427 long days ago, I began my prison journey in Morgantown. Now in my 14 months, I have been more focused and determined to fully work towards my departure. One aspect of this goal is to being in a rehabilitative program, which lasts 13 months. One of the key reasons I asked to be placed in Morgantown was due to the effectiveness of the programming that they offer here. I was admitted into the program in January 2023 and was expected to start it then. However, staffing issues created some restrictions, which spiraled me into a limbo of waiting.
Prison policy dictates that one must start a program in order to receive any good time credits. If someone is waiting to start a program and withdraws, then all credits are voided. What does this mean? I just have to wait for a program to begin, which has been a sore topic among many of guys in my situation. The problem with waiting for it to begin is that some guys are being held longer then they are supposed to be, on average by 4-6 months. I’m hoping that the staffing issue will be resolved soon. Heck, come work for the Board of Prisons – they are desperately hiring and offering signing bonuses! The irony of the situation is that these mandatory programs are helpful for preventing recidivism and providing structural rehabilitation for many offenders, but they are not readily available. That’s another issue to tackle at another time.
This Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial holiday, so we had a great lunch: BBQ chicken, scalloped potatoes, green beans, and warm “home”made cornflake treats (cornflakes substituted for Rice Krispies). The food was delicious, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to have a large, well-balanced meal!
I also started teaching another class this quarter, General Contracting, which is construction/rehab for homes and not creating wills, pre-nups or trusts. The class received high demand, and I was asked to teach it. The class is only one afternoon per week, so the rest of the day I am plugging away with the electrician apprenticeship. I just finished all the coursework, which included two dozen videos produced in 2004. It’s comical when they refer to “some cars are fully operated by a battery” and “some houses will have solar panels.” The videos are quite outdated, but the principles remain the same, so it’s not a total waste of time.
I wish you a wonderful week and hopefully you experienced or will experience a little miracle!