Marion Jones: What Awaits Her in Prison (Camp)

Story written by EPelle

Marion Jones will spend six months in custody locked up behind razor wires at a U.S. Federal Prison Camp - presumably FPC Bryan in Texas if the government grants her wishes to remain as near her family as possible. She's awaiting an open date to get on with her sentence and get out sooner rather than later, and has up until 2008-March-11 to report to authorities at the eventual location the Feds determine she best fits.

As far as prison camps are concerned, FPC Bryan appears to be one of the more calm stay-overs of the 27 penal colony Federal locations the U.S. Department of Justice has to offer Marion Jones.

There are no shortage of "insider" descriptions of FPC Bryan one is able to locate on Prisontalk.com - a portal used by a large number of women who have either gone through the U.S. penal system or who are headed that direction in life. I've picked one particular insider tip to help you gain a better understanding of what awaits Marion Jones as she bucks up and gets ready to head to what presumably will be her new home, FPC Bryan:

Before you go, develop a real sense of humility and park your "attitudes" at the door. Listen at least twice as much as you talk. Don't ask personal questions; the women will tell you what they want you to know. There are women who have been in Bryan for 5, 10, and 15 years. Forget whining too much about a short sentence. I have recently received a sentence of 51 months, and I have asked for Bryan. It seems like forever to me, but I keep thinking about those women who have been there for so long, and I try to keep it in perspective. However bad it looks like to me, there are many who have it much, much worse. That doesn't mean, however, that you and I won't cry and be overwhelmed at the beginning. It just means to keep in mind you are in prison, not on vacation.

There are between 800 and 1,100 women at Bryan at any given time. Of these 1,100 women only about 200 have a GED or high school diploma, and of those 200 only half have education above high school. The average age is about 32. Many people will be there trying to help you learn the ropes, when you have to be somewhere, what you wear, when, and who controls what.

If you have medical issues, take empty prescription bottles of your current medication. There is no guarantee that you will get the same medication. The BOP will probably disallow some, like Prempro, and substitute for others, especially anti-depressants. During your medical interview, maximize your problems, do not minimize. Anyone with any chronic condition (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc) make sure they know about it, and how serious it is. The chronic condition designation will help exempt you from prolonged standing, working outside, or in the kitchen. There is no dentist on permanent staff; only comes in 1 or 2 days a month.

The first two months, be prepared to spend almost your limit of $290 for hygiene items, sweats to wear when you are not in khaki uniform, tennis shoes, extra towels, etc. After the first two months, you can get by on significantly less money. The phone is 300 minutes/months for $69. Stamps and laundry do not count toward your $290 spending limit. Bring as much cash as you can up to $290 to put in your account for that first month's expenses. It should be posted to your account in 2-3 days.

Be prepared for the BOP to want a minimum payment of $25 per quarter for restitution, if you have been ordered to pay restitution. Your counselor will look at how much you spend on commisary every month and determine what they "ask" you to pay (with some negotiation with you). If you refuse to pay, the counselor will put you on "refusal" and that will take you back to a base pay of $5.25 per month instead of the 12 cents per hour, and you will most likely lose you job and go to the compound to work sanitation or the grounds).

If you self-surrender through Receiving and Discharge (R&D), try to avoid Fridays because the commisary is closed and you will not have hygiene products over the weekend. On the day you report, try to get there early, even 8am if possible. When you get to R&D, you will have a seat just outside "control". The whole check in process is pretty self-explanatory. You will fill out a form that gives the address to send your belongings. They will keep your drivers license during your incarceration. You will disrobe completely and put it all in a box. Then you get a bra, underwear, khaki pants and shirt, socks and blue canvas deck shoes that distinguish you as a new prisoner as you are led to your unit. You will also be fingerprinted, photo, and given your ID that now makes you an official Federal Prisoner.

Then you get a bed bundle of pillow, blanket, sheets and pajamas. Either you counselor or your unit officer will come to see you, as well as someone from medical to do a short intake.

After you make your bed and it isn't past 1:00, you will go back to laundry where you will get shoes, 4 pants, 4 shirts, 4 khaki T-shirts, 4 socks, underwear and bras, 2 pair of pajamas, towels and washcloths and sheets. Be sure to beg for shoes not boots. All of this will be put in a mesh back that you take back to the unit. Make sure you ask for 8-10 hangers for your locker to hang up your clothes. If you don't want to tuck in your shirt, make sure you ask for shirts with squared-off tails. Also, try on everything. Don't assume that something is the same size just because it has a label with the same size.

Make sure you have you ID on you at all times!!! There are rules like not going outside the unit in anything other than regular shoes (the ice machine is outside the unit), you cannot walk on the grass, except in the rec area. The best idea regarding the rules is to imagine that someone is watching you at all times.

Most people get showers in the evening. Hang your towels on the foot of the bed and they should be dry by the morning. You cannot have anything out in your room during the day. Bed must be made by 7am.

There are four women to a room. There is a common room with tables and chairs, and three TV rooms. Just because a conversation is taking place in front of you, do not assume that you are part of that conversation. They will invite you to talk IF they want you to. Remember that privacy is in your head, it doesn't exist in prison.

You really can make a difference in your own life while you are in prison. But it is up to you to set your goals, believe and have confidence in yourself, and be willing to use the honesty needed to examine everything about yourself, your relationships, your actions, your emotions. Remember there is an end to your sentence, but don't focus on the end. The days pass with you keeping them filled with activity that makes you feel better. That may be exercise, reading, writing, tutoring, or crafts --- just do something!!

There is a rumor that if you die in prison, your paperwork will say "Escaped by Death" --- isn't that special!!!

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Marion Jones will with all plausibility not have escaped prison by any means, death notwithstanding. She's a smart woman who'll likely keep to herself and simply do her time; she'll remain as invisible when need be, and fit in with the right peopl at the right times - including the guards and counsellors.

The greatest challenge facing Jones will be her attitude - something she will need to have checked at the door.

As a (former) celebrity ex-millionaire, Jones will have no superior status in prison; she, the winner of five Olympic medals by method of fraud, will be classified as a white collar thief. She'll have to learn to play by two set of rules: Prison rules and prisoner rules; there won't be an opportunity to lie, cheat and steal her way through the six months governing her next stage in life. Breaking these rules can have consequences leading to banishments of different proportions, including life.

She won’t likely have a problem with knowing and keeping the administrative rules however, as she will be required to participate in the institution’s Admissions and Orientation programme to learn his rights and responsibilities, the institution’s programme opportunities, and that pesky little part about the institution’s disciplinary system should it ever come to pass that she’s required to have it used against her.

Prison has an opportunity to test how contrite and sorry Jones has been over her sins against society, but it may also be a place where she further learns how to keep secrets locked deep inside where no one - despite mounting pressures - can force her to unlock information which will harm her person or reputation.

Victor Conte treated his short-term prison sentence as a day-care centre and bragged about the fame and notoriety he had whilst locked away at Taft Correctional Institute outside of Bakersfield, CA for four months beginning 2005-December-1.

The most difficult Marion Jones has to brace for during this tough spell in her life is not the change of scenery, unfamiliar scenery and loss of freedom, rather the separation from her two sons and her new husband.

She’ll have the comfort of sharing with others to help ease the pain, but the separation won’t fizzle out no matter how much inner strength she has.

The same of her inner-strength and desire was true of her desire to avoid sitting in prison in the first place.