Today, after over 2 1/2 months here, I finally had my orientation – but I almost missed it. Here’s
the story:
Normally, one gets orientation very soon after arrival. Certainly orientation should be held
within a month. Generally inmates do not start employment until after orientation, they are still
on A & O (admission and orientation status). I was approached by the Education Department
staff and my employment was approved by my Unit Counselor even though I hadn’t yet had
orientation.
On Wednesday, May, 1, I noticed that many people on A & O status were called out to the Chapel
the following morning at 6:50am for orientation. I was not on the list, presumably because my
status was listed as “Tutor/Adult Continuing Education” status since my employment began the
month before. My dilemma was: do I go to Orientation anyway and endure the excruciating
boredom for 4 1/2 hours (as previous inmates have described it), or do I play dumb, say I wasn’t
called out, and put it off until the next time orientation is called – and hope I don’t get called
again?
I decided to go and get orientation over with. That morning just before orientation started, I told
my counselor about my not being on the callout list. He apologized as that was his error and
thanked me for coming and made sure he marked me off as being present.
Orientation was indeed painful, but not excruciatingly so. Having been there for 2 1/2 months
there wasn’t much information that I hadn’t gleaned already. The videos shown were incredibly
dated. There was one video which was an Address given by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons.
Problem was, it wasn’t given by Colette Peters, the current BOP Director. It wasn’t even her
predecessor. It was not even given by her predecessor’s predecessor. It was given by the Director
before that!
Oh, well, at least orientation is now over and I don’t have to worry about it any more . . .
