509 inmates are positive for Covid / Coronavirus

I have been checking the BOP website every day multiple times per day and watching the numbers of positive inmates at Carswell go up and up and up. Yesterday the website said 509. They only have approx 1200 inmates so that is approx half. Think about that for a minute. Half of the people in the entire prison have tested positive. From what I am hearing, they were retested yesterday but it takes days to get the results. This is not acceptable. The job of the BOP is to keep the women and men in their custody SAFE. This is an epic fail. These are the most vulnerable women in the entire federal prison system. These are the women who are medically vulnerable to this virus. They should have been testing every officer and worker DAILY. The only way this got into Carswell was by one of them. One of the guards or workers went to work with the virus. Maybe they should track down who it was and charge them with accessory to murder. One inmate died last week because of the virus. Make no mistake, the women are terrified. They see bunks being piled up in the tv rooms that used to belong to the positive inmates. They see people taken out of the unit who are not heard from again. They are scared to death and I fully understand why. This virus is scary enough in the outside world but in a place that is run so incompetently like Carswell - the fear is hitting an all time high.

University of Central Florida Graduate Admission Solely Denied Based on Felony

This past Spring, I decided to go back to school. I found a program that I would be perfect for me at the University of Central Florida. I wanted to attend the Themed Experience Master's Degree program at UCF.

I have already have two degrees. A Bachelor's degree in communications and an associate's degree in digital media motion graphics. The later degree was obtained with a 3.8 GPA so my academics were good.  I wrote an excellent entrance essay, had three recommendations and past work experience in the creative department in one of the world's most prominent theme parks.  I had the experience as well as the academics to be accepted. Unlike fellow applicants, my application to the university was not ever sent to the department for academic review. Had it been sent, I believe I would have been accepted into the program. Instead, it was stopped by a department called the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.  The following details my experience with UCF:

Timeline:

March 26, 2019 - My application is officially submitted through their online portal

April 9, 2019 - I am called by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities to setup an interview

May 2, 2019 - I complete a phone call interview with Michael from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities

May 8, 2019 - An official decision letter from Dana -  Assistant Dean of Students and Executive Director, Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is received

May 10, 2019 (10:45 am) - I write an email to 3 recipients: Graduate Admissions, Peter (person I believe is in charge of the actual themed experience program) and the coordinator graduate studies for the theatre department

May 10, 2019 (2:30 pm) - Multiple emails received by this time - one from Peter and Graduate studies. I also receive an official letter from Graduate Studies that they support the decision of the OSSR.

May 12, 2019 - I decide to write this blog post

Here is the wording from the OSSR "I have reviewed your application for admission to the University of Central Florida. Due to the seriousness of the incident and not being completed with your felony court ordered requirements, I cannot favorably recommend your clearance through this office. Your file is now closed in the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Please note that this is only a recommendation and the College of Graduate Studies will make the final decision as to your admission to the university. I sincerely wish that this action was more favorable to your circumstances and I do wish you well in your future endeavors."

Here is the wording from the Graduate Admissions "As part of your graduate application, you provided affirmative response(s) asking about your disciplinary and criminal background. As per our regular business practices, this information was provided to the University of Central Florida's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR). They conducted a further review and the College of Graduate Studies supports their recommendation to not clear you for admission. Please note that your application will not proceed forward in the admission process or be sent to your graduate program for their review. Your application to the university has been withdrawn. "

Its plain as day to me, I was never even given the opportunity to be considered for admission solely due to the felony.

Jails to Jobs article is posted!!

I am happy to announce that I was featured in an article on the website jailstojobs. Here is a link to the article:

https://www.jailstojobs.org/if-you-have-a-criminal-record-and-are-looking-for-work-dont-ever-give-up/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Just an update - YES I am still employed by that same company. I am super challenged every day by my work and still absolutely love it. I am so incredibly thankful that they trusted me and hired me on. I am now past my 90 days point (actually 120 as of tomorrow). I am a permanent member of the team. I was the right person for this job. I believed in me enough to NOT give up.

Never let anyone else define you. Your past does not make your future. All it did is shape the person you are becoming. Always persevere even when you don't want to. CONTACT me if you would like to chat..

Great Article on Criminal Unemployment

Although I am happily employed by a wonderful company, not many of my fellow felon brothers and sisters can say the same thing. While researching photos for work (I am a graphic designer putting together a presentation), I came across this thought provoking article:

https://talkpoverty.org/2016/04/28/how-criminalizing-unemployment-creates-bad-jobs/

It took me almost 200 applications to obtain employment. Even then, I had to go above and beyond to convince my employer to trust me. I am one of the lucky ones and I am very grateful.

Job Update - Good News

It's official - I have been offered a job. Actually, I fought for the job that had decided to go in a different direction. After I received the email on October 30th from the architectural company that I had interviewed with and who ran the background check, I decided to do something different. With my record, I realized I was going to have to be more aggressive to get someone to take a chance on me. I decided to write to the company and the people I interviewed with and asked them to give me one last consideration. If you want to read the entire email, go to the end of this post. Briefly stated, here's why you should still consider me. I sent it on Friday near noon time and on Monday morning, I received an email that stated they really appreciated my well written email and that they were in fact giving me consideration. I interviewed with the owner of the company and he reiterated that my email was well written and appreciated. So much in fact, that I went from being no longer considered to their new graphic designer. I start on Wednesday! While I cannot say that this will work every time or even any time again, I can state that my perseverance worked for me. I am extremely fortunate to find a company who is willing to overlook my past and see the value I can bring to their organization. I am blessed that I have talent and education unlike many of my fellow released inmates. I didn't have to overcome a troubled job past or no education. I am fortunate. All I can say is that I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and finally getting back to normal life. 9 to 5 boring office life sounds like just about the best thing on the planet.

Here's the email I sent (if you are a ex-inmate who needs to copy and paste some of the verbiage for your job quest, please go ahead and I wish you well):

While searching for employment on Indeed.com, your graphic design position showed up as reposted. I would like to ask you to please give me one last consideration. I understand that my background makes me a questionable hire. I assure I am not. I am someone who has a record due to a huge misunderstanding. Please read my blog which details exactly what happened: https://fmccarswellthetruth.blogspot.com/2018/10/how-i-ended-up-felon.html

Up until that incident, I have never broken any law or had any interaction with law enforcement. While in prison for the 6 month sentence, I actually tried to be productive and help people. I obtained a job in the education department as an employment resource clerk. In that position, I helped other inmates with finding resources for their needs when they began to reintegrate into society. I wrote and taught Adult Continuing Education classes to fellow inmates. I taught classes including US History, Impressionism, and African American History. I helped women to get their GED and get into apprenticeships. In my spare time, I helped motivate people to take part in healthy activities like yoga and exercise classes. All of this reflects my character. Even in the worst circumstance, I succeeded in achieving some personal goals and helping people to achieve theirs.

By hiring me, you are not putting XXX at any risk. The Federal Bonding Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, serves as a tool to secure the job placement of ex-offenders and other high-risk applicants by issuing Fidelity bonds to businesses who offer jobs to workers in "at risk" groups. These bonds are business insurance policies that protect the employer in case of any loss of money or property due to employee dishonesty.

The bonds are a "guarantee" to the employer that the person hired will be an honest worker. The Fidelity Bonds issued are insurance policies from the Travelers Property Casualty insurance company. The McLaughlin Company in Washington, DC is the agent for Travelers in managing the program nationwide. 

The bond is given to the employer free-of-charge, and serves as an incentive to the company to hire a job applicant who is an ex-offender or has some other risk factor in their personal background. The employer is then able to employ the worker without taking any risk of dishonesty on the job. It insures the employer for any type of stealing by theft, forgery, larceny, or embezzlement.

You will also qualify for tax breaks and or credits for hiring me. You can speak with my probation officer, XXXXXXXX. His phone number is (407) 555 - 5555 and his email is XXXXXXXXX. He can reassure you as to my character and his expectations of me. My probation conditions will not interfere with work.

I would make an excellent addition to your team. I am looking for a long term, stable position. I will work harder and be more loyal than any other possible candidate that you could hire. All I am asking is for you to give me a chance. I promise your risk will be rewarded.

Thank you for the consideration.

Have a great weekend.

Kindest Regards.

California Wildfires: Inmates Are Risking Their Lives Working Alongside Firefighters for $2 a Day

I applaud the men and women inmates who are courageous enough to do this work however they should be compensated wages that are not equal to indentured servitude / labor. This is taken from the Newsweek publication website:

As California firefighters work to contain the largest wildfire in state history, they find themselves working their 24-hour shifts alongside a group of unlikely partners: 3,400 inmates from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The groups work in unison, but while salaried California firefighters earn an annual mean wage of $74,000 plus benefits, inmates earn just $2 per day with an additional $1 per hour when fighting an active fire.

Inmates without histories of arson, sexual crimes, kidnapping, gang-affiliation, escape attempts or facing a life sentence are allowed to volunteer for the firefighting program and are trained for two weeks in fire safety and field conditions before taking a physical exam. Once the exam is passed, prisoners are sent to live in one of 43 low-security field camps throughout the state. Juvenile delinquents are also eligible for the program, at least 58 youth offenders are currently fighting active wildfires.

“In an active fire, Cal Fire makes the determination for all crews based on the conditions, and the safety and security of all firefighters. In other words, inmate firefighters are not treated differently in the work they perform at the camps,” Vicky Waters, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told Newsweek on Tuesday. “I just want to emphasize that we absolutely recognize the incredible job these firefighters are doing, particularly when lives and properties are at stake.”
An inmate also earns extra time off of their sentence for good behavior, typically two days off for each day served. These low-cost firefighters save California an estimated $80 million a year.

“Look, the biggest, most important thing is putting out the fires,” Lisa Graybill, Deputy Legal Director at Southern Poverty Law Center told Newsweek. “And in my experience, prisoners are so eager for the chance to work and chance to demonstrate their rehabilitation that they’ll accept any work conditions. But they shouldn’t be exploited by the state. They’re putting their lives on the line like other California firefighters, and they should be paid fairly for a fair day's work.”

After years of training and fighting fires, said Graybill, an inmate who is released is typically unable to put their skills to work upon release. Nearly all firefighters in California are required to be licensed emergency medical technicians, but convicted felons are typically barred from receiving said licenses. Additionally, families of fallen inmate firefighters like 22-year-old Shawna Lynn Jones, who died fighting a blaze in 2016, don’t receive compensation the way a normal firefighter’s family would.

“Many people who are incarcerated have families on the outside who are relying on them to come home and be their breadwinner again. If anything does happen to them, will there be provision for their families and will they be taken care of in any way?” asked Graybill.

Inmates do recognize that there are perks to the job. Their outdoor camps allow for more freedom. The food is better and grown in on-site gardens. Families are allowed to use barbecue pits for their visits and can often spend the night in nearby cabins.

Still, “the pay is ridiculous,’’ inmate La’Sonya Edwards, told The New York Times. ‘‘There are some days we are worn down to the core,’’ she said. ‘‘And this isn’t that different from slave conditions. We need to get paid more for what we do.’’

“These are very dangerous jobs,” Jordan Barab, former deputy assistant secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, told Newsweek. “Anytime you see prisoners doing work, they don’t have the same kind of job security or right to complain about unsafe conditions. They can’t quit or go work for different jobs. They either do the job as they’re told to do it or they go back to regular prison. This is a captive group of workers being asked to put their lives on the line.”

It’s a tricky road to navigate, said Graybill. “The danger for litigators like me is if we sue, the state could stop this program and that would be terrible because people want this opportunity.”

But if prisoners are being trusted to put out fires, save lives, and handle potentially dangerous weapons like axes and chainsaws with minimal oversight, “maybe they didn’t need to be in prison in the first place,” said David Fathi, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project.

How I ended up a "FELON"

Back in 2003, my mom passed away from cancer. At that time, I split a bank account at Bank of America (BOA) with her to make everything pass easily from her to me. She got sick in March, I was put on the account in April and she died in July. I did contact the bank that she had passed but for some reason their paperwork was not updated in all the systems. We moved from Las Vegas to Orlando in 2004 and I just left the account the way it was cause I figured it didn’t matter. Who cared if her name was still on the account? I should have. 

At the time of her death, she was receiving some government benefits that had to do with the Veterans Administration and my dad's military enlistment, etc. He had passed away in 1988 (when I was 14) and she received benefits because of it. I thought the benefits were like a pension. I did report to the VA (as well as Social Security, Nissan, the US government incl the IRS and every other place I knew) that she had died and sent all of the proper information. I figured everyone got everything. I thought (as almost anyone else) that whatever payments kept coming in, they were just a payout/inheritance. Wow was I wrong. Apparently, the VA did not receive the paperwork (and I have zero way to prove that since we had faxed everything 14 years ago) and they incorrectly kept depositing payments. I was made aware of this oversight in April of 2017 when I had 2 federal marshals at my door wanting to speak with me. I wasn't home. They said for me to contact them. I contacted a lawyer cause I started to panic. The lawyer contacted them and we all had a huge discussion about those 14 years of payments. This happened late May 2017. 

Apparently those 14 years of payments should not have still been deposited and since I had just left my mom’s name on the bank account (I didn’t but BOA didn’t process it correctly), I was in BIG trouble with the US Government. The VA decided to press charges and gave the case to the US prosecutor on a felony charge of grand theft. Grand theft of almost $180,000 from the US government.I went and pled guilty in October 2017 BECAUSE there was zero chance of winning. I had used the money - they could prove that. I didn't have the faxes that I sent to them. They have a 99% conviction rate and everyone who goes to trial ends up with maximum sentences. Mine would be like 30 months in Federal prison. Almost everyone thought I would get home confinement since I have ZERO criminal record. The judge felt I needed to be taught a lesson so he sent me to prison for 6 months. He was generous with his sentence, he could have sent me there for 30. I thank him for the shortest sentence possible. When he said imprisonment, my first thought was "like the people on tv?" That was how naive I was. I never knew anyone who got arrested or imprisoned. I had no reference for what I was about to go through.

When I spoke with BOA after I was charged, they said they could not believe that her death slipped through the cracks and that she should have been automatically removed from the account. Even if I hadn't notified them, there are processes in place that are supposed to flag when people die. BOA had no explanation for what happened and that they were very sorry. So let me understand this, the Veteran's Administration made mistakes, Bank of America made mistakes and I made mistakes. Who ended up paying? ONLY ME. Who ended up taking responsibility? ONLY ME. Who ended up with their life completely derailed? ME.

I was sentenced in January 2018 to 6 months in Federal Prison. I was ordered to go to FMC Carswell in Texas (with 4 day notice before my self surrender). I spent 6 months in prison February 6 to August 3, 2018.  I have 3 years probation. I have a lifetime sentence of "FELON". 

Back to Square One - Another Job Offer Gone

Well, its official. I received the email from another company which said "We appreciate you taking the time to come in and interview for the Graphic Artist position. However, the principals have decided to go in a different direction, and will not pursue your candidacy further. Thank you again for your interest in our company, and we wish you all the best in your job search." They wish me luck - thanks - I wish me luck too. I wish me luck in paying bills and keeping a roof over my head when no one will give me a job. I wish me luck with my probation officer when I tell him that I went another month without finding a job and hoping he doesn't put me into probation violation (I am required to work 32 hours per week) which would possibly get me resentenced and headed BACK to prison.

ALL my other records are clear but my "one thing" stopped it. Lawfully they are ONLY supposed to deny employment to you IF they can prove that your exact crime would put their company in jeopardy. My exact crime was "theft of government funds" so as I don't think the firm was going to let me handle their funds while creating business proposals, my charge is not related.  I have never knowingly stolen anything in my life, I would seriously NOT start now. I am not a thief. I made a mistake with benefits and inheritance. Sorry that it happened. My story is an a set of errors on my side with misunderstanding Veteran's Administration benefits as well as the Veteran's Administration who NEGLECTED to contact me before the 14 year mark. Seriously, they let me collect benefits for 14 years before thinking hey maybe she isn't supposed to have these. They cannot admit to their mistake so it is better to make an honest citizen a felon. That's our government..

Employers in Many Industries Are Reconsidering Their Stance on Hiring Ex-Criminal Offenders

Employers in Many Industries Are Reconsidering Their Stance on Hiring Ex-Criminal Offenders: Employers across the country are becoming more open to hiring people with criminal records. The reasons behind the shift range from new laws to the state of the job market.

Target Job Offer Pending Background Check

Well, its official. I received the paperwork from First Advantage who Target uses for background checks and I was denied employment based on the felony charge. ALL my other records are clear but my "one thing" stopped it. Lawfully Target is ONLY supposed to deny employment to you IF they can prove that your exact crime would put their company in jeopardy. My exact crime was "theft of government funds" so as I don't think Target was going to let me handle their funds while unloading merchandise on to the sales floor, my charge is not related.  I would NOT be handling money or credit cards etc, I am unloading things like cans and toys or any number of grocery items. It is sooo frustrating. Yes, you could argue, its a theft charge so maybe you would steal their merchandise. I have never knowingly stolen anything in my life, I would seriously NOT start now. Although I do love their almond milk, I would much rather pay for it then steal it. That holds true for everything they sell. I am not a thief. I made a mistake with benefits and inheritance. Sorry that it happened. My story is an a set of errors on my side with misunderstanding Veteran's Administration benefits as well as the Veteran's Administration who NEGLECTED to contact me before the 14 year mark. Seriously, they let me collect benefits for 14 years before thinking hey maybe she isn't supposed to have these. They cannot admit to their mistake so it is better to make an honest citizen a felon. That's our government..

Things are going to hell in a handbasket - Inmate 2

FMC Carswell is continuing in it's horrendous treatment of the inmates. The following is from Inmate 2. 

"It's the end of the year and kitchen is feeding us byproducts making a lot of people really sick - they told me it was turkey (it wasn't) and the little bit I ate made me sick - not as sick as others because the taste was awful and I couldn't stomach it but some ate (the meatloaf) all of what they were served and got diarrhea and stomach cramps - it cleaned my system out but thank God it was just minor - I'm down another 4 lbs - puts me under 200. Yeah! - though being starved to death isn't my idea of a way to lose weight. They kitchen also hasn't had eggs -not for snacks nor for lunch - last week we got potatoes and pancakes (good luck for me with that one) there have been no boiled eggs all week - none for snack and none for breakfast in am so it has been jelly sandwiches all week for me (UGH!) They finally got fruit in that 2 tbsp of canned fruit just doesn't cut it. 

They still haven't fixed my FRP (financial restitution payment) fiasco - over 400 women put on restriction because the IPP they put out is incorrect and the pay has been coming the 1st Thursday instead of on the schedule they posted. Needless to say, it doesn't matter for me - I won't spend my limit all the way down EVER again. Now Ms LeBlanc says Ms Neblett is fixing it so she won't be back until Sunday but because Monday is a holiday I expect she won't be back until Tuesday and she won't be here Sunday (because Monday is a holiday) supposedly her new hours are Sunday - Tuesday and only a couple of hours (or less than an hour) each day she is here. Then it takes 24 hours for it to correct in the system. I told Ms LeBlanc it is unfair because I was hungry and couldn't shop - or eat the trash they are trying to feed us in the kitchen. She didn't seem to think it mattered. She said - well your roommates fix food all the time - and when I explained to her I couldn't eat that stuff she just raised her eyebrows. But didn't fix my FRP."

The "One Thing"

So here it is 2 1/2 months since I was released and I am still job less. This is getting ridiculous. I have TWO college degrees and cannot get hired for even crappy $8.75 hour jobs. I have applied for numerous positions and have gotten a few interviews. At the interview, I always do well and am likable. Very very likeable. It reminds me of the last Grey's Anatomy episode that I watched. The main character Meredith is out on a date with a guy named John who has a theory "Picture it: The date is going great. He likes her. She seems to like him. He’s funny. She’s smart. Fireworks are poised for explosions. Then she says the one thing that makes it all go south. Maybe she’s racist. Or rude. Or disrespectful. Or confuses they’re, there, and their. Whatever the case, “the one thing” ruins it."

Job interviewing is much like a first date and I always have my one thing that ruins it. Here goes (or some variation of the following) This is brought up near end of the interview not right off the bat. "I need to mention this before we go forward. I have a blip in my background. I had a misunderstanding with the Veteran's Administration about benefits and inheritance laws. They chose to prosecute. I took a plea deal and went to prison for six months. I was in prison from February through August of this year. While in prison, I chose to improve myself and help others. I lost 30lbs and taught Adult Continuing Education classes. Everything else in my record is completely spotless."

"The one thing" that ruins it. EVERY TIME. It has gotten to the point that when I leave for interviews, I tell my husband "don't worry they will love me and want to hire me and then I will tell them and never hear from them again." From what I am to understand, it is actually illegal to let my "one thing" be the reason they don't hire me. I am sure the companies that I never hear from again will say it was "some thing" else but I know the truth. I am going to be brave and start naming the companies I have been interviewed at in hopes that this will get them to start to act lawfully and accordingly. Here goes:

Universal Orlando where I worked on and off for 5 years before heading to prison. I was interviewed for a guest communications job and was about to be hired. Seriously, the next step was onboarding paperwork. I mentioned my "one thing" and suddenly a different HR person was brought in to tell me specifically that I could NEVER work there again in any capacity because of the "one thing". I cannot even do park services.

Target was an interview 2 1/2 weeks ago. This position was for part time seasonal stocking on the sales floor. I was given the job PENDING a background check. Never heard from them so I am guessing my "one thing" stopped that job offer.

Panera Bread in Apopka wanted to hire me. The store manager was super cool and just needed me to speak to the district manager about my "one thing". No problem I thought. So I was scheduled to meet with her on a Monday at 5pm in a totally different location about 20 minutes from my house. I am down for it so I go down there and at 5:20 I am told, she isn't coming and they will call me to reschedule. I never heard from them again. This was for a $8.75 per hour job that started at 5am dealing with customers who wanted to buy bagels/pastries.

Sam's Club in Apopka interviewed me for a part time stock associate position. I spoke with the person over merchandising and I agreed to the background check. That was 1.5 weeks ago. I am thinking my "one thing" kicked it.

There were a few other positions I did not get however I am not sure if it was the "one thing" that kicked it.The above four I know for sure, my "one thing" was the reason. I have bills to pay like rent etc. I haven't paid October rent yet and its the 17th. Not sure how that is going to happen now since it is creeping into the end of the month with no job in sight. Everyone judges felons on their past and seem unwilling to help them obtain a better future. I keep thinking that if I cannot make it, how are all the people I knew that are currently incarcerated going to fare? They were in for way longer than me and have almost no education. What is their hope, what is their saving grace? Is there any hope for us or are we all doomed to a complete life of poverty? Is anybody in the corporate world willing to overlook our "one thing" and give us a fair chance???

You want to know the absolute kicker to all of this - my probation stipulates I have to work at least 32 hours per week OR I risk violating probation and being sent BACK to prison. You read that right, I can be sent back to prison and resentenced BECAUSE I cannot get a job. This time I can get the remaining 30 months (which would max me out for my crime) of the sentence that was not given the first time around.

One Year and One Day: From Dragonfly: Finding Community

I understand and sympathize most with this post. I was the same - camp eligible but held on the medical side with all the "others"

One Year and One Day: From Dragonfly: Finding Community: I just had lunch with several women - all here for the same reason as me --- meaning camp eligible, but at Carswell for medical reasons. We ...

I am Inmate 1 and now I am free

This is listed as being posted by FG but it is in reality being written and posted by the person who was formerly known as inmate 1 aka prisoner number 69482-018. I am grateful to FG for all of her help when I served my 6 months and the continued help she is providing for those still incarcerated.

It's been 2 months since my release and I would love to say everything has gone well and that life is grand. It's not. I cannot find a job and I am more than trying. I have applied to over 150 positions at this point ranging from graphic designer (my actual trade) to part time seasonal at places like Target. I cannot seem to pass the background check. People love me in interviews but the background check with ONE felony charge and otherwise 100% clean apparently makes me unemployable. I am struggling more than I ever have in my life. I am honestly at my wits end about what to do in the employability department. I have a husband and we have a very modest life and even that is at risk. I am not sure what to do outside of keep selling my stuff on ebay and deciding to make a difference in the prison system. I know that if I am having a hard time succeeding then what will happen to all the people I used to know in prison. I was their hope that things will be better when they get out. Now they hear about me struggling and it's soul crushing. This system needs to be better. We need to support people who admittedly made a mistake but are on the right path. We need employers to not only ban the box but are actually held accountable for their illegal prejudicial hiring decisions. The law says you have to give me a direct reason as to how my crime relates to the job I am applying for. Considering my crime was theft of government funds (which will be explained in a whole other post) - how am I not qualified to create a flyer for you??

So I have decided that I need to blog every day about the trials and tribulations of being free but also the actual experiences I had while at FMC Carswell for 6 months. There was a lot I did not share while I was there for fear of institutional retaliation. I knew the warden knew about my blog and I did not want to be sent to the SHU (aka special housing unit) for speaking up about the conditions. That is why I remained anonymous. However the time for anonymity has ended and I will gladly stand up and fight. The battle begins NOW.

Another Blog whose Writer Spent time at FMC Carswell

Today I came across a fantastic blog that highlights the daily grind and perils of FMC Carswell. It is an amazing time capsule of what a year there is like. Here you go: http://dragonflyhazel.blogspot.com/

Who Forgot to Pay the Electric Bill?? by Inmate #1

Who forgot to pay the light bill??? So from about 12pm to 130pm today, all of the electricity went off in our housing unit and I believe the entire complex. It was a BIG problem. All the inmates were called back to their housing unit and we had to sit in the dark.. we had no external electricity or generator. We were forced to use our book lights to get to the restroom and use it.

When the lights did go back on, we had an extended 1 hour count which include an inmate by inmate census count where they count you off from a list and check your ID. Then our guard came to each individually room and compared our names and faces to a book which had exactly that information including the pictures. I was told that the electric has never been off for so long at one time. What a giant mess! I have never heard of an entire prison losing power for that much time. Just goes to show how great Carswell is.. LOL

High Blood Pressure- You Still Have That??? by Inmate #1

Here's how incompetent Carswell is. I self surrendered on blood pressure medicine called Valsartan. Upon entering, that medication was changed by the Physician's Assistant to Losartan. The Losartan shot my blood pressure from readings around 130 or 140 to regular readings ABOVE 160. The doctor tried to solve the issue by DOUBLING the dosage of the Losartan. The increased dose INCREASED my high blood pressure to the 170 to 180 range.

The doctor then put in to change my prescription back to the Valsartan I was taking pre imprisonment. Some jackass in Washington decided NOT to approve that change, When I went to pickup this month's medication, I now have NO blood pressure medicine.

You read that correct, ALL my blood pressure medicine has been DISCONTINUED as of April 10th, 2018. Discontinuing my medication doesn't change my medical condition. I still have high blood pressure. My father died of a massive stroke at 42 due to high blood pressure and I am 44. WTF kind of medical care is this except to try and kill people???  How can a medical care facility be so stupid and incompetent???

It's Fun and Games in One North by Inmate #1

In the last month, my housing unit has had not one, not two but THREE knockdown fights. One girl beat the crap out of her roommate. One old lady in a wheelchair beat the crap out of another old lady in a walker in the shower area. She beat her so bad with a lock that she needed to go to the hospital. The other fight started with another screaming match and then a hell of a fight. Last Saturday, we had a crazy partially blind person run into our unit screaming at someone and it took no less than 10 guards AND pepper spray to finally contain her ass. Add to that a fire alarm pulled last night by our unit officer (in the middle of my shower no less) because people were all getting up in each others faces. That was fun btw since I had to quickly rinse off, throw on shorts and a shirt and go stand out in the free open space in my shower shoes..While we were all leaving, people started going into seizures because of the alarm. After I almost ran back in because you guessed it, I was worried someone would steal my stuff from the shower (but no one did). Yes this is my life here.. It totally fucking sucks!

Don't Eat the Buns by Inmate #1

Apparently we have a bug and animal problem in the kitchen. I was told by friends that I know work in the kitchen that a bunch of the hamburger buns bags were broken into by rats who proceeded to eat what they could and leave remnants of their feast. There was rat poop on the buns that was brushed off and then SERVED. 


You were given a choice of those buns or leftover dinner rolls from breakfast for your sandwich. I took the leftover ones.. To make the lunch even worse, there was a roach on the line and I personally saw one of the workers squish it and wipe it to the floor. I wish I was joking.. I am not.. welcome to Carswell - we get served expired food with bugs and rat poop.

Beans on the Side of Baked Chicken - Really??? by Inmate #1

So all I had today was oatmeal for breakfast and a handful of cheese crackers as a snack.. so looking forward to lunch.. baked chicken (usually served with potato of some sort). There was no potato - The side dish was BLACK BEANS and almost ice cold broccoli...  I am so friggin hungry its not even funny.  Even with the chicken I was able to eat (not very well cooked) - I am at around 100 calories. The broccoli was inedible and the beans I obviously cannot eat. How can there be no protocol for bariatric patients? I cannot be the ONLY one in the entire system! This is what I was talking to the stupid idiot nutritionist on staff about. He tells me to self select enough calories. If I had eaten ALL of the chicken and ALL of the ice cold broccoli - it would have maybe have been 200 calories!!! Hey BOP - stop being so damn cheap and serving beans all the time. Who the hell eats black beans on the side of chicken and no carbohydrate??? The only culture I can think of who eats black beans on the side of chicken is the Latin culture but even they add RICE!!! This situation is ridiculous.