality dawns on them

Bayou Renaissance Man: 

I was saddened, but not surprised, to read about Aaron Hernandez‘ behavior behind bars after his conviction for murder.

Aaron Hernandez racked up about a dozen disciplinary offenses in the slammer — including fistfights and possession of a metal shiv — and told prison officials that “this place ain’t s— to me,” according to a report.

About a month after the former Patriots tight end was imprisoned for murder, a correction officer wanted to check him for marks and bruising, CNN reported.

But Hernandez had blocked his cell door at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, making it tough for the guard to enter.

When he finally got in, the guard observed redness on Hernandez’s knuckles and elbow. As the guard escorted a shackled Hernandez to be seen by medical staff, he became “agitated and insolent.”

“You just making up s—,” Hernandez told the guard, CNN reported.

“This place ain’t s— to me,” he barked after a checkup. “I’ll run this place and keep running s—. Prison ain’t s— to me.”

The details were included in a lengthy prison discipline record on the former NFL star, which CNN obtained through a public-records request.

. . .

He accumulated a total of about a dozen disciplinary offenses between May 2015 and October 2016 — including three fistfights, two smoking-related issues, two surprise prison tattoos and possession of a nearly 6-inch metal shiv, CNN reported.

There’s more at the link.

In my years as a prison chaplain, I saw this again and again.  People who were, in their own eyes, ‘hard men’ on the outside, tried to throw their weight around when incarcerated.  First, they found out that there were plenty of other ‘hard men’ behind bars, who weren’t about to tolerate anyone trying to dominate them.  Next, they faced up to the reality that for years to come – perhaps for the rest of their lives – they were going to take orders from prison guards whom they might have despised in ‘outside’ life;  they were going to be ordered around all day, every day, and never have the freedom to arrange their lives for themselves;  and they were going to stare at brick or concrete walls, and bars in their windows, and barbed or razor wire, every waking moment.  Their freedom was over and done with.

It’s no wonder so many commit suicide, or attempt it.  I’m surprised that more don’t do so.  MORE