Yesterday my wife and 3 older children left our house around 8:15am. That long drive was not as depressing as expected. I read several email responses from our pool customers where they expressed their support and prayers of me and my family. The previous day I sent an update to all active customers telling them we were shutting down our pool business for at least 2 years and told my story that led to me entering prison camp this week. We met my best friend Chuck, who I met in high school, for an early lunch. Then after lunch the inevitable occurred.. That 10 minute drive was very depressing. I held my wife’s hand more strongly than usual. We pulled up to the main prison exactly at noon. A guard was nice enough to come out and point us to the camp. We went to the camp and I hugged my children goodbye. Went to the visitor entrance but did not enter since the signs said do not enter unless we were screened. We walked around back onto the campus and quickly were approached by an inmate who was nice enough to walk us back to the visitor center and said we needed to enter and someone would come out. He said we looked lost as we were still holding hands. Sure enough a guard came out and I had to quickly kiss my wife goodbye.
The female guard was very nice .She took my license, SS card and birth certificate. I kept my contact list and waited while she added me to the system. She took my picture and out came my ID card. She had me put on a white t-shirt. Then I was stripped searched and changed into khaki pants with boxers, socks and “Jackie chan” shoes. I asked them to toss my clothes and sneakers( a note from Patti- they would have shipped his clothes home, but I didn’t want to receive that box as it would be too depressing and asked Jim to just wear old clothes and he agreed). Apparently, if I had black athletic shoes in decent shape I probably could have kept them. Then I went across the hall to medical and got a ppd shot for hepatitis( Patti edit here again- it is a ppd test to check for tuberculosis and not a shot for hepatitis) They said I needed to come back on Friday for them to read it and gave me a reminder card and said the daily “call out” list would include me to report back. The “call out” sheet is shared the afternoon/evening the day before and lists inmates’ last names and what time and where they need to report. If you miss reporting you get disciplinary action. Health Services was nice enough to explain this.
Next I met with my counselor who had me sign forms like authorization for visitors and attestations like incoming mail is searched. He also explained that all visitors must mail a form to him to perform a background check and get approved. He explained how the mail is centralized and takes awhile(7-10 days from NJ). The forms must go to him directly and said they go in a shredder if he can’t read all the fields. He also said the phone will take about a day to get going and he would reach out to me(I asked how he would reach out and didn’t get a clear answer) He then told me to go down the hall and sit on the bench. I went down the hall and noticed a locker room and sat there for a bit. After a few minutes, I stood up and asked someone passing where the bench was and was pointed out double doors where two 15ft benches stood. I hung there for about 40 minutes and then a guard and inmate got me my clothes and boots and mesh bag, sheets, blankets, towels and very basic shower supplies.The inmate pointed me to the far building outside.
As soon as I walked in a different inmate walked right up to me and helped me find my cube/cell. Some Hispanic inmates were using it as a kitchen since it was vacant. They could tell I was new from the “Jackie Chan” style shoes. I was immediately introduced to several other inmates. The first inmate had me go down to his cube where he had lots of supplies and gave me a bunch of things-used shower shoes, food, a cup, toothbrush, shorts and a towel. He took me on a tour where I saw the gym and various other areas. We went to dinner together around 4:30 where I met more folks. I kept writing down names in an attempt to remember all of them. After dinner I started reading the handbook and discovered many of the rules were not enforced. The best use of the handbook is to swat bees in my window. I chatted with more folks and laughed at some of the rule differences. It was around 6pm and I was exhausted so I almost fell asleep. My friendly inmate came by again to check on me and told me not to sleep through the 9pm standing count. Every day you need to be standing in your cube for a 4pm count that typically starts at 4:15. There is also a 9pm count every day and on Saturday and Sunday there is also a 10am count. If you have visitors you don’t need to come back to the unit for the count. Between around 7 and 9pm and after the 9pm count it was like a college dorm. Lots of talking between guys along with them speaking to their girls at home. Finally around 12 just before count(non standing)things quickly got quiet and stayed quiet unless the toilets were flushed. Around 12:30 am I decided to put in the earplugs I was given earlier that day. You can’t purchase them, they come from peoples’ jobs. I got a few hours of sleep. You get a metal cot with a thin cushion, 2 sheets, 2 blankets, 1 pillow and 2 pillow covers.
I woke up around 6:30 am and stayed up. Decided not to go to breakfast which is served 6-6:30 am. Relaxed in bed until 7:30 and then started walking around. Hit the gym around 8:30. Got invited to workout with a small group on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 6:30am. Went to lunch around 10:45. People told me the chicken thigh and leg would be good, which it was, but everything else sucked-sweet potatoes etc. Before lunch I tried to see my counselor about the phone, but he is on vacation until the end of next week. The nice guard I met first told me to see my case manager so I met him for the first time. He printed out my credentials and told me to log into the phone first and then use the computer. He told me I would meet him on my 28th day there and then every 6 months. I went to use the phone based on direction from other inmates, but it didn’t work. I get 500 minutes a month, and it is currently free, with a limit of 15 minutes a call. After lunch, I logged into the computer and added my wife Patti and then tried the phone again and several times later today with no luck yet. I am told it typically takes 1-4 days to start working. This afternoon I received my first response and contact with Patti. I was worried about how worried she would be so this contact was so exciting. I responded right away and added more contacts.
Earlier today I also completed some surveys that allow me to receive up to one year off my sentence with additional credits that can be used for more halfway house and home confinement time (Patti edit- It’s called the First Step Act(FSA) and was signed into law in 12/2108 by President Trump and it’s rollout has taken a few years (https://www.bop.gov/inmates/fsa/overview.jsp) So after 2 years it takes 330 days off. I had plenty of conversations with folks about an eta on release date and it seems possible I could be out in 24 months, on home confinement. Many factors could change that . For example RDAP was delayed 3 months(disciplinary infractions) and that affects folks’ release dates. RDAP is a program I should be eligible for and if I am accepted it takes 12 months off when I am done, you get right out. They delay your entrance until close to your release date. (RDAP stands for Residential Drug Alcohol Program and is a 9 month therapy program) From what I have heard it’s not likely I will spend more than 1 week in a halfway house and then go to home confinement with an ankle monitor. I believe I can go to a job in that situation. After RDAP I do need to be in a 4 month therapy program so I am not sure how that works and I may not be able to work for a bit.
This afternoon I ran 2 miles around the cinder track(6 times around) There is a softball field in the middle of the track that apparently is popular when it is warm. The teams are broken up by color- white, black and hispanic. Apparently the white team doesn’t win too much! Maybe I need to try that in the spring. Some folks stay away because if they get hurt the healthcare here is lacking. Took my first shower before dinner which is at 4:30. The water was hot and I wore shower shoes per recommendations from the other guys. Dinner last night was tacos and tonight was chicken fajitas. Not great, but not terrible. I have college type food that people gave to me if I want that too(cup o noodles, ramen, peanuts, granola bars)
My cube is about 8’x12’. The wall goes up about 4’-there are 2 lockers, 1 desk, and 1 chair. We had to go to the other unit(building) to find a chair. Apparently, the other building has very few inmates in it because it is being renovated. There are some towel racks on the painted cinder block walls. I was told by my counselor to take the top bunk, since someone else was arriving in the bottom bunk. He hasn’t shown up yet so I am writing most of this from the bottom bunk. Everyone told me to move down for the time being. I suppose I am lucky for now to have a little extra space. It’s now 7pm and everyone is talking to their girls, etc. A little earlier my friend dropped off a copy of Motor Trend magazine August 2023. Has Robert Downey Jr. on the cover. Perhaps that will be my first read….
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