Day 20

The Ravenswing Report

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Return to Day 19

[REDACTED]:

I received your report of this month’s simulator trial, and I must confess myself baffled by its contents. When I assigned you to this project, it was under the impression that you would focus primarily on assessing the inmates’ likelihood of qualifying for an early release by evaluating the probability of their committing a repeat offense. What you have sent me is nothing more than sentimental drivel that serves no purpose for this organization. Your suggestion that we utilize the simulator for several weeks per inmate, with such small groups per session, only to find them “not quite suitable for a full pardon” is absurd, almost insultingly so. The cost of running the simulator will quickly outstrip whatever savings may be generated by these shortened sentences, and we risk running afowl of the justice system if we promise inmates an early release and then fail to deliver.

Additionally, the man-hours required to operate the simulation at the level you’ve described is unsustainable, bordering on inhumane. I spoke with your brother after reading your report, and he informed me that you have not been home since the start of your trial run. Have you truly slept at the prison for three consecutive weeks? Is that the standard of care you would expect of your fellow technicians? I cannot implement so exacting a protocol.

And we still have yet to touch on this “fantasy-esque” setting you constructed. What are attempting to forget, that you spent this much time on a side project? Simulation settings do not need to be detailed. They do not need to be larger than life. They certainly do not need to utilize a “shared symbolic language” or “tropes and expectations from popular films”. To reiterate: the purpose of the simulation is merely to assess the likelihood of a repeat offense in real life. The data you have offered me are meaningless, and while I appreciate that you enjoyed yourself, I cannot continue to allow you to operate in this capacity if you insist on this paradigm. I will be compelled to replace you with a technician who is more aligned with the vision of the program and more compliant when difficult situations arise.

That said, I do expect the simulator readout to be on my desk as quickly as possible so that I can attempt to glean any shreds of useful information from it; if you will be out of the office, please coordinate with a colleague to ensure that I receive it the moment it is made available.

Sincerely,

[REDACTED]

P.S.: I’ve cancelled your Monday appointment with the warden and myself; I find it quite impertinent that you scheduled it without consulting me first, and I must warn you that continued insubordination of this sort will not be taken lightly.

Return to Table of Contents

You’ve just completed The Ravenswing Report, a rapid-fire, limited-run serial from Sara Dietz at Blinking Blue Line. To learn more and access the Table of Contents, click here.