THANKSGIVING 2013
It’s a gorgeous clear, sunny but cold day here in the NW…thermometer out on my deck reads 34 degrees F. Most all the autumn leaves have fallen and I raked up/bagged the last of them a few days ago. My neighbors huge pine trees have dropped quite a bunch of pine needles all over my front lawn so that remains to be taken care of, but no worries, I’ll get out my rake soon enough and bag those as well. No signs of warnings of snow for the next week at least, this weather is supposed to hold for the very near future.

I still find myself adjusting to the change in temperatures, the cold does bother me more than I ever remember it doing prior to our move to Southern Cal. But I’ll acclimate I’m sure, just learning to layer clothing again is key.

It appears the HWH Director cancelled all social leaves for Thanksgiving Day. So what that means is whether you are a current resident in the House or on Home Confinement as Corey is, you won’t be allowed to go elsewhere for the holiday. Why all leaves were cancelled is anyones guess, no one seems to know (except the Director?) and its probably “just because”. But no worries, Plan B was always to pack up the turkey and fixins and take over to Coreys apartment to celebrate there for the day. He is going to prepare the desserts (pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin pie, both from scratch (using a real pumpkin) like he did while in prison for the last few years when he had access to a pumpkin). I would imagine the same situation will stand for Christmas, seems petty and small, rather ‘scroogish’, but I won’t complain, we all just feel grateful not to be spending the day in a prison visitation room eating vendor machine food again. Glory be!

He was offered a job at Nordstroms but like most things I write about re the prison experience, it wasn’t a simple matter of accepting the job and going to work. NO, he was told by his Case Mgr at the House that she needed to go out there to view and ‘approve’ the worksite, and verify with the employer they were aware he had a felony conviction. Lord knows we wouldn’t want them to not know that ten years ago he was convicted of a first time, non-violent marijuana offense! Can’t let that slip by! Corey of course had already been upfront and honest during his interview, Nordstroms hired him despite the felony, he clearly more than qualifies (is actually 'overqualified")for the position with his past work experience, his college education and his 3 prior to prison owner/operated businesses. He is intelligent, honest, hardworking and I know without a doubt will work twice as hard as anyone they could have hired, to prove himself worthy of the opportunity. Actually the only comment made by his interviewers was “we all make mistakes”. However he still must wait until the company signs and returns a document the Case Mgr gave them affirming their knowledge of his felony, before he can start work. Hopefully that will happen by first of the week. He has already been given the Holiday T-shirt attire employees will wear this season, and his Supervisor seems very willing to work around the two, two-hours in length meetings he must have at the HWH each week, one with his counselor and one a continuation of sorts of the RDAP. I’ll stay optimistic this job wont yet fall through because of all the hoops both he and the employer must jump thru to satisfy the HWH and BOP bureaucracy.

But all in all we really can’t complain too much. This chapter of the ‘journey’ has been much easier than we expected. The HWH has been more accommodating and treatment far better, than ‘usual’ for most HWH’s. Corey is settling into his own space with an appreciation never before experienced. Life is good. There is hope, and great optimism as we near the end of this year and look towards the new year and all that it may bring.

COMING HOME!

Corey learned yesterday he has been approved to move to home confinement! Next Tuesday he will be in his very own apartment, as of 5:30 am. Ha! And you can bet he’ll be there, THAT early!! He’s waited a long for this moment, and doesn’t want to miss a second of it.
He will have to wear a monitor (ankle bracelet) but feels its a small price to pay for the change (IMPROVEMENT IN) his accommodations. He’s also not sure yet what, if any, further restrictions will come with living outside the HwH during the next 4 ½ months months he remains on HWH status, but again, will comply readily as required.

The past weeks he’s been authorized on many days to spend time at his apartment and has been painting and furnishing it so it would be move in ready when he was given the OK. The place looks great and I am beyond content (sigh) knowing in just over 3 more days he’ll finally, finally (!) be sleeping in his own bed in his own lovely, serene bedroom, cooking meals in his own kitchen, kicking back on his big comfy leather couch, watching his own tv whenever he feels like it!!! All things we, most of us, take for granted and don’t have any idea of (and many just don’t care about), the full extent, the TOTALITY OF, the losses of those privileges that come with imprisonment.

It is what it is but we are seeing a shift in the wind of late, advocates for prison reform are making a great deal of progress and hopefully we will see real change soon, a sane approach to how we deal with crime and punishment in this country. Our sentences are too long, the time does not fit the crime, we warehouse far too many low level, non violent offenders and do not prepare them for successful re-entry into society. The prison door is a revolving door, our recidivism rate holds at over 75%. I don’t think most realize three quarters (!!!) of released felons return to prison, having met with far too many obstacles upon their release. After years of being warehoused they have long gaps in their work histories, and with their felony record scare away most employers. Most never make it past the ‘application’ process where they must check ‘the box’ indicating they have been convicted of a felony. Perpetuating this cycle of failure makes us safer as a society how??? Desperation can lead a person to turn to desperate measures to survive.

When I happen across popular shows on tv about prison (“OZ” for one, or “Lockup”, an actual ‘franchise’ with spinoffs such as Raw, Extended Stay, World Tour, Special Investigation, and Life After Lockup) I pass them by. That audiences, including young, impressionable viewers, are led to believe this is true, everyday prison life, is a disservice, both to them and to the prisoners. To ensure and grow 'ratings' the shows center on the extremes, violence and oppression, they utilize shock value’ to keep viewers coming back. Programs like these only serve to perpetuate the failure of our broken system. These programs are edited to depict the worst, most violent, most stressful situations, because in most cases daily life in prison would bore an audience to tears. No one would watch. Most prisons in america are filled with low level, non violent, mostly first time offenders, fighting boredom 24/7, simply trying to get through another long day with little to do but dream of release. The reason I rail against such programs is that they (in their quest for 'ratings' - which translates into dollars!!) they only serve to perpetuate the fear many harbor when they hear the world “prison” or “felon”, they perpetuate the stigma, making it all but impossible for EX felons, men/women who have served their time, paid for the mistakes of their pasts, from ever being forgiven or a chance at a new life.

Today I'll visit Coreys apartment and fill the empty cupboards with his favorite foods. He loves to cook and I can imagine the joy he'll feel at cooking his first meal in his own kitchen. I remain optomistic and excited that this next step forward will further the momentum he is experiencing, the moving forward to the next chapter.

"It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem." ~G.K. Chesterton

The first snow of the season is just a memory, rain has washed it all away. For now I am somewhat relieved, not quite ready yet to settle into full on winter. I still have lots to do that requires I get out and about, drive around the city, and prefer not to have to navigate snowy roads while doing so. But it was an exciting development, Corey’s first snowfall in almost ten years. He was thrilled to venture out to the snow filled parking lot for his morning smoke break, and stand amongst the large, falling flakes. He spent his day, for the most part, riding the city buses to various destinations, submitting job applications and resumes, not minding in the very least, the change in the weather. In fact, buoyed by it!

Currently he is waiting for approval from the BOP for home confinement. Once he gets that (hopefully by the end of the month) he can move out of the halfway house and into his own apartment. His Case Manager has already viewed it and given her approval. Once there, he will have far greater freedom to explore job options.

When Corey first entered prison, back in 2004, most job applicants walked into a business and filled out a paper application form, left a resume, and waited to be called for an interview. SO much has changed in this regard, in the past decade, with technological advances . Most jobs now require that one apply online. With the few hours a day he’s been spending at Job Source, just a short bus ride from the HwH, he’s been getting his computer ‘legs’ back, as he searches for businesses with openings, or even just where he would like to work. This is in addition to the conventional means, making lists of businesses he wants to apply at, getting HwH approval for each one, then hopping a bus around the city to get to these businesses. He must be sure to take back with him, for his Case Manager, from every business he has been to, a business card or similar, something to ‘prove’ he was actually there, doing what he was approved to do.

He also had a meeting with a few people from SNAP, a Spokane community action agency, that helps one get back on his feet. The agency is ‘granted’(funded) by the Federal Govt and of the benefits offered, there are a few Corey qualifies for that will greatly assist him as he begins to rebuild his life. His Case Manager from the ‘house’ set up the appointment with SNAP, it is actually mandatory for the residents. When he was being interviewed and informed about the Program, by two of the SNAP staff members, they were stunned to learn, upon asking, that he had just emerged from almost ten years in prison for a first time, non violent marijuana offense. Not only at the absurdity of sentence length, but genuinely appalled their tax dollars are spent, wasted they both felt, in warehousing young men, taking away their lives, and in many cases, their futures. They both felt this type of ‘justice’ was not what Americans wanted or needed, but understood most have no idea of how the system has evolved into what it is today. Broken and dysfunctional, and injust.

Though it is foggy, rainy day, I know today will find Corey riding the city buses yet again, seeking employment. I am hopeful, as he is, that an employer will see beyond the poor decisions he made as a young man, review his qualifications and education, acquired both prior to, and during, his encarceration. See this bright, full of hope young man, eager to build a life, a future and take a chance.

“America is the land of the second chance - and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” George Bush

SNOW!!!

Woke up to SNOW this morning! First snowfall of winter 2013/14. Huge lazy flakes, and LOTS of them, drifting slowly down to blanket the trees and ground. It is absolutely gorgeous and I couldnt stop a long slow sigh as I wrapped myself in my fuzzy robe, while gazing out my bedroom window. Ahhhh, contentment.

THIS is what I've missed, well partly, what Corey has missed soooo much the past almost decade living in southern California. Call me crazy! The one thing, however, I don't relish is the thought of pulling my car out into traffic on todays snowy roads, in fact I cancelled plans I had for this morning that required I drive in it. I'll see how the day goes, it could easily all melt and be gone by mid afternoon.

But sitting here, with my morning coffee, watching the snow fall on a cold winters day in the Inland Northwest, things couldn't be sweeter.

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell