Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness

Once again, Earley returns to the Miami-Dade County Pretrial Detention Center to shadow Dr. Poitier. As Dr. Poitier tries to find space for six new inmates in need of treatment, Earley meets correctional officer Clarence Clem. Earley watches Officer Clem deal with inmates who are caught masturbating or spitting at nurses. He and Sergeant Michael Alonso use pepper spray on an inmate who refuses to take a shower.

Earley mentions that he has been ordered by correctional officers several times during his many visits to leave the C wing due to safety concerns. Obeying these orders is part of Earley’s conditional access to the jail, but Earley still records officers disciplining inmates with violence. Sergeant Alonso explains the need for personal defense. Another correctional officer tells Earley, “Look, it’s our word against an inmate’s word—against a crazy inmate’s word. Now, who do you think they are going to believe?” (243). Earley feels sympathetic to the officers after seeing many difficult incidents with inmates, but he also transcribes a recording he made when correctional officers beat up an inmate who asked to be fed. Another correctional officer tells Earley she dreads working on the ninth floor because it is such an unpredictable place.