My name is Lelana Long #22162-084. I was arrested on March 16, 2018 Charge: Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute more than 500 grams of meth (ghost weight) I was sentenced on Nov.1, 2018, to the mandatory minimum of 121 months. I was transferred to the designated facility SFF Hazelton on Oct 25, 2019. I was camp status but had pending charges. Accepted in the RDAP unit on April 4, 2020, on wait status. I started both the (EBRR)Evidence Based Recidivism Reduction programs called RDAP(residential drug abuse program) and FIT (female integrated treatment) programs simultaneously in Oct 2020. I also continually pursued every class and program opportunity available (documented separately), maintained clear conduct, and worked a trust fund job as well as being a chapel clerk while at SFF Hazelton. I excelled in both EBRR programs and graduated (RDAP and F.I.T.) as an honored mentor on Sept 13, 2021. I received the 3621(e) year off of my sentence. I transferred to FPC Alderson on March 4, 2022. I completed the full 12-month RDAP follow-up program on Sept 13, 2022. To date, I still remain current in RDAP due to the need for TDAP in the Half Way House. I remained housed as a senior peer in the RDAP unit well past the necessary time frame. I worked in Horticulture for a full year, then moved to Cottage Maintenance where I continue to currently work to date. I moved back into GP(general population) on Feb. 4, 2023, due to the need for bed space in the RDAP unit. I have completed approximately 70 programs to date(which I will document in a separate portfolio profile page), to include EBRR, P.A., Vocational Training programs(both Horticulture and HVAC), Intensive residential drug and trauma-related treatment programs, Psychology programs, ACE classes, education sponsored classes, and health and wellness classes, and rec sponsored exercise and hobby craft classes. I am scored as a minimum PATTERN risk inmate, and housed at a minimum security level camp. I have pursued every avenue of improvement available to me throughout my incarceration and I plan to continue this set precedent throughout my future endeavors as well. April 2023: My unit team made a referral for an HWH placement of 13 months(requesting Sept 18, 2023) which included 6 months for the Second Chance Act(SCA) and 220 of the FSA days earned towards RRC/HC placement at the time of referral. (this facility has yet to date calculated the maximum projected FTCs for the entire term per P.S. 5410.01, but I also have a BP-10 pending with that request as well! I have manually calculated my max FTC projection to be 365 days off my sentence and 16.7 months of home confinement, plus the 6 months for SCA. I am WELL past that date though, as I only have 14.5 months left on my sentence, and it’s all in my pending bp-10 grievance!) June 2023: The NC RRM came back only giving me SCA 6 months placement(April 18, 2024!). This denies the FSA earnings towards RRC/HC because they claim to be without staff to supervise or enough bed space. June 2023: I filed a bp-9 and was denied. July 2023: I filed a bp-10 and it’s pending till Sept 8, 2023. I will not give up! I started out with a sentence of 10 yrs(a decade!), with GTC that turned into 8.5 yrs., with the RDAP year off it turned into 7.5 yrs., with the FSA year off it turned into 6.5 yrs., with 6 months for second chance act it turned into 6 yrs. But what about the FSA I have earned toward RRC/HC placement? I have diligently worked, with consistency and determination, to EARN these credits… and IT IS THE LAW! I will fight for what I worked so hard for! A few of the ways I am fighting for myself (other than the administrative remedy processes which are pending)…… June 2023: I joined a group of women at this facility dealing with similar issues (i.e. NC RRM denials) and wrote out a letter to post on Facebook pages and similar platforms to get our stories out there. We sent our paperwork to a news reporter in Raleigh NC. July 2023:I wrote letters and filled out a consent form for NC Senator Thom Tillis about the NC RRM failing federal justice impacted women. July 2023: I wrote letters and mailed them to Colette Peters’s office. July 2023: I prepared a letter with a package of supporting documentation and gave it to the co-chief of staff Rina Desai when the Directors’ office people came to FPC Alderson. Now I am praying and waiting for that response. I should be at home on home confinement today, working and contributing to my future and my family! So I will fight for that. We are still waiting for the definitive response from the news channel 17 in Raleigh NC about this newsworthy story too! They appeared to be interested in our story(NC RRM failing women) and reached out to the NC senator’s office as well.
