Saturday, October 5
Nothing like a fog lockdown from 7-11 to start the day! But that didn’t slow me down as I was in a writing mood, so stood at my locker and wrote for a couple hours. Funny how certain topics rise up, recently its been about my blog, finishing the last series on the process of surrendering , living here, and how to manage getting all the credits for sentence reduction one is due and what to do to assure you are getting them. That’s done now, so next is ‘Facts of Life in the BOP”. I’m using it as a framework to create a multifaceted 10 year “Transformation Plan” for the BOP!
Its crystal clear to me that while the BOP certainly has its issues, they are also the dumping ground where Congress and DOJ’s actions or inactions land in an often unfair or uneven way, and BOP’s leadership is left to deal with it. I’m talking unclearly or incomplete written laws, way overly aggressive prosecutors with no oversight, unfair and inconsistent sentencing rules implemented in a biased manner by judges, impact of illegals in the prison population and carry on further in the blog. My intent is to show a hands on, operational solution can be accomplished if there is awareness and knowledge by those o the outside who have influence to advocate for change. Another couple weeks of writing blogs, and I’ll have a good backlog to begin publishing and then build from there.
The ABT book has just been sitting there these past few weeks since Derek left, mainly due to inability to communicate. Its been demotivating to me, but I’m slowly getting fired up to type the next section and get writing as well. Hopefully communication will be flowing by then as well!
The rest of the day was consumed by a good workout 1-12:30 and then football:) I was going to go back out at 6-7:30, but something was messed up with the guards moving us as they didn’t do a 6 pm, just a 7 pm, so all the guys who went at the normal 5 pm got stuck for 2 hours outside. Since I didn’t want to be outside till 8:30, plus be cold, and miss the ending of some good games, I decided to skip it:)
My girlfriend/partner has been having a six day birthday binge, so its been hard to call and not interrupt things, just sorry i can’t be there. Spoke to my son,was surprised to hear another hurricane is heading to Tampa, this time will be a direct hit on Tampa and where he is over by Cape Canaveral. Incredible! Hopefully he can still come out next weekend!
Sunday, October 6
Our first 90 degree day, with a nice breeze, so just beautiful. And its October! I decided to skip my Sunday 7 am usual library session, and did an 8-9 workout, and a 6-7:30 evening workout. In-between some writing typing reading and NFL here and there. Church 12-2 as well.
On the track I finally saw Jeffrey, the 40 year old who Derek was mentoring. Last week I was going to hand him the first 8 chapters of our ABT book to review as our “guinea pig” but never saw him on the track. We walked a couple laps together, he’s missing Derek and feeling hurt he hasn’t heard from him. That led to a long chat about how that’s usually happened to him, getting close to someone and then feeling abandoned and disappointed a mentor didn’t workout. Remember he’s the one who grew up in inner city LA, 13 years in prison now. I used the opportunity to explain there must be a reason Derek or his wife haven’t communicated, not to lose hope as he’s one of the good guys. But also to remind him of the importance on relying on Jesus, not just fellow people. Hope it helped , and we agreed to have a handoff of the chapters at church later in the day, which we did. Looking forward to “real” feedback.
We also discussed Prison Professor, and how their message of education being so important wasn’t connecting with him, nor many others in his view. I explained our ABT book will have some practical tools like financial planning, vocational planning like truck driving etc. He lit up with that as its something he relates to and aspires to as well. I explained we incorporate Prison Professors completely, including planning for Success after Release and their Release Plan workbook, with helpful practical topics/narrative to provide context as well. Derek and I know we will best case reach 5% of the population, and he just proved it!
Monday, October 7
After 9+ months here, I find myself not needing to be stressed about a deadline or finishing something kind of surreal in a way. No Yard,no problem:) No library no problem:) It makes me more relaxed that’s for sure. Not that I’m not typing or writing a lot, but more just getting with the flow, however irregular it is:)
So had a productive morning typing journals and blogs, no Yard as the Lieutenant was late calling the 8 am move, so he didn’t do a 9 am Yard call, just left everyone out there 90 minutes. No worries:) Turned out his timing was off all day, some 15 minutes early, or 30 minutes late. No idea why, and I’m NOT going to write about what that does to incent poor inmate behavior again either:)
Hit the library 12-1, got my BP-8 typo fixed so I can turn in the 10 day vs. 15 day/month issue for FSA credits, should be interesting. I say interesting because Sunday we also had a “first” for me anyways. Around 11 am, a guard who is apparently the ‘First Step Act” (FSA)expert for the entire Lompoc compound came around to each of 4 buildings and each unit(200+/-guys) explaining new FSA report we will be getting. Now they will track” projected credits” and Second Chance Act credits for purposes of planning ahead for everyone’s “earliest” transition date to pre custody like halfway house or home confinement(see my blog series for more). Clearly BOP is getting more FSA focused, and I’m guessing that’s from the recent law that passed Congress in August where they will be inspecting every location annually. Its a good thing for BOP, the courts, and the inmates!
When I went on our electronic “bulletin board” afterward, there was a written statement summarizing what he said. It highlighted the fact that “projected” credits won’t be used for calculating dates to transfer to halfway house or home confinement, only what you’ve earned here in prison. The exact issue I wrote about previously helping someone with their 2241. That clearly will be the next big litigated issue. in my case it adds 2.5 years to being here vs. home confinement. But it’s still progress by the BOP.
Rest of the afternoon was typing and reading, chow, Yard 6:30-7:30 and NFL Monday Night Football!
Tuesday, October 8
Commissary Day, so the guys always lineup at 6 am to be first in line. And is normally the case, fog comes in, and we’re back in cells till 9, so they just wasted an hour being all anxious and excited:) So just writing away till 9 on my locker, then shower while they do it all over again, and go with second group. Unfortunately commissary is still low on inventory, annoying. Hopefully in 2 weeks will be better! And of course, at 9:30 the guard announces commissary is delayed until tomorrow due to “restocking”. Better for me, but not sure how all the rest of the guys still in line for a second time feel:)
No Yard this morning so just typing away till chow. Library 12-2, helping a guy from San Diego with his BP-8 to get all his Second chance Act time and FSA projected credits for pre custody release. He should have been in halfway house last June had BOP used credits he will earn in halfway house, but they don’t use “projected credits”. Then met with my counselor and gave him my BP-8 on the 10 vs. 15 day/month issue. Will see where that goes, but 30 extra days is one month earlier to camp for me. Every little bit helps:)
Wednesday, October 9
Full commissary morning, got 70% of what I wanted, but my personal shopper gave me extra of what I did get to use up my $180 which was great! Big crisis, no peanut butter till December is the rumor. So I traded $20 of stamps for 2 jars(normally $6 for 2) which will be a stretch till December if its true. That and tuna are my go to snacks when I want to skip a lousy meal….
Finally making progress on my blog thankfully. First 5 blogs on prison, before Day 1, thereafter, plus issues in earning credits for time off or earlier pre custody release. Next series will be a long series on a proposed 10 year transformation plan for the BOP based on what I’ve observed and experienced. A lot of it is around external factors, not just operational/cultural stuff. More to come!
Big shift in my schedule today. Last few evenings the 6-7:30 pm workouts have been impacted by the guard shutting down the track at 7 due to sunset. Then moving us to weights. Not sure why, but no one asked my opinion:) So switching to afternoon workouts, 12:30-2, shower, lockdown,chow, followed by typing from 6-7:30 or library as necessary. Did lots of typing tonight worked pretty well.
Hurricane Milton hitting Florida tonight where the kids/grandkids are outside of Orlando. Looks like it went south last minute so shouldn’t be as bad as originally thought there anyways. Thank God! Definitely praying for their and everyone’s safety!
Thursday, October 10
Called my son at 6:30 am to check in on all of them. Grandkids slept through the night, Mom and Dad not so much:) Everyone’s fine, though a lot more tornado warnings than everyone expected.
Another fog lockdown till 9:30. Got some good writing done regardless in my cell. After chow, a great bible study 12-2 and library 2-3. After lockdown/chow, 5-7:30 workout in the Yard, a beautiful evening to boot!
On the track this evening Jeffrey gave me his feedback on the ABT book, Section 1. Its about personal excellence and goal setting. He felt it was a lot like Prison Professors’ workbooks, and most of he guys he knows need something more practical around making money or vocations like truck driving. We talk it through, and I explained how you can’t pick a career or education without knowing your goals, or the importance of integrity, character and so talked it through, he’s convinced most of the guys won’t do the work. I told him we agree!! But all we are focused on are the 5% that will. I asked him what he thought about access to a mentor by phone if he signed up, he really liked that concept. I can see why prison rehabilitation programs have so many challenges, as there is so little 1:1 time, if any. Some 1:1 in psychology or doctor appointments but that’s it. And so many of the guys really need that direction and attention. Just my speaking with him clarified things for him, things he otherwise would have to think through himself with no education, training, context and likely come to the wrong conclusion. Its a hard thing seeing it up close, knowing so many won’t otherwise get the help they need.
We left things that he would do the homework, and I would give him the entire table of contents so he can see the relevance of everything he’s looking for, including Derek’s detailed table of contents on vocation and education, which is in there already! I also promised him to type up the next Section for his review as well. At the end of his review, we may need to reorder the Sections to have the basics like financial upfront to get the reader interested before we get into goals. We’ll have to discuss and see.
Friday, October 11
Another fog lockdown. There goes my schedule for the day:) Reflecting on my chat with Jeff fey yesterday, motivated me to think abut reprioritize typing the book so that’s going to happen! Also reinforced how guys need a mentor to help them stay on track and focused. Its a big deal, not just for ABT, but really something the BOP should offer. I’ll be blogging about that in my series, Facts of Life in the BOP.
Finally out of lockup at 9:30, almost time for chow:) My son is visiting tomorrow, so need to get a beard trim this afternoon. After lockdown in the afternoon, skipped chow and worked out 5-6, football an reading the rest of the evening- not bad for a Friday night inside here!
Praying for Liberty and Freedom and to see my Family and friend soon! BJ
