INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMP
You probably won't be introduced to any murderers, rapists, or child molesters at a federal prison camp, though you will meet your share of pathological liars, con-artists and (in my opinion) sociopaths. Not unlike myself however, there are also several very decent people who just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, got sucked in, caught up, or simply just made a stupid mistake.
On the basis of this premise, I have committed to abstain from judgment or supposition, in regards to the general theme and content of this site. Rather, I am focused strictly on the dissemination of information which I have acquired, in order to assure a clear and realistic comprehension of the subject material. My intent is purely to inform while creating an educated awareness.
A wide range of emotions can come into play when someone is faced with incarceration and the perception of helplessness or vulnerability, is not surprisingly the result. When I eventually made it to the camp, I was told by several individuals to "stay below the radar". I had no problem with that but unfortunately, I had already been in the dreaded "hole" for 16 days while waiting for a bed to become available at the camp. Time spent in the hole is a very unpleasant experience.
To add salt to the wound, nobody had explained to me that a form needed to be filled out in order to get phone numbers approved prior to making any calls. So for 16 days, while my wife and children worried at home and wondered why they were not hearing from me, I lied awake in the hole wishing that I had been better informed. Unfortunately, nothing could be done at that point.
I have since taken the time to identify the most common areas of question, detail and curiosity concerning life at the camp, and compiled the data into an online information center which I refer to as "THE CAMPER"; perhaps the most inclusive and in-depth collection of its kind that you will come across while surfing the web.
A one time fee of $34.95 USD, provides you with full access to THE CAMPER, this unique and educational resource that provides a very personal and extensive, first hand view of what it's really like to be an inmate at a Federal Prison Camp. I honestly believe that my attorney tried his best in preparing me for this experience, but how could he be expected to know all the little details not having gone through it himself?
I remember my first few times eating in the camps dining facility and wondering "why the heck are these guys knocking on the table (2 quick knocks), every time before getting up to leave?" I soon figured out that this was just an inmate's way of saying "I'm all set here, catch you later". Knock before you walk; I could handle that.
Links to other informative and relevant sites (it's hard to know what is relevant unless you've actually been through it), are also provided in "THE CAMPER" to assist and contribute to a better understanding of the federal prison camp experience.
This is not Oz, this is not fiction; this is however, reality for roughly 30,000 people currently sentenced to minimum security facilities in the U.S.
The type of information you will find addressed in "THE CAMPER" includes:
- An overview of a typical day at the camp from wake up, to meals, to work and to lights out
- What did I do to make the time go by faster and did it work?
- What happens upon arrival?
- Do you need any money while doing time at the camp?
- Was I ever concerned about my safety?
- Do prisoners have to work? Do they get paid?
- Why I learned quickly, not to get too comfortable (Inmates being moved around in the system)
- How does phone privilege work? What is the danger with speaking on the phone? Can I call collect?
- Getting the right job can make all the difference in the world; do inmates have a say in this? What kind of jobs are there?
- Half-way house locations
- What are the facilities like? Is there recreation and an area to exercise?
- Substance abuse programs
- What is the Hole?
- What if an inmate is currently on medication, how will this be dealt with?
- Is there a fence around the facility? How do they keep track of the inmates?
- Guidelines for Federal Sentencing
- Do they celebrate the holidays?
- How is the food?
- Can photographs be taken at the camp?
- Is there access to the Internet?
- Do they read our mail before handing it out?
- How much of my 21 month sentence did I actually have to do in prison?
- Is there a procedure for filing a grievance?
- Is it just white collar criminals at the camp?
- Can visitors bring us food or gifts?
- What is visiting time like? How often does it happen?
- Common questions about visiting
- Do visitors need to be pre-approved?
- As a convicted felon, do I lose my voting privilege?
- What is it like to live in a Half-way house?
- Will there be strip searches or drug testing?
- Will I be wearing the orange jump suit at all times?
- Were wedding bands allowed to be worn?
- Are there religious services?
- Are there therapists or psychiatrist on staff?
- What are the other inmates like? Can they be trusted?
- The day I left prison and what that was like
- Are we allowed to keep in touch if we make a new friend?
- How on earth will I find a decent job when I get out?
THE CAMPER is accessed from the Main Menu after obtaining User ID and Password
