Changes to FPC Pensacola

I hope to post more on this after I am off supervised release but, as you can imagine, some things at FPC Pensacola have changed since I got out. I recently received an email from a former "guest" who had read my blog prior to entering and wanted to let me know about some fo the changes.

1. I had heard that movies at the remote auditorium had been suspended due to abuse related to the importation of contraband (since the auditorium is very close to the fence surrounding Saufley field and the public road that runs along it -- see map at bottom of page). However "actually when I was there we had a 2 movies a week (One at 1:00 pm in the big movie hall and two in the VR)" I assume that "the big movie hall" he is referring to is the same auditorium I had previously described. They used to show movies on Friday nights. Now apparently at 1p so I guess this is on Sat since otherwise it would be during workday. Holding them during the afternoon would make it harder for inmates to sneak out under cover of darkness to retrieve contraband dropped off by the fence. Just a guess. The VR is the visiting room.

2. Vending machines in the VR are no longer accessible during the week by inmates. That sucks! I really enjoyed my Klondike bar after a day of weedeating in the sun. Vending machines are apparently still there but only used during visiting hours (visitors can buy and share with inmate).

3. VR is no longer actually the "visiting room." Visitation is now in the adjacent courtyard (see map at bottom of page). The rectangular sidewalk path is now covered with canopy. "That sucked during the cold and rain – However the good guards allow family and people to still use the VR room. Not on paper. "

4. VR is now main TV room. All dormitory TV rooms have been converted into bunks. Ouch. Dormitories B and C each had a TV room with 3 TVs at the end of the hall. Dormitory A likewise had a TV room. After 10p count each night, you were restriced to your dorm but not your room. That is, you could roam the hall on your dorm in the middle of the night to wash clothes, cook food, use the bathroom or watch TV. Apparently, due to overcrowding and the need for more space, these TV rooms have been converted into bunk rooms, which means no after-hours TV. I don't know what they did for late night sporting events since NBA playoffs, Sun/Mon night football, NCAA basketball tournament, etc oftentimes are on after 10p. Used to be you could still watch them after 10p count but apparently not any more.

5. RDAP building across the street is now finished and to full capacity. Used to be Dorm A I believe housed those inmates in the Residential Drug Abuse Program. Now they have their own building which I guess also frees up space in Dorm A which I believe held 96 beds.

6. I asked how many had read my blog and how well know it was?

"I think every white collar guy did and the Drug guys who could read did also "

"Much larger then you think, It really helped me out and I came in with a guy from England who took the fall for US Airways and he also thanx you. "

I hope to provide more updates like this once I am off supervised release.

2 Year Anniversary

Today marks 2 years out of prison.

This is significant because, now that jurisdiction for my case has been officially transferred from Philadelphia (Eastern District of PA) to Charlotte (Western District of NC), I can now request early termination of my 3 years of supervised release.

In Philadelphia, you only have to serve 50% of your supervised release term before the Probation Office will request early termination. (Legally you can request early termination after one year -- which I did, it was denied -- but the Probation Office policy on recommending early termination varies from district to district.)

However, the US Probation Office in Philadelphia would not make this request (and without their recommendation, it is highly unlikely the judge would grant it) back on December 28 because the prosecutor opposed it believing I already received too light a sentence.

In Charlotte, you have to serve 2/3 of your supervised release term before the Probation Office will recommend early termination which they are now in the process of doing (if they have not already done it).

I will likely know the results within the next 10 days.

Once I am off supervised release, I will have a little more flexibility in what I do on this blog without being concerned about consequences.... not that I have shown much concern about that in the past!