Today I spent a lot of time drafting ideas for the current US Attorney General, POTUS and other elected officials to improve the justice system. I am also hoping you will share these ideas as well with others whom you see fit that would help us.
1. The BOP has expressed and proven in many ways that they do not have the funds to properly care for the inmates in their custody. The American people spend approximately $50,000 per inmate to incarcerate them, and entrust that Americans serving time in prison not only serve time in prison to reflect and be punished for their crimes, but also be rehabilitated. The American taxpayers money, however is being wasted and not spent on inmates, so my suggestion is that the Department of Corrections serves as the sole organization that houses inmates. The Department of Corrections is over the State Prisons, and those prisons are far better managed, and have higher morale, programming and rehabilitation offerings than the BOP does. Many inmates who have been in both State and Federal Prisons have mentioned this to me. I have also spoken to guards who have said this as well, and the DOC is far less expensive. It makes you wonder what DOGE will uncover if they look into how the BOP manages their money.
2. The BOP does not provide nutritional meals for inmates. They are fill of processed and high carbohydrate foods, full of sodium. At this prison camp, we are increasingly receiving sack meals, for at least 50% of dinners. This causes inmates to have increased health concerns, and thus, a higher cost for the American Taxpayer. Our Director of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr., has expressed his concerns with obesity in America, and he can look into the BOP to see that they are creating a worse obesity epidemic with the lack of nutrition and the fact they give inmates Ozempic. The inmates who leave the prison once being on Ozempic not only gain the weight back, but have gleaned no education or support in proper nutrition. An idea of a garden at the prison would be ideal, to offer fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as additional skills in horticulture for the inmates.
3. The prison camps should be closed, and those inmates who are non-violent, first time offenders should be transferred to house arrest. At the prison camp I reside in, it is very short staffed. We rarely have incidents here that are violent, and most erupt from the fact we are so short staffed. We only have one guard here in the evenings and weekends most of the time for over 220 inmates. Clearly we are not a threat to the community. Additionally, we can get better medical and psychiatric care, treatment for those with SUD, and be more cost effective in working in the community, paying taxes and restitutions, and better for families left burdened by our absence. Prison affects more than an inmate, it affects entire families as well financially and psychologically.
4. Change the Federal indictment process. The current system includes an investigation, sometimes for years gathering evidence, then there is a hearing in which the prosecution presents its case to a Grand Jury, without any sort of defense for the accused. Once indicted, the burden of proof actually lies on the Defense to prove their client’s innocence. The Department of Justice makes this process cumbersome and an uphill battle for the Defense and 98% effective for the Prosecution, because they have a head start for years of the Defense, and the fact many white collar crimes have no statue of limitations. Additionally, those indicted are bullied into taking a plea deal with threats from the Prosecution if they do not accept it with promises of additional charges and/or more lengthy sentences if they don’t accept the fabrications shared by the prosecution. When you accept a Plea Deal, plead Guilty, or plead No Contest, you lose your voice in most cases, as the Defense rarely does work to tell your story, share your character, or help defend you for a lighter sentence. This is compounded by having Mandatory Minimum sentences, which are overly harsh and do not fit the nature of the crimes committed. The human story is removed from the equation, and persons convicted are sentenced often without regard to the fact they may just be a person who made a mistake, rather than a career criminal. Remove the Grand Jury process so that those are accused have a fair trial, and are truly innocent until proven guilty. Also, remove Mandatory Minimum sentences. The current system is an unfair advantage for the Prosecution, which is unconstitutional, IMHO.
5. With 25% of Americans having a criminal record, and the Department of Justice prosecuting more Americans than ever before, we are soon becoming a nation of “criminals”. That’s how we appear to the countries outside of the United States. The stigma of having a felony record, inability to travel to other countries, limited scope of employment, inability to vote in many states, and psychological harm imprisonment causes to inmates and their families is cruel. A felony, is a life sentence in itself, and with the current justice system process, more Americans are falsely accused and unable to defend themselves from an indictment, or, they are someone who made a mistake and forever labeled in a way that makes it nearly impossible to bounce back from. Going through the process of being indicted, working with law enforcement and attorneys, a trial, and going to prison is one of the most psychologically toxic experiences you can have. Prior to my own experience, I believed that you had to be a career criminal, murderer, rapist, gang leader or drug dealer of some kind to be incarcerated. I have since learned that the current Department of Justice has something to prove by incarcerating more Americans to show how “successful” they are. Most people, however, are not career criminals, nor are they violent or a threat to the Community. Why should people be given a lifetime sentence of a felony conviction when this is the case? I feel those persons who are non-violent, first time offenders of white collar crimes should be pardoned and have their records expunged so that they have a second chance to prove they are people who made a mistake, not people who want to cause harm to others. We have a President of the United States with 34 felony convictions, and got no prison time, and a second chance by the American people in voting him in office. The people he serves as President deserve a second chance as well. In Kentucky and Nebraska there is precedence set already called the “Clean Slate Act”, so this would be easy to expand.
6. Those who are in prison for drug possession should not be in prison, but should be placed in rehabilitative facilities. Substance Use Disorder is a medical condition and should not be criminalized. Additionally, the BOP has no effective treatment for those with SUD. There is no IOP, PHP in prison camps, and no structure to keep drugs out of prison, nor help once released to help those suffering from a SUD with recovery. Most people who have SUD have comorbidities of a mental health disorder, and as a country, we should be collectively helping and not punishing those afflicted.
7. Prisons which are condemned by the state, or those which are deteriorating such as the one here at FMC Lexington Satellite Camp should be Historical Site Museums, not inhabited by inmates. It’s dangerous and inhumane.
8. The FMC Lexington Satellite Camp is NOT a federal medical center. It is a camp. Stop sending those who are convicted of federal crimes to a prison camp which is not accredited for psychological treatment and does not offer medical care required by those who are sentenced. If an inmate’s recidivism is less than 4, they should be placed on home confinement, so they can receive the care they need, and not be at risk of harm by not having the medical care they need to survive.
9. Prior to an inmate’s release from custody, there should be an integration into the community through community service. There is already a shortage of community volunteers, and teaching skills and work experiences to the inmates will not only help them post-prison, but show the community that just because you are sentenced to prison, doesn’t mean you are a lifetime criminal that doesn’t deserve a second chance. More classes and training should be offered so that jobs that need workers have a workforce available to serve communities upon the inmate’s release.
These ideas are ones discussed in the prison camp in Kentucky. I am sure there are many other ideas to be had for those behind the fence, and more issues to tackle such as racism, beyond these suggestions. My hope is that you are able to share these ideas with others who have the authority and power to make the changes necessary to improve the lives of thousands of American citizens currently suffering under the federal prison system policies. Once released, ASAP will be launched, and we will continue our advocacy for those affected by the current justice system. Thank you for your support and considering our ideas.
Carolynne Parker 69123-510
FMC Lexington Satellite Camp
PO Box 14525
Lexington, KY 40512
