RELEASE PLAN
My name is Christal Bean #52985-074. I was born on March 20, 1978 and I am 46 years old. I was sentenced to 168 months followed by three years of supervised release. I began serving my sentence on November 7, 2019. My current release date is 10-26-30, with a FSA conditional release date of 6-20-27, before second chance act. I am currently in community custody at Atwood Satellite Camp in Lexington KY. I am developing this release plan to purposefully prepare for my release, as well as a way to hold myself accountable.
BACKGROUND
I was raised better than this. I had a loving family who only wanted the best for me. I grew up in a small town outside of Knoxville, TN. I was a good student, Homecoming Queen, and had a positive social life. I had an older sister and a younger brother, both of whom have grown up to have successful careers and families.
I had my first son at 22 years of age, making it one of the best days of my life. Due to a traumatic injury during delivery, I had to undergo seventeen surgeries over the next few years. While I saw specialists from Atlanta to Vanderbilt, I was sent to a pain clinic and prescribed very strong pain medication. I took this medication for eleven years. During this time I was a single mother and focused only on being the best mother I could be. My son was my life and my best friend. I was the classroom mom and the football mom. I went on field trips and volunteers for school events. I only wanted the best for him, wanting him to have more than I did, like most parents do. I didn’t want him to feel the sting of an absent father. I enrolled in nursing school and was the first in my family to complete a degree. I was proud to be able to provide for my son.
I became pregnant with my second son and became the single mother of two at 33 years of age. After delivering my son I was put back on pain medication. I wanted off of them. I tried many, many times. There were days that I was so sick without them it was difficult to care for myself and my children, let alone work. So, I continued… until I couldn’t.
One bad decision after another resulted in my first arrest. I was 36 years old. I began using different drugs to help with the withdrawals from the pain medication. This resulted in a downward spiral that I couldn’t find my way out of. Due to my arrest, I lost my nursing career, my car, my home, and most painfully my sons. After this I fell deeper and deeper into a life where it was impossible to be a mother. Looking back at this time in my life I have no answers as to why I behaved the way that I did. I do not understand how something can take a hold of you and change everything about you. Before all of this I lived for my two boys. I had everything I could have asked for and didn’t realize it. I had allowed my life to become more than crazy and my views distorted. I became involved with very dangerous people and consumed by the lifestyle. I began using more and more drugs to escape this reality. A reality in which I had turned from everything I had, everything I was, and everyone who loved me. I could not face the pain I was causing everyone. I still to this day do not understand how I became this person. I was a shell of a human being who felt she had nothing to live for.
During this destructive period I had robbed my children of growing up together as my oldest went to live with his father, and my youngest, thankfully, with my sister. I have lost out on my youngest son’s entire childhood. He will never know me as his mother. I broke the hearts of my family and I can’t even imagine how my oldest son felt. My boys deserved a loving, present mother.
I was saved with a Federal indictment at the age of 39.
There is no way I can change the pain I have caused. Through all of the many close calls in my life, God was right there carrying me. He plucked me out of a life of misery and set me on a path to recovery. I have come to believe that all of this had and will have a meaning in my life. I refuse to believe that all of this pain was for naught. There is a purpose for my life, a purpose for the pain, and I am becoming aware of it. The more I study God’s word and listen to Him, the more I understand WHY…the why of all of this.
CRIME
When I was 36 I began selling drugs and transporting them across state lines. I then used this “dirty” money to further my crimes exacerbating my criminal behavior. I pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and received a 168 month sentence at the age of 41.
I am ashamed of my behavior. By bringing drugs into the community I not only took myself from my children, I also took parents from theirs, and children from parents. I know I can’t repair the damage I have caused. What I can do is help build up the community I helped tear down with my criminal behavior, which occupied a very small period of time in an otherwise law abiding life. With time, counseling and a clear mind, I have come to know I am more than my mistakes. I am more than a felon. I am a loving, caring mother, daughter, sister, friend and potential neighbor. I am a rehabilitated woman who is thankful for this season of her life and will not let it define her.
MAKING AMENDS
Someone recently asked me at what point of my incarceration did I feel like I could leave and not risk returning. My answer was, “Almost immediately upon entering prison.” However, I would have left and only lived a mundane life working and caring for my family. While this is great and I can’t wait to do those things, I now feel I have a purpose to do more. This change occurred only a couple of years ago. My incarceration has served its purpose. I see the mistakes and bad decisions that led me here and I will never make them again. I also see the things I must do to ensure my successful re-entry and I want to share this with other women. I developed and obtained a position as a Career Resource Clerk where I can help women find the needed resources for successful re-entry. There is no doubt in my mind that I am exactly where I am meant to be, at exactly the right time, connecting with the right people to support me and my vision. I have come to learn that all of this needed to come together for me to ultimately go out and continue this mission of serving women re-entering their communities.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
I plan to reside with my mother and aunt in Knoxville, TN. I have the support of my family with all of my plans. I have reconnected and mended relationships I had damaged with my behavior. With God as my light and my family beside me, I am confident in my ability to not only succeed, but to succeed with God’s plan for my life.
MEDICAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
I am 46 years old, 5ft. 10in., and 165lbs. I have focused on my physical health by exercising and eating right. My overall health is sound.
I have participated in treatment for my mental health along the way. I am able to stay emotionally healthy with counseling, prayer, meditation, and with the love of my family.
I also recognize that I suffer from substance abuse. I believe this to be well under control but plan on seeking further healing through meetings at church as well as any recommendations from probation.
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
All Federal financial obligations have been satisfied.
PERSONAL PLAN
With all the success I have had for myself and others with re-entry planning, I hope to pursue this as a career upon my release. In the meantime I have been offered two separate jobs in the community that will provide me with gainful employment. While incarcerated, I obtained skills training service dogs, which I hope to use helping hard to adopt dogs find their forever homes. I will follow all guidelines given to me by probation.
During the remainder of my sentence I plan on continuing to assist others with their transition back into society. I will complete the residential drug abuse program, giving me more tools to ensure my triumph in my new life. I will continue studying, and using the tools that Mr. Santos has made available. I am energized and feel secure in my ability to fulfill the plans for my life. I am excited and cannot wait to get started.
