Life on the Inside

Margery Richman, Teacher

Eisenhower Middle School

On Wednesday, October 14th two officers from the Morris County Sheriffs Office Department of Corrections came to speak to eighth grade students at the Eisenhower Middle School. The students are currently reading Monster by Walter Dean Myers, a realistic fiction novel detailing the life of a 16 year old boy while his trial takes place for the crime as an accomplice to murder. Students were able to hear about what life is like inside the jail from Corporal Michael Lundel and information about the reality of gangs from Corporal Edwin Santana. The students also had time for questions and answers. AJ Shears asked “do the inmates get to go outside and is there medical attention given?” Other students asked similar questions about the daily life for the inmates. Students spent class time discussing the similarities between inmates in the county jail with the main character in the book.

“It was very interesting how the facts about what jail life is like is similar to what we are reading,” said Natalie Wasek.

Corporal Lundel has been with the Sheriffs Office for almost 12 years and has worked within every segment of the jail. He is current assignment is as a training officer.

Corporal Santana has been employed with the Sheriffs Office for 13 years. He is currently assigned to the Morris County Gang Task Force. He is a nationally recognized gang expert.