Some days in prison are better than others. Some days, like today, are circled on the calendar.

Today, I’m scheduled to call my son at about 9 a.m. and talking to him always makes for a great day. Another highlight: A friend is coming to visit. Well, maybe.

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This morning, right after I finished doing a workout video, we were all told to rack-in. So after my bird bath (a shower using the cell sink), I sat and waited not knowing if today would be great — or a huge disappointment.

My wait during this period of lockdown made me realize how grateful I am for the privileges I currently have and what my “time” is like at the moment compared to what it’s been.

I think I can relate to a dog who spent a portion of his life locked in a cage with a cruel owner and then was rescued and now only gets chained up once in a while. Occasionally, I also get people food as a treat.

The prison experience can be vastly different depending on where prisoners are housed. I’m told Draper is a completely different world from Gunnison.

Privileges and freedom aren’t the only things that make for a more positive living experience. The people around you make a huge difference, starting with your “cellie.” If you’re locked down all day, your cellie makes all the difference.

Some prisoners are locked in their cells 23 hours per day while others move about between jobs, schooling and yard time. Some housing areas are constantly being harassed by the police while others maintain a working relationship with the officers.

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Anywhere I’ve been in prison, the threat of violence exists. But whether that’s an undertone or an overtone depends upon the housing unit. Presently, when I factor everything in, there’s no question my time is better now than at any other point during my incarceration.

I’m also aware of how quickly I could lose it all.

In prison, done doesn’t have to do anything wrong to receive punishment, especially when the punishment isn’t clearly labeled as such — like a change of housing or being sent to some county jails.

Even in a lockdown section, a change in cellie might make all the difference. Prisoners’ lives can be turned upside down in an instant. They can lose everything from belongings to their standard of living or even some freedoms without warning.

Coincidentally, we were locked down while the prison was doing “secure” moves (transferring prisoners to max). We ended up getting let out right in time for me to call and talk to my son and then go to my visit. These moves were a direct result of a newly implemented classification system.

One unintended consequence has been an increased number of prisoners being rated as level 2 or “max.” Gunnison has had to transform two sections into lock-down sections as a result of the changes.

Many of these prisoners were living in general population and then were reclassified and sent to max as a consequence of “write-ups” (disciplinary action), gang affiliation or past violence.

Now I’m not an advocate for taking prisoners and throwing away the key because I’m a strong believer in prison being a place for improvement; however, I do believe greater separation between different types of prisoners is a step in the right direction.

The previous lack of separation has been one of the prison’s bigger issues. Intermingling leads to violence, lock-downs and loss of privileges, which hinders the overall goal of corrections.

Unfortunately, some prisoners are going to suffer in the attempt to make better living environments for the rest of us. More lockdowns isn’t ideal, as I’m sure there will be prisoners unfairly labeled.

But it’s better than treating everyone the same or initiating a mass punishment, which seems to only further embolden antisocial personalities and create more bad behavior.

Brian Wood, formerly of Layton, is an inmate at the Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. He pleaded guilty to nine felony charges for offenses from 2011 to 2014, including counts of burglary, drug possession and prescription fraud. He could spend up to 35 years in prison, depending on parole hearings.