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Published: April 28, 2020, 12:03 p.m.

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.

Lots of oddities that make life at Camp interesting.

Visitation: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and all Federal holidays. We

meet our visitors in a large visitation room located in the front of the

Camp. All visitors can arrive as early as 9:00 AM and

must leave by 3:00 PM. 5 vending machines has every snack you

can imagine. You must bring usually 2 rolls of quarters to use the

machines. All of those snacks are only available to us when we

have visitors.

JPAY: This is our total communications system email, telephone --

all cost money through JPAY. You, as my friend, can download

the app on your phone and send me emails, pictures or money for

me to use JPAY. You must use my name and number to

communicate with me #17658-111.

Food: We eat at 6:00, 10:30 and 4:30 PM and these meals are

served in the cafeteria. We eat with our dorm only. There are 4

dorms (75-80 in each). The food is LOW quality. The only other

option is to purchase food that is more desirable from the

commissary. We are limited to one trip per week to the

commissary. We purchase everything there-underwear,

socks, a mirror, shampoo, notebook paper, pens, protein powder,

fruit and vegetables. They restrict our monthly budget to $360 for

everything: food/phone/e-mail/stamps and clothes.

I ran out after the first 10 days just buying clothes and shoes to

wear.

Camp Employees: Correction Officers: These are the police, some

are mean and some are nice. We work hard to stay out of their

way. They have the power to put you in solitary confinement.

Counselor: My counselor is the lady I go to for all of my needs at

Camp, from my job to updating my phone list.

Sergeant: He is the BOSS over the entire facility. All C.O.s report

to the Sarg

Education Director: Mrs. Robinson gets you signed up for all of the

classes you want to take

here. She runs the school here.

 

Recreation Director: This guy runs all of our softball, soccer, volley

ball, basketball and tennis

matches.

Medical Staff: There is a head doctor, dentist and 3 nurses. They

manage all medical needs or medication we may need.

My Address/Home: My cubicle 36 Low is where I sleep, also my

home. Its a cinder block room that is 6' high that holds 1 bunk bed

and 1 flat bed on the ground plus 2 lockers and one

pull out drawer under the single bed. The dimensions are 10'x8'.

We also have 3 chairs in each cubicle. The chair is plastic like an

outdoor stackable patio chair. Your address 36L

is on your chair, your locker and your clothes. I'm very lucky. I

have my cubicle all to myself.

We are required to stay in our cube for all Counts (4 at night)(2 in

the day). I can change cubes every 6 months by completing bunk

change paperwork. You must stay where you are for another 6

months after any change. I am located directly across from the

showers/sinks/toilets. They call my cubicle "Flushing Meadows". I

don't mind it.

TV/Radio: TV rooms are divided by race. I'm in the White Only TV

room. Everybody starts on Row 1 and then the TV Boss decides

when you can change your seating. Our Boss moved me to Row 3

in week 2 and now can see all of the TVs and tune in using my

radio and ear buds. My bunk is close enough to the TV room that I

can tune in from my cube.

This place is like summer camp with a few crazies. I'm good, safe

and heathy.

Love you all, James