THE MOVE ~

Well its been over a week now since Corey arrived at Lompoc Federal Prison Camp. This was probably the easiest transfer of all in these past years in the BOP. Everything happened much more quickly than we have come to expect in this system and though it was still stressful for Rod and I, we weren’t out of touch for very long. That, and knowing he wasn’t boarding another Con-Air flight, in chains, or having to undergo”diesel therapy” at its worst (the stories I’ve read would make me break down and cry) all helped make this an easier transition than his earlier transfers in the system.

Two weeks ago Corey learned he’d been “designated” by the BOP, a huge surprise in that It’s usual for that process to take 4 or more weeks after the Taft prison had sent off his approved documents for entry into the RDAP. Upon learning you have been designated, you then usually don’t learn where you have been designated TO for another few weeks, and THEN, after that, its even another week or two before you actually are underway. Corey however learned he was going to Lompoc the day following the news of his designation. And on the heels of THAT news his counselor told him to start packing as he’d be going “real soon”. And by the next day he was called to report to R&D. He packed all his possessions (everything that had fit in his gym-sized locker, other than his clothes which belonged to the Taft facility) into 2 small boxes, and at 4 am that next morning (last Tuesday) he and 3 other Taft inmates were sitting in a holding cell waiting to board the prison van to make the 3 hour drive to Lompoc. His head was spinning at the speed of it all! As were his buddies and many staff members, who told him they were amazed at how fast HIS process had been. SO I guess all the stars were in alignment, Jupiter and mars, whatever! But it was alright by all of us! Finally our son was leaving Taft and the surrounding desert for good.

The only concern we had at that time was whether Corey was going to be driven directly over to Lompoc or if this “chain” would first go to Victorville (east of LA). Its pretty much luck of the draw, if there are inmates from the adjacent INS prison at Taft that need to be transported to Victorville the van will always go there first, as the BOP always travels “clockwise”. It wasn’t until Wednesday morning we learned Corey WAS at Lompoc, and not Victorville, because the wife of a buddy of his from Taft (who himself is taking the RDAP in Lompoc) relayed the news he’d been seen there. When the men are in transit there is no communication. They are not allowed to make phone calls and the BOP will not tell family or anyone anything about where the inmate is or is going. Its all about “the security of the institution”.

Once I learned Corey was at Lompoc I jumped into action. I needed to get money wired into his inmate acct. This turned out to be no easy task! Though the transfer itself was speedy, It took another full day for the BOP to change Coreys location in their online directory, from Taft to Lompoc, and even when they DID get that done, their system didn’t activate his Inmate Acct for another full day. Until his acct was activated I was not able to deposit any money into it.

So all day Wednesday, every two hours, I would call Western Union, go thru the 15 or so minute Q&A process involved, only to always be told “the inmate ID number is incorrect”. Which meant, in BOP jargon, that the BOP system had not yet updated/activated his acct. I was anxious and a little stressed, knowing that until he had money on his books Corey couldn’t contact us or anyone. He wouldn’t be able to purchase a phone card to be able to call out, he couldn’t purchase minutes to use the email system or to buy postage stamps ( let alone be able to purchase food or other essentials that would make his life a little more comfortable, as even though his two boxes of property accompanied him on the trip over, he will not be allowed to have them for another week or more!).

I would have thought I’d be somewhat used to these upsets to “normal” routine after these past 9 years, but I found I wasn’t, not really. How does one ever get used to this? That day of not being able to complete a simple wire transfer, for reasons totally beyond my control, REALLY stressed me out!!! Thankfully with the support and love of a few women I’ve formed strong friendships with in this system, on this journey, I made it through without totally losing it!!! Though there were moments I still came close. I hadn’t slept much since Tuesday nite but it was after making yet another attempt (#13 I believe)to wire funds at 3 am Thursday morning and was FINALLY met with success, that I could exhale!!! My work was done! I could relax knowing my son could now have access to some things that would make his life considerably easier and more comfortable. I wonder at times like this about all the men and women in this godawful system who must make due without support, financial or otherwise, from others outside the walls.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~Victor Frankl