As predicted in my last journal entry, the actions of a few brought on what the camp calls a “modified lockdown” for 8 days that just ended. We were restricted to our dorms except for going to chow. All emails, phone calls, commissary, recreation and spending time outside were suspended. For me, it was just more time to read, plan and reflect on the future and I didn’t let the circumstances get to me. It brought to mind the wisdom of author Norman Vincent Peale from his book the Power of Positive Thinking, “I will rejoice and be glad in it”.
The psychological state of your mind is challenged and if you are not strong and confident it will play with your head. Being able to block out the distractions, minding your own business, keeping your focus on things that matter and knowing that the current situation is not who I am as a person, as a man, are
key. In a few days I will be at the half way point before I leave. The time is passing quickly when I reflect
but goes by slowly when I put it into day tight compartments.
I wrote to my U.S. Senator regarding the inconsistency between BOP facility’s in applying Good time credits made available thru the Second Chance Act and First Step Act as well as other issues concerning my basic health care needs that are not being met. Bernie Sanders office replied with a personal letter and referred me to the Prisoners Rights Office located in Montpelier, Vermont. It seems that Senators can not be directly involved in personal legal matters as it violates Senate ethics rules, which is an oxymoron.
I was surprised, to say the least, that such a Government organization exists. It is my hope that they
will lobby the Bureau of Prisons on my behalf to allow my release at the soonest possible date. By example the camp at Otisville, NY will automatically give a person 12 months of combined half way house and home confinement, the maximum allowed under the Second Chance Act. This particular camp has a history of allowing only 3 months, which is the minimum. The difference in my situation would be leaving here in November of this year instead of April of next year when combined with First Step Act time credits. Without self advocating and knowing the law a person becomes just a number and gets “Lost is the Sauce”. Let’s hope the recent Chevron Supreme Court ruling is enforced and the BOP is held accountable and changes its inconsistent and arbitrary policies that are outside of Federal Law.
“We are the spittle of society rather than the vomit.” is a quote someone recently shared that struck me as profound. The vomit of society are those who commit violent and vile acts. Spittle are the small water droplets that come out of our mouths and are barely noticeable when we speak. They have little impact in our interactions with each other and are basically harmless. We do not react the same to someone that spits in front of us as we do someone who vomits. So why does the prison system?
