The Journey Begins – Day 1

I heard life is just a series of rooms you’re in with different people. That best describes my first day. I arrived at FCI Cumberland at 11:00 a.m. The letter detailing my self-surrender said to report to the satellite camp at 2 p.m., but I was told to get there early. So, at 11:00 a.m., I walked in the front door of the camp building. I saw two men in green outfits—obviously inmates, as no one would wear those outfits willingly. There wasn’t a guard or lock in sight. I asked how to self-surrender, and they politely told me to go to the medium security entrance.

After driving down the road for about a mile, I saw the main entrance to the medium security area. I said my goodbyes and walked in. It looked like the entrance to any other federal building.

After explaining my situation to the female guard, who was wearing a bulletproof vest and standing in front of an airport-style metal detector, she told me to have a seat. I was the only one there. “This will be fast,” I thought as I stared at the wall clock straight ahead. It was 11:22 a.m.

Then, the tone suddenly changed. “Get the fuck over here!” A new officer yelled at me. I followed him to an old, dark, small room. He strip-searched me thoroughly.

He then hurried me along while handing me items from the ugly green outfit I had seen earlier. The next room I was placed in was about 8×12 feet and completely empty, except for a thin bench that wrapped around the wall. The walls were concrete, and the floor was cheap linoleum. The bench was cold metal. I sat down on the bench while the officer told me to “wait here” as he exited and locked the door behind him.

The bench was no more than 10 inches wide, thin enough that someone with a larger bottom would easily slide off. I spent the next couple of hours trying—and failing—to find a comfortable position in that room. A calmer, more friendly guard stopped in to tell me that something was wrong with the internet, and that was causing the delay. I had yet to see another inmate. I guess I must have been the only self-surrender that day.

After about an hour (I’m not sure how long, as there were no clocks in sight), they moved me to a different room. This one was very similar to the previous one, the only difference being that it had a metal prison toilet. Time kept passing. I kept receiving updates from the guards. “Just a little longer, the internet is still down.” “Can’t do anything until the net is back.” “If it comes back by 4, you’ll just have to spend the night in SH.”

Then came the final blow. “Alright, pack up. You’re going to the SHU.”

A more disgruntled guard came into the room, handcuffed me, grabbed my arm, and led me outside, down a walkway, and into another building with a sign reading “Solitary Housing Unit.” I was escorted to a small room—some might call it a cage. The room was 3×4 feet. The only thing you could do in that room was stand.

To be continued…