During the COVID-19 Crisis, Don’t Shoot the Messenger

In his personal prison account, “During the COVID-19 Crisis, Don’t Shoot the Messenger,” Arthur Corey Devon, a long-time inmate at the Attica Correctional Facility, New York, reflects on his role as leader of the Inmate Liaison Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging preconceived notions of prison culture. Drawing a parallel between the pandemic and a previous chaotic incident involving a sewage malfunction, Devon questions the relatively subdued response of inmates to pandemic restrictions. The prison serves as a microcosm of society, where inmates endure social isolation due to canceled visitations, limited consumption, and heightened tension between prisoners and officers. Remarkably, even in times of increased restrictions and tension, instances of violence between prisoners remain low. Devon’s narrative sheds light on the unexpected reality of prison culture, showcasing how even the most dangerous individuals can recognize the alignment between their self-interest and the broader community’s safety.