Justin Douglas

The out of control was in the air, literally. There was smoke everywhere. Somehow, the guys in the hole were getting their hands on a lot of synthetic marijuana, K2. And because there was pretty much nothing else to do, they were smoking constantly.

The out of control was in the air, literally. There was smoke everywhere. Somehow, the guys in the hole were getting their hands on a lot of synthetic marijuana, K2. And because there was pretty much nothing else to do, they were smoking constantly.

The smoke was wafting from the cells and in the halls. It had an impact on staffing. Some corrections officers tried to avoid the hole and the smoke that came with it. But eventually, the smoke was getting so bad there, they felt they had to intervene.

The smoke was wafting from the cells and in the halls. It had an impact on staffing. Some corrections officers tried to avoid the hole and the smoke that came with it. But eventually, the smoke was getting so bad there, they felt they had to intervene.

The COs would turn the cells upside down looking for marijuana. But the smoking didn't stop. And the COs were getting more and more frustrated. So the shakedowns escalated.

The COs would turn the cells upside down looking for marijuana. But the smoking didn't stop. And the COs were getting more and more frustrated. So the shakedowns escalated.

Paperwork at DCP is important. It could be privileged information that's not meant for anyone else to see other than the client and attorney. Losing access to their paperwork could have an impact on their case. The COs had also taken the jail-issued tablets from the inmates in the hole.

Paperwork at DCP is important. It could be privileged information that's not meant for anyone else to see other than the client and attorney. Losing access to their paperwork could have an impact on their case. The COs had also taken the jail-issued tablets from the inmates in the hole.

That meant no access to religious texts, any entertainment, and all communications to and from the outside world. So friends and family outside of DCP had no idea what was going on. It ended up coming down to it was in a uniform and one blanket. But none of that worked. Somehow the inmates in the hole were still getting synthetic marijuana.

That meant no access to religious texts, any entertainment, and all communications to and from the outside world. So friends and family outside of DCP had no idea what was going on. It ended up coming down to it was in a uniform and one blanket. But none of that worked. Somehow the inmates in the hole were still getting synthetic marijuana.

Inmates and former staff at DCP have reported that staff were the ones bringing the drugs and other contraband in. When the COs realized that they were using the lights and outlets in the cell to spark up, the jail leadership tried a new tactic. They cut the power completely. That meant the lights stayed off, and there wasn't heat in the cells either.

Inmates and former staff at DCP have reported that staff were the ones bringing the drugs and other contraband in. When the COs realized that they were using the lights and outlets in the cell to spark up, the jail leadership tried a new tactic. They cut the power completely. That meant the lights stayed off, and there wasn't heat in the cells either.

It was December in central Pennsylvania, and with only a thin uniform and blanket to protect them after the shakedowns, the people down in the hole were at risk of hypothermia.

It was December in central Pennsylvania, and with only a thin uniform and blanket to protect them after the shakedowns, the people down in the hole were at risk of hypothermia.

Without light, without heat, it was even worse. Don and the other people in that block had nothing. All he could do was sit in his cell and wait.

Without light, without heat, it was even worse. Don and the other people in that block had nothing. All he could do was sit in his cell and wait.

When Don was sitting in his cell in the cold and darkness, nobody on the outside had a clue about what was going on. I didn't either, although I'd heard some rumors from family members. When I asked the jail about those rumors, they didn't tell me anything. Then, one afternoon, I got a phone call.

When Don was sitting in his cell in the cold and darkness, nobody on the outside had a clue about what was going on. I didn't either, although I'd heard some rumors from family members. When I asked the jail about those rumors, they didn't tell me anything. Then, one afternoon, I got a phone call.

Taji Abdullah is in his mid-20s. He had been in DCP for about a year and a half, waiting for trial on gun charges. I knew he had been in the hole recently after talking to his mother. So, I asked him about those rumors.

Taji Abdullah is in his mid-20s. He had been in DCP for about a year and a half, waiting for trial on gun charges. I knew he had been in the hole recently after talking to his mother. So, I asked him about those rumors.