If you are headed to federal prison and are reading this now, regardless of the details of your case and the term you face, 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 recounted stories of going about their daily lives, oblivious to the fact that they were the subject 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 hesitations are nerve-wracking, the opportunity to properly prepare will make your transition to life behind bars much more comfortable.

Mental preparation: Since you first received the news of your indictment, your mental state has probably not been very good. He may have had trouble sleeping and eating and generally feeling like a nervous wreck. While this is understandable, it is not productive. He must quickly accept the facts and accept reality.

o You put yourself in this position

or life is not fair

or are you going to jail

o Probably not as bad as expected

Even if justified, blaming your lawyer, judge, friends, family, business associates, or anyone else is a waste of energy; energy that should be focused on preparing for the next stage of your life. Dwelling on any negative emotion will only produce negative results. It is crucial that you put yourself in the right state of mind. One way to do this is by forcing yourself to look for the positive aspects that this situation can bring to your life.

In my case, even though I was facing the worst case scenario of only 2 or 3 years and was released at home until sentencing, I spent countless sleepless nights and stressful days and experienced a wide range of emotions, including the shock, despair, shame, hopelessness and anger, both at myself for taking such a stupid risk and at my lack of control over the circumstances. I finally realized that I needed to calm down and look at the big picture. For me, this meant accepting that at the time my indictment was issued, 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 rock the boat and secure drastic change, even if it meant going to prison first. It also meant showing true appreciation and gratitude for the many friends and acquaintances who reached out with words of support and encouragement. No matter what your situation is, there are always positives. 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. Perhaps it is the last thing you want to do right now, but you cannot allow yourself to fall into a depressed and lethargic state. Force yourself to go out and run, go to the gym, play basketball, go on a hike. Anything. It is an excellent way to release accumulated stress.

If you have several months to go before sentencing or voluntary surrender and are currently in reasonable health, I recommend starting an intense exercise regimen, including weight lifting with the goal of putting on a few pounds of muscle. Much of how you are treated in prison will depend on how you are perceived. If you appear to be fit and you seem like someone capable of holding your own in a fight, it is unlikely that you will become the target of a 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, such as Xanax or Valium, or any prescription sleep medications, start reducing the dosages and stop taking these medications altogether. These medications will only be administered to a federal intimate in the most extraordinary circumstances. While central nervous system depressants are extremely effective, sudden termination causes exaggerated feelings of the very symptoms they are designed to control. The last thing you want is to go through withdrawal during your first days and weeks in prison. If, on the other hand, you were prescribed antidepressants, for better or worse, the BOP has a propensity to dole out these drugs like candy and you can expect your prescription to continue throughout the period of your incarceration.