If you are heading to federal prison and regardless of whether you are reading this now, the details of your case, and the period you are facing, you have been blessed with the opportunity to prepare for your time in prison. Take advantage of this. Many of my neighbors at FMC Devens related stories of being in their daily lives, oblivious to the fact that they were the target of an investigation, when federal agents broke down their doors, handcuffed them, and took them away. Since that day, they had not known freedom. While the waiting and questions are nerve-wracking, the opportunity to properly prepare will make your transition to life behind bars that much more comfortable.

Mental Preparation: Since you first received news of your accusation, your mental state has probably not been good. Perhaps you’ve had trouble sleeping and eating and have generally felt like a nervous wreck. While this is understandable, it is not productive. You must quickly accept the facts and accept the reality.

or do you put yourself in this position

or life is not fair

or do you go to jail

o It’s probably not as bad as you expected

Even if it’s justified, blaming your lawyer, judge, friends, family, business partners, or anyone else is a waste of energy; energy to focus on preparing for the next stage of your life. Thinking about negative emotions will only produce negative results. It’s critical that you get into the right frame of mind. One way to do this is to force yourself to look for the positives that this situation can bring to your life.

In my case, even though I was facing the worst case scenario for only 2-3 years and was released home until sentence, I went through countless sleepless nights and stress-filled days and experienced a wide range of emotions, including shock, despair, shame, hopelessness, and anger, both at myself for taking such a stupid risk and at my lack of control over circumstances. In the end I realized that I needed to calm down and look at the big picture. For me, this meant accepting that at the time my accusation was brought, I was in a place I didn’t want to be in my life. It meant acknowledging that, at the very least, this experience was serving to shake the boat and ensure drastic change, even if it meant going to jail first. It also meant showing true appreciation and gratitude for the many friends and acquaintances who came forward with words of support and encouragement. No matter what your situation is, there are always positive things. Whether you choose to watch them or not is up to you.

Physical Preparation: Your mental state can also be greatly improved by paying attention to your physical well-being. It may be the last thing you feel like doing right now, but you can’t let yourself slip into a state of depression and lethargy. Force yourself to go out and run, go to the gym, play basketball, go hiking. Anything. It is a great way to get rid of pent-up stress.

If you have several months to go before sentencing or self-surrender and are currently in reasonable health, I recommend that you start an intense fitness regimen, including weight lifting with the goal of gaining a few extra pounds of muscle. . Much of how you are treated in prison will depend on how you are perceived. If you appear to be in good shape and appear to be someone capable of defending yourself in a fight, it is unlikely that you will become the target of some physical altercation. Those inmates looking for an easy target will simply look elsewhere. Also, if you find yourself in a physical altercation, of course you want to be able to protect yourself.

If you have been prescribed any anti-anxiety medications like Xanax or Valium or any prescription sleeping pills, start reducing your doses and slowly stop taking these medications altogether. These medications will only be given to a federal inmate in the most extraordinary circumstances. While central nervous system depressants are extremely effective, the sudden termination causes exaggerated feelings of the very symptoms they are designed to control. The last thing you want is to go through a withdrawal process during your first days and weeks in prison. If, on the other hand, you have been prescribed antidepressants, for better or for worse, the BOP has a propensity to dispense these medications like candy, and you can expect your prescription to continue for the duration of your incarceration.