Since I’ve been at Federal Prison Camp Texarkana for two months, I thought it appropriate to do a brief Yelp-style review:
FOOD **** 3 Stars
“Some of the best food in the BOP,” chirped many inmates in Oklahoma City. “They have the freshest salad bar,” one inmate recounted. Well, the food hasn’t lived up to its reputation of the “best” or “freshest.” Overall, the food is well-prepared and deliciously seasoned. However, the lack of appropriate portions for an adult male fails the benchmark as a substantial “dinner.” The required 4-6 ounces of protein barely appears in some meals. Breakfast is served with 8 ounce milk cartons, sweetened oatmeal, fresh cake, and on certain days brand name cereal, like Honey Nut Cheerios, Coco-Puffs, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch…probably the most consistent meal. The national menu for prisons is not followed. Some of the meals are a welcomed deviation. They serve an assortment of Tex-Mex tacos, burritos, and nachos with chicken, pork, and beef…it’s definitely a cliche. Other than the lack of lunch and dinner portions, the food is delicious, and the cooks do an incredible job of making the best lemonade from the lemons that are given.
ACCOMODATIONS & FACILITIES ** 2 Stars
When I first arrived in FPC Texarkana, the shock of seeing the dilapidated living conditions stunned me. Busted toilets, flood bathrooms, tiny cells, 4-foot-high partitions between toilets, old floor tiles everywhere, and only one overcrowded housing unit. While I had been used to the meticulous facilities in Morgantown, I could not believe how run-down this camp appeared. Rust is everywhere and will find its way onto every article of clothing! The walls have been freshly painted, which promotes some cleanliness. The maintenance crew, called orderlies, really have their work cut out for them. While the overall aesthetics lack, the commissary store is very well-managed and routinely stocked. An outside pavilion is divided between a weight pile with actual dumbbells and equipment and a leisure section with outdoor televisions, a pool table, a manual treadmill, and two manual cross trainer machines. An unpaved “track”, a maintained softball field, a paved outdoor basketball court, pickleball and handball courts help elevate the status of “recreational activities.” All recreation is outdoors. Indoors offers a library, leather/hobby craft room, two televisions rooms, a computer room, visitation center, mess hall, chapel, and admin offices. The camp is quaint. Outdoor activities are the highlight of this camp. During the summer season, the recreation yard is often closed due to temperatures exceeding 105 degrees…but they do have air conditioning!
STAFF *** 3 Stars
The camp has one officer on duty for the campus at all times. The administrators and staff are approachable and usually helpful. For 200+ guys, the camp has one case manager, who is usually overwhelmed and bitterly unapproachable…probably because of being overworked. Chasing down a particular staff member is like trying to catch a leprechaun: you’ll need a lot of luck, but it usually pays off.
HEALTH SERVICES * 1 Star
The quality of medical support is nonexistent. The medical team is unfriendly, unhelpful, and unapproachable. I was appalled that an inmate with a known heart issue had unnecessarily passed away after seeking medical attention. Many men have underlying health conditions that remain very much untreated and when treated may result in further injury. Guys with ongoing medical needs should be cautioned and routinely report to their families about the medical treatment being received.
SAFETY & OPERATIONS *** 4 Stars
The facility is very safe, and order is well-maintained. For the most part, the guys run the compound and help each other when issues arise. Shakedowns and searches are routine, which is to promote safety. However, the search team does not respect your space or property, which may be spread throughout the floor and damaged. Other than these disruptive events, the daily operations are routinely normal.
OVERALL *** 3 Stars
I have been impressed with the incarcerated men in FPC Texarkana. They tend to watch-out for each other and are genuinely helpful, which makes being here somewhat tolerable. While the camp desperately needs its facilities to be renovated, its healthcare service revamped, and its population lessened, FPC Texarkana has substantial programming, like HVAC, diesel engine maintenance, volunteer opportunities in the community, and UNICOR work (factory environment), to distract from what it lacks.
Well, it’s been a long 32 months for me, but I am beyond grateful for all the support and encouragement that has been consistent over these many months. I really appreciate you taking the time check-in and see how I’ve been coping with this prison journey. In the near future, I hope to have some very positive news about serving the rest of my time in Texas. I wish you a wonderful week – stay cool, hydrated, and safe. Please continue to be mindful of any little miracle in your life this week 🙂