Anxiously waiting for my property to arrive from Morgantown, my name appeared on the announcement board, which is referred to as a “Call-Out.” This daily list contains the entire schedule kept in military time for each department within the camp, like “Gaughan R&D 0730.” My call-out meant that it was time to claim my personal property, which took one week to arrive instead of the average 4 weeks. Retrieving my property meant taking a shuttle to Low Security prison, the same place that I had been greeted off the bus a week ago. My eyes widened when I saw my name in Sharpie on the side of two boxes. I emptied them into a large duffle bag and shuttled back to the camp to finally settle in. My T-shirts, undies, socks, sweats, and hygiene lifted my spirits and helped me to feel more human. I showered with real soap/shampoo, which left me feeling clean since leaving Morgantown. I said a short prayer of gratitude for these items and one for intercession for those who do not have. Finally, I had the critical elements in place to begin this final chapter of my prison sentence.
I had another “call-out” meeting this week with the person responsible for sending me back to the community, known as re-entry. The officer quickly reviewed my file, realized that I am within 2 years of release, and rhetorically questioned why I was transferred to Texas. Since FSA provides time credits toward earlier release, I have earned a year and have banked a lot of time toward half-way house and home confinement. She told me that she would recommend 7 months additional halfway house in addition to the 300 days that I earned. This means that I could sign-out of the drug/alcohol program and complete the rest of my time back in Baltimore/DC area on home confinement. Since a new class just started for the program, I will have to wait until August for the next one, so I definitely have some decisions to make within the next few months about whether to stay in Texas for the program or leave to complete more time in a halfway house and home confinement.
Texarkana is a very long road trip away from Cleveland and DC, which makes visits near impossible. In fact, when it’s time for me to leave, I am not even sure what airport or bus station I’ll be departing from (but I have plenty of time to figure out those logistics). Having written much about the First Step Act (FSA) with regard to time credits, I never really highlighted the act also provides incentives to be incarcerated within 200 miles of your family. The typically BOP policy had been 500 miles, but the FSA intended to reconnect inmates with their family and communities to ensure successful reentry into society. Texarkana is much further than 200 miles and even 500 miles from my residence; but, I transferred for the specialized program for drug and alcohol abuse, which negates the mileage requirements. Earlier in the year, I had requested to be transferred to a camp in Cumberland, Maryland, since it had the program and was even closer to home. I visited this camp before my incarceration and did not like the facility being so close to the Medium Security prison. Both Cumberland and Morgantown are within the same region and less than an hour away by road, I was hopeful for a simple transfer. Interestingly, the BOP has a policy for transferring inmates between camps: they recommend the inmate to transfer from one camp to another on their own dime through a furlough. I applied for such furlough without a decision rendered, which is why I was transferred through the BOP’s diesel therapy (aka, buses and airplanes). After speaking with a few other guys here, I learned that nearly all of them were permitted to furlough from their camps. Thus, more wasted taxpayer money on me. The costs of inmate transfers are astronomical, similar to costs for deportations. Due to my lack of access to the internet, I do not have the exact figures, but I know it’s a lot of waste after having experienced the transit to/from Oklahoma City.
Now, I’m settling into my new abode. In comparison to Morgantown, Texarkana’s facilities are dilapidated, over-crowded, and measly small. Yet, Texarkana’s camp was built as a prison; whereas, Morgantown was built as a summer camp for troubled youth. The different facilities are within two completely different leagues. It’s definitely more boring in Texarkana with less places to visit and less activities to participate in. No auditorium for music, no chapel, no gym. Morgantown spoiled me. However, there is a large workout pavilion with heavy weights, which is not something common in a prison. The outdoor basketball court is set-up for pickleball, which I have been playing most evenings since the weather has been too hot and humid during the afternoons.
Finally, it’s Memorial Day Weekend – the start of summer festivities! Like the 4th of July holiday, this weekend represents the heart of America’s freedoms scaffolded on the sacrifices of the brave women and men who gave their lives to make these moments and memories possible. As always, thank you for all your encouragement, well-wishes, prayers, and support that make this prison experience somewhat tolerable for me. I wish you and your loved ones a relaxing, fun, and joy-filled Memorial Day Weekend. Please continue to be mindful of any little miracle in your life this week 🙂