Learning Patience

I’ve been incarcerated for 30 days, and am getting the hang of things at the Federal Prison Camp (FPC). It’s very similar to a college dormitory, but louder than a high school locker room most hours of the day. I’ve avoided the dreaded ‘shot’ for making mistakes. For example, I accidentally slept through the mandatory 4:00 PM standing count. Oh boy, the C.O. was not happy with me. I sprang to attention and apologized straight away. He rolled his eyes and scowled at me, but kept counting. Thankfully, that was the end of it. Being an old fart in jail has benefits, after all. A shot is a disciplinary infraction and generally costs you good time or loss of privileges.

I remain in limbo waiting for an official out-date for my projected release date. Apparently, nothing much can be accomplished around here without an out-date. I cannot attend First Step Act (FSA) classes, work, or anything else without this magical date scheduled for sometime in the future. I should be able to earn time off for FSA participation, but the BOP and prison staff have fumbled, or slow-rolled, its implementation. The Cares Act was passed by Congress nearly three years ago, but not much has changed from what I can see. I wonder when the opportunity will present itself.

In the meantime, I wait for a job assignment. The work is necessary to help the BOP run its operation at the prison complex. Without the inmate labor force, the prison operation would grind to a halt. I don’t mind either; it helps pass the time as I step closer towards my release date. I hardly believe I’ve been here 30 days already.

Patience is the name of the game at this point. In order to make meaningful progress towards FSA programming and early release, the out-date is all-important, and all the lowly inmate can do is wait. It is one of the Christian virtues though, so practice is Devine.