Hello to everyone reading my posts! First and foremost, I must apologize for not posting in a long while. There has been quite a bit of things happening here at Thomson Camp. We were recently locked down for close to a month on account of somebody reporting that they had seen a firearm inside of the low security facility across the street. Because we are a minimum security, it was our responsibility to make all the sack lunches that they would have to feed the facility across the street for the duration of the lockdown. We had no choice in the matter, so for a about a month I spent about 8 hours a day bagging bread and lunch meats. This set me back quite a bit from doing my homework for the classes I had to finish for this semester. So these past couple months I have been in overdrive, using every bit of my free time and energy studying and writing, frantically trying to catch up. I’m caught back up finally. I’m done with Earth Science, Popular Culture, Criminolgy, and I’m in the process of completing Research Methods, which is the last class of the semester.
Other than that, in true BOP fashion, there still hasnt been any updates about starting The 7 habits of highly effective people class here at the camp. Everyone has signed up, I have recruited several people to be a part of the core group to help facilitate the class (and eventually train them to get their certification in the course), yet whenever it gets close to the date, they postpone it another month. They say this is due to staffing shortages. I know there a lot of good people who work to bring us good programs, but it seems like they have so much on their plates from working at the higher security prison across the street that us lowly campers always get neglected. This is one of the reasons that I truly believe that at this point, it would be better for everyone if we were allowed to go home on ankle monitors for home confinement. It would save the taxpayers and allow people like myself who are making a commitment to doing positive things more access to resources. For those of us that have worked to lower our points to get to a minimum, there begins to be diminishing returns on the justice society seeks to impose on us. I for one have learned my lesson and am ready to continue my education and begin a carreer. Many people at this level of prison are ready to do the same. Many of us could benefit from access to internet, the job market, and all the other resources available out there. I think there are groups of people who are realizing this, and I hope that the day comes when they either bring back parole or close down the majority of the minimum security camps.
In regards to the 7 Habits program that I advocated for and helped establish at the low security facility across the street, I am happy to report that they have just finished their first class and just graduated around 16 people. I am happy for the guys in that core group and everyone else who completed the class. I hope that they continue to do more classes and the culture their is affected in a positive way from that. Here at the camp, I’ve started an informal group study thing. Kind of like a book club and the 7 Habits book. Its been going good so far. There are quite a few people here that are willing to learn and that want to make positive changes in their lives. Much more than when I was at the High-medium security prison in Florence. I often reflect on how grateful I am to have left that place. It is a giant weight taken off my shoulders.
That’s all for now. I will be posting more often. I will aim for once a week. As there’s not many things happening around here to constantly report on, I’ll also just be posting my reflections and thoughts on the things that come up during the experience of living a life in prison. Thanks for reading, I hope you have a good day.
