105. Insights from Federal Prison Camp
105. Insights from Federal Prison Camp
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.
Very dramatic week. I have insulated myself both physically and mentally for the road ahead. As each of you know, I am an optimist having grown up on the sunny side of the mountain. I earnestly prepared to be here. I immediately deployed a strategy of kindness, openness and seek to be very helpful with everyone here at Camp. I cross racial lines, language and religious barriers. This strategy has allowed me to live peacefully and build relationships that are essential to make life at Camp easier. This week I got two reminders of where I am:
1. My workout buddy, Mike, who is 6'2", white, 220 lbs. was physically threatened by a crazy inmate on the tennis court. They don't do a lot of talking here, things get escalated quickly. The awkward part is WE were playing doubles and winning and the other guy was losing his cool. Mike approached the net to discuss the obvious verbal altercation and was told the following, "do you want to go in the bathroom and settle this right now?" Then this was said, "you don't have a door on your cube where you sleep at night." This of course, is not a wise thing to say. Immediately I'm left to jump in the middle and crazy guy's partner also jumps in and after a few more verbal threats both guys back off. But the reality of grown men willing to lose their freedom over a tennis match was disturbing.
2. My VERY good friend, Jay, is a dishwasher in the kitchen. Very high moral character. His IQ is 159 (a chartered member of MENSA) on the outside he is a high level securities lawyer. I personally review many things with him for his assessment . NO DOUBT the smartest man I've ever known -- #2 is Bud Dock. So Jay had 2 Mexican gang members stealing food by the pound right in front of him. He warned them to stop (its our food). Jay was trying to protect our food from these thieves. They bristled and told him to mind his own business. When he left for his job the next morning at 6:00 am., they entered his cube and poured Mackerel (stinky fish) in his clothes, on his bed, in his shoes and ruined all of his stuff. This hurts because it has the real potential to escalate quickly into a war with whites versus Mexican gang. As I soon learned, this theft has been going on for years, an economy unto itself that Jay just naively stepped in the middle of, Jay is now classified as a "snitch". So I am carefully navigating my relationships attempting to turn down the volume on this. As I write this Jay and I have had hours of discussion about human nature and the prison/camp life that is very unique to the world we came from. Jay needs both a friend and advice. I will be both.
My week has been a sobering reminder of where I am and who is in here with me. I expect things to settle down, but it is very volatile. Looking forward to a calm week ahead. I AM SAFE!