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Innocent from The Inside Blog: By James Catlidge

James Catlidge is serving a 60-month sentence for a white collar crime. He is a businessman that got caught up in a criminal probe. Prior to surrendering, he began writing a blog. We are recording James’ blog, Innocent from the Inside, to help more people understand the challenges of surrendering to federal prison.

James serves his sentence with dignity, and readers may find hope in his positive mindset.

For more information, visit PrisonProfessors.com

Below is the written version of his blog from one of his entries, describing his second week in a federal prison camp.

It takes 21 days to build a habit. Today is day 13. I’m adjusting to the rhythm and sounds unique to Camp. Our housing is 2 and 3 man cubicles.

The population is so light that I have been afforded my own cubicle. This is a real luxury. I can write, read, think, be left alone or invite a friend into my cube for a nice chat.

The floors are concrete and the ceiling is like a warehouse ceiling with pipes and

vents.

We are required to be standing in our cube at 10:00 AM and 4 :00 PM, 7 days a week. This process is called “count”.

No matter where you are on the compound, you are required to be standing in your cube at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Additionally, we all can hear the sounds of count because 2 corrections officers (CO’s) enter our dorm and yell “count”. We all scurry back to our personal cube

and we can hear the sound of enormous keys banging against each other on the belt of each CO. They march single file all the way

down the hall counting each of us twice. They count on the way down and on the way back. “Count” is concluded with the yelling of the word “clear”. We then resume our day.

There are good men here. Many, falsely accused, serving very long sentences. I have been pulled into 2 groups (adopted)—the white, older, intellectual men, ages 60-75. I am the youngest. They have a section in the TV room and they placed my chair with them.

The second group that sucked me in is the fitness crew. I workout with them 6:30-9:00 AM every day. Six of us take the tennis courts at 11:30 AM every day.

Lots of sunscreen is required here. This Camp location has long, beautiful, sunny days and we are

outside a bunch.

Classes are held at night. I will be offered a job in the next couple of weeks. The hours will depend on the job. The laundry is done by another inmate.

Our cube is inspected, intensely, every Thursday. That inspection dictates what order we go to the Chow Hall.

Two weeks now, we have finished in 3rd place out of 4. The Camp is very clean. No tolerance, whatsoever, for filth, mess or disorder.

Overall, a really good thing.

I love you all. Please put a visit on your calendar. I would love to see you.