Sometimes we’re left to deal with the results of actions not ourown.

That’s why for the last two Saturdays I’ve traveled to theCentral Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl to visit aninmate, a dear friend who’s fallen into the abyss that is drugaddiction.

So deep is this pit that it’s literally taken everything sheonce had — her home, her career as a school teacher, some of herfamily and most of her friends. One day I hope to write about herrecovery, but not this day. Recovery is attainable, but it is notcertain.

Prison is not a fun place to visit. My guess is it’s not a funplace to work either. I would hope that any employee of the stateof Mississippi would treat state taxpayers with respect andcourtesy. That is not the case with some employees at the CentralMississippi Correctional Facility.

I know the rules for visiting inmates must be followed for thesafety of the visitors, the CMCF staff and the inmates themselves.I am going to relate some things I saw at CMCF last week that Ithink could have been handled differently by employees.

The first involved a woman who brought two young boys, ages 3and 18 months, to see their mother. She had one diaper, one bottleand one change of clothes for each child, as allowed by CMCF rules,in a clear backpack type bag. The rules specify clear diaperbags.

When she got inside the check-in area, a CMCF officer told herthe bag could not be brought inside the visiting area. His onlyreason was it was unacceptable. As this woman struggled with twoyoung children as she was forced to empty the bag, I asked theofficer if CMCF had an acceptable bag she could borrow. “Lady,that’s not my job,” was his reply.

No, I thought to myself, but making this day difficult obviouslyis.

The second incident involved a woman who had come from Texas tovisit her daughter. She was dressed in a very nice linen pant suit.Her problem? Well, since neither her blouse nor the jacket coveringhad sleeves, she was told she could not come inside. CMCF rulesdon’t allow “tank” tops. Luckily for this woman, another visitorwas able to loan her a long-sleeved shirt or her long drive fromDallas would have been wasted.

The woman told me later that having to pay $30 at the CMCFcanteen for a carton of cigarettes she could buy at a store for $16only added insult to injury. Name brand cigarettes are sold for $50a carton. (No, cigarettes may not be brought to CMCF except for asingle pack, and the inmate is not allowed to keep those cigarettesafter the visit.)

After I sat in the visitor’s room for an hour Saturday and myfriend had not shown up, I inquired at the check-in center. I wastold she had been called, so I continued to wait. After another 20minutes of waiting and thinking about the two incidents I hadwitnessed earlier, I asked to see a commissioner. I was directed toa female lieutenant who told me they “did not need myattitude.”

Well, I don’t need theirs, either.

I want the staff of the Central Mississippi CorrectionalFacility to know that I am not a criminal, and I have given them noreason to treat me like one. I will follow the rules when I visitthe CMCF. In return, I expect CMCF employees to at least becivil.

On both my visits to the CMCF, I have found the inmates andtheir visitors to be polite, friendly and respectful of others.It’s a shame I can’t say the same about some of the folks wearingthe badges.

Write to Nanette Laster at P.O. Box 551 Brookhaven, Miss.39602, or send e-mail to news@dailyleader.com.