Everyday in this prison is a struggle to succeed. Unfortunately, this prison is not really set up to offer people a whole lot of opportunities to be able to show their willingness to change. There are cookie-cutter programs that are not challenging at all, menial and mindless jobs that also do not challenge intellectual individuals. Even though this is the case, I still work hard everyday to better myself. I find things that need to be done and offer ideas that may help make things run smoother throughout our facility. I am currently incarcerated at the newly re-missioned FCI Thomson. This facility was formerly an AUSP and there were a great deal of problems here before the BOP shut it down due to the problems the staff were creating. Unfortunately, however, they retained a great deal of the staff that were working here prior to reopening it as a “low” security facility and it has been a very challenging environment for the inmate population ever since. It seems that many of the staff are still stuck in this mode of disrespecting inmates and treating us as if we are not human. I cannot speak for everyone but I know that I have worked hard to stay out of trouble at my last spot in Greenville, Illinois knowing that I am eligible to work my way all the way down in security points to a camp. Unfortunately, the staff creates a very hostile environment for the inmates. I do everything I can to stay out of the way. I will continue to do my best to prove that I deserve to go home and prove to myself, my family, friends and my community that I can achieve the great things I work hard everyday planning and creating as I am able with the limited resources we are given in prison. I am excited to see what opportunities will open for me as I continue to plan for a successful future. I appreciate Mr. Santos’s service as it gives an outlet for people like myself who truly are trying to be successful regardless of the situation we are in. Thank you Mr. Santos for creating this platform and everyone else who helps maintain his vision and who has helped bring his ideas into fruition.
Alexander Holcomb
– 19260-030
– 2/11-2024
