EP 9 - The Prison Librarian

In this episode of Cocaine Air, Johnathan Walton interviews Liana Lovell, a retired prison librarian, and TJ Dominguez about TJ's time in prison. Liana describes the conditions of the prison, including the lack of air conditioning and the prevalence of contraband, facilitated by corrupt correctional officers. TJ confirms the open secret of drug dealing within the prison system and explains how inmates manage to traffic drugs, often using the library as a central exchange point. He recounts an incident where he stood up to an inmate threatening him for protection, highlighting the constant need for vigilance in prison. TJ also discusses how he secured a coveted job in the prison library by leveraging his language skills and how he used the library's resources to research his case and ultimately reduce his sentence. The episode reveals the hypocrisy of a system where inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses while prison staff profit from the same activities within the prison walls.