If you’ve ever traveled to Northern Michigan, near the Traverse City area, you most likely have memories of large pines, highways lined with beautiful wild flowers, rolling hills and of course we can’t forget the majestic Great Lakes shoreline.

These are among my fond memories as I have traveled there frequently. This past weekend was no different as far as the scenery goes, but once we arrived at Pugsley Correctional Facility I saw the north through a different lens.

Yes, the prison was surrounded by the usual barbed wire fence we see in all the prisons, but the buildings looked more rustic and the whole compound took on more of a desolate camp appearance.

We we’re met by a hard prison guard who has worked in the prison system for over 40 years. The Chaplain was running behind, so we heard some very interesting stories told by this seasoned double pistol packing guard who told us why we get treated somewhat roughly when we enter the prisons.

He said “If you wonder why we don’t always treat you volunteers too well, and make you feel like you’re the criminals, it’s because there are 35 of us guards and over 1,300 prisoners and once you’re here, our chances of them taking over become greater than before you came. You make our work harder and put us at more risk.”