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Who really funds the trade in narcotic supply, and causes the violence required to keep it going.I thought I was a man of the world when I joined the police. I was 31, served ten years in the army, a couple of years on the news desks and a few more in drama production all over the world. A few weeks into my first beat I realised most of my assumptions of police work were Hollywood. I had a better idea of the ground situation in the Balkans than I did my own city.The yellow line is the boundary of City Road and Hoxton beat, Hackney, East London.This was my first beat in 2002. To the south were celeb and banker heavy clubs, bohemians and bright young things flaunting their success in the drinking squares. The remnants of the Curtain Theatre where Shakespeare learnt his trade sits squarely in the middle. It was a veneer factory when I attended it after a burglary and got to stand on the last 3ft of original stage.When I first walked it the Prime Minister’s home address was just off the top left corner of this map in Islington. The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony video was still popular and was filmed on Hoxton Street along the eastern boundary.The Provost estate sits in the top right corner of the beat. I entered my first crack den there: Two toms (prostitutes), a street artist (beggar) and a small business owner (distribution of car tyres) all cooking up while a half mummified dog was still chained to the radiator in the back room. The floor had been used as a toilet and newspaper put down to cover the mess, a four inch duvet of human waste.You could see the back yard of the Police Station from the window.At the end of my first year I had to turn in a file on my beat - an intelligence and ground picture of: prom nom sightings (prominent nominals - the bigger players in crime); PYOs (persistent young offenders - much the same but under 18); gang nominals; street dealers; drug prices; robbery hotspots; burglary trends; vehicle crime methods; drug dens and stairwells. The names of homeless and street drinkers; bouncers; shop keepers; prostitutes the lot.It was a record of what you had been up to and what you’d taken notice of.One important aspect was to build a map of your ground: active crack houses / drug dens were a big part of this picture, my bosses loved closing them down and getting pictures in the papers. Wherever they sprung up anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, robbery, theft from vehicles, snatches and begging would spread out like ink blots on a map.This is why drugs are bad - whole estates reduced to stinking derelicts as the locust-zombies meander around your patch devouring goodwill and community relations. So we closed them down on a regular basis. We’d push them onto the next beat and three months later they got pushed back to us and you started collecting the evidence again.The most common venues for drugs dens were the homes of vulnerable adults. Long ago it was decided that people with severe learning disabilities or chronic mental health issues would get more from life if they got their care in the community. The officials running this policy swiftly became inundated and the locusts descended in lieu. Nice little cash cows are folk on disability benefit. You can trash their house and the council will get them a new one.In my annual report I had found evidence of maybe thirty drug addled locusts in four squats. I may have missed some but they are not covert. Let’s say those addicts are using twice a day (the upper scale of use) thats 30 x £40 a day = £1,200 a day - £438,000 a year to be made supplying crack and heroin to the locusts in this small square of London.The yellow stars are where we would find the street dealers. The orange stars are where we found our drugs dens, stairwell shooting galleries and open air venues for the summer months. The lime stars are where our homeless alcoholics spent the day begging, drinking or shouting at street furniture.So the dealers were clearing around £438,000 a year. An NYPD study I have faith in looked at the economics of the sale of drugs in their city: They had the suppliers taking 70% of the profit (£306,600), distributors (Tier 1 gang nominals) taking 70% of what's left (£91,980). The Top Boys (Tier 2) on the corners got the rest of the money to run their crews. (£39,420)Top Boys do the graft. It’s their area to control and sustain. Overheads like knifes, packaging and shop floor space are fairly cheap and plentiful. Guns and silence aren’t. Everyone got families and folk to keep happy, less they snitch on you. Yet only a fraction of your silence budget goes out in cash, the remainder is bought though fear and intimidation. You do as you're told or you get perforated.You got to get word out you're selling, but not so far that Police hear. You gotta show you’re the one to do business with - lest you get attacked by another crew. So another 70% goes on marketing, hospitality, silence money and payroll. Your armed lieutenants will be on a retainer else they get ambition, but your runners and couriers will be on commission and most will be working for protection, from you.The estates provide the cover, refuge and vulnerabilities to exploit for the necessary security. He gets his car lease and insurance paid for by the social thru motability finance because he claims to be the carer for one of the vulnerable disabled people on his estate that he’s using as a shell company.Kids get chased off their playgrounds, curtain twitching neighbours get their windows get put in, homeless alcoholics are beaten and a teenager stabbed every so often to curb ‘disrespect’. They’re sink estates, we turn up, report it and no one speaks. Because no one really cares what happens on them.The locust zombies do an excellent job soaking up police work and provide enough stats to keep the coppers from looking any further. Their effects on the neighbourhood can be increased with a hot supply or decreased with a call to police. Very useful and expendable thermostat in your estate management.But still for turning an estate into your petty fiefdom, selling to just the addicts you have a net annual profit of £11,826. 2.7% return for your efforts.Huh!Unemployed seventeen year old Top Boys, can’t put their funds in a bank, that raises questions and leaves evidence. Can’t keep it in cash, they’ll get turned over by rivals.So you stream it, another word for launder. Buy and sell big ticket items, invest in local cash business and get a slice of the results. Think of it as a stock option portfolio if they survive their apprenticeship.The purchasing power can often halve again through this process. Not a lot of people sell big ticket items in cash anymore so Top Boys find themselves buying from those who know where their money comes from. Cars, rims, club entry, drinks, jewellery all come at double price. The value of your work now a miserly £5,913 p.a.And when we catch you, and we do quite often, we seize your money under the proceeds of crime act. But you still have to pay for your silence, your lieutenants and suppliers. You can find yourself in big debt, big time.I once took £5,000 off an eleven year old courier at the top of Hoxton Street. My Sgt warned me all I had done was put the shop floor into debt. Perfectly good arrest but be prepared - best result was the Top Boy legged it, or doubled up next week with aggressive marketing - by which I mean chase another crew off their turf or better still rob another crew.Most likely he would send lieutenants and wannabes out to snatch some mobile phones at knifepoint and raise my robbery stats. Less useful outcomes were to pimp out an underaged regular truant (boy or girl) or a stabfest on collection day.So all that effort, risk and graft for £113.71 a week. Unemployment benefit back then was £60.19 a week. Which they were probably claiming as well.And yet he’s wearing £550 trainers, a girlfriend wearing three times that, spends a couple of grand a night in the clubs, and has a two year old VW Golf with spinning rims. Gets everything replaced within the week.Huh!One night shift I was buying a snack from a 24hr convenience store, a fifty year old partner in the enterprise behind the till, a thirty year old employee outside among the fresh veg on display, another hanging around the drinks fridge and a twenty year old in the back drifting between the stock room and the cereal. All smiles and nods of the head.‘Wow I had no idea the 3am Tuesday economy for fresh tomatoes and artichoke could support the wages of four grown men?’ I wondered to myself.‘It can’t’ I realised half way down the road with some sugar in me.‘So what the hell is?’If I walked from the knick to the end of Hoxton Street along the main roads I would pass four such shops in a leisurely 15 minutes. Competition in the late night cucumber and washing powder markets was high.Every fourth or fifth 24/7 would be a Western Union outlet. You could pick up and send money anywhere in world while simultaneously buying your canned goods or buying flight tickets for your holidays. They used to have a nice little sideline in blue plastic transportation barrels. You could fill them with clothes and presents for family back home and they get collected by the same vans that delivered the next night’s kiwi fruit and lemons from Spain. Apparently it was a very cheap way to send stuff abroad.We found a blue barrel alone once, quite by accident, addressed to Lagos. We had to check inside to see if the owner had left contact details, make sure nothing had been stolen. 20 stolen mobile phones, hidden inside second hand clothes bought from the local charity stores. They didn’t even bother to mask them incase they went through an X-Ray, easier to write it off, the addresses were always bogus.Across from my beat and there were five more 24/7s before you got to the canal, which is when the restaurants that were always open and never full and the endless chicken and kebab shops began to stretch all the way up the A10 to Stoke Newington three miles up town.These stars marked in red are the major clubs, the blue stars are venues where temporary licence events were held on a semi-regular basis.Clubs are obviously full of drugs, the temporary licence venues were wholesale markets for streaming. They usually sprung up when a surplus was left over, funds were needed quick or a bad batch needed thinning out. When you tried to follow the money - it all ended up in cash, if you found someone holding the licence they were patsies paying off a debt with silence or vulnerable through influence, language and education.If you discovered drugs being sold at their event - well maybe they’d get a fine, maybe they wouldn't be allowed to run a temporary licence for a while.The red star directly above the blue star in the bottom right is where many years later on CID I responded to the rapper Professor Green when he had his throat ripped open by an angry glass.Thursday to Sunday night, peaking Friday and Saturday it wouldn't be uncommon to find 10,000 people milling around that area between 19:00 and 03:00. In and out of the pubs and clubs, standing for eons in queues for venues that boasted of the draw of celebrity sightings, while bouncers decided who was good enough to come in and join them.Oh, and they were all in and out the 24/7s for hydration and munchies, before heading to the chicken shops for dinner, or breakfast depending on how you view nocturnal sports.If only a fifth of them bought one gram of cocaine, or two tabs of ecstasy, thats: 2,000 people spending £30 a night for four nights, or £60,000 a weekend. £3,120,000 a year. I’m purposely taking the lower figures, it was easily treble.Huh!So the drugs industry made their coin at the weekend among the queues. We were talking big money now, something worth protecting with some ultra violence.I developed a plan. We used the council CCTV to playback the previous half hour at x 20 speed. Cars became streaks of light, the punters in the queues shuffled towards the doors and the dealers in the queues - the dealers stayed still - and stood out like street furniture.I watched one set up and start selling, ran down to the club and twenty minutes later I hauled him out of the queue. A bit of stop and search Sec.23 and I find 50odd tablets and £1,400 in twenties. Cuffs. He was a graduate student doing a masters in Pharmacology and selling fake ecstasy. Makes for a good story, but I've told it before:Next night the sped up footage shows one chap in an orbit that takes him in and out of the queue and round the back of the building three or four times. We grab him and he's got a money belt full of Ketamine and a sock full of £20’s. He tried to run and I ripped the knee of my trousers bringing him down the rascal.We get to search his flat share, not too far away in a rapidly gentrified area. Flatmates all young professionals with degrees and opinions on why we should ignore a ‘bit of K - it’s not like it’s bad’. Another half kilogram was found in a lovely hand carved ethnic display box on his mantlepiece.He was a freelancer in media/marketing. Times were lean and he had taken on a bit of event promotion. Handing out samples to encourage others into a temporary licence venue.We went back into the queues all weekend and got eleven arrests in two nights. One might be described as criminal class, the others all had jobs, education and the right attitudes to the emotive issue of the day. Estate rats look out of place in swish clubs, you need a trojan.The top boys were watching us from their corners. There is no way those stabbists were allowing these guys to work the queues without their permission. Which meant money flowing back to the gangs. If you followed the queue dealers and gang couriers long enough they always seemed to frequent - the same all night shops and chicken joints.The red circles are (to the best of my memory) where we had stabbings during my year on the beat in Hoxton. At least the ones I responded to. The black circles are where we had shootings. One shooting, one stabbing ended up dead, one stabbing ended up blind.Predominantly these were the younger elements of the dealer gangs getting hit. They were mainly people who lost something valuable, sold their own, got ripped off in a deal or were getting too mouthy. Quite often it was a promotion ladder exercise based on winner takes all. Two shootings were Tier 1 gang nominals from out of area settling debts, saving face or giving a proactive board meeting pep talk to their shop floor.Years later we got a call that a well-known member of a popular girl band had been stabbed in one of our temporary venues, so we piled in there, turned on the lights and once we had satisfied ourselves it was LoB (load of bollocks) we turned over some of the event promoters, found some drugs and the party thinned out.I later learned from some loose tongues the call had been made by a rival promoter looking to increase his market share. There is just no honour in events management these days.In and out of the all-night stores this little parade of humanity went, suppliers, dealers, clubbers and of course the ordinary civilians about their artichoke and chicory needs.The next year I went onto response team and started attending the houses of the local gentry. I would often see lovely little hand carved ethnic boxes on mantelpieces and I always wanted to look inside them. Unfortunately when you've been called to settle a neighbour dispute you can’t search houses. Eyes only.They would be complaining of burglary, stolen mobile phones, criminal damage, nasty looking people outdoors near their kids, dog crap on the street “aren't you going to get rid of it?”Sometimes they put their joints out before we got there and sprayed air freshener. Sometimes - especially the semi-retired - didn’t even bother to do that. It helped us really. A street notice warning for cannabis possession for personal use counted as an all important stat for the end of the month.One night we spotted an ageing transit van dragging it’s rear axle down the road. After a short foot chase produced two well-known local opportunistic thieves (they had more years in jail between them than I had breathing) we discovered where they found the two ton of authentic, antique London yellow clay brick (£60 a brick) they had thrown in the back of their van.They came from the driveway of a house under gentrification around the corner. A middle aged IT CEO answers the door in linen shirt, drawstring trousers, barefoot. You know the sort, thoughtful and kind with a well stocked mind and burgeoning house equity value. Buying free-trade coffee, responsibly sourced sandals and a three grand bike so he didn’t put money in the hands of oil cartels.“Good morning sir, sorry to bother you at 3o’clock but I believe we’ve recovered some property stolen from you! Are you having a party?”“You can’t come in here without a warrant!”Ok this went complianty in a hurry. The conversation went along the lines of ‘can you look at this giant pile of incredibly expensive brick you’ve left outside your house and tell me if any of it is missing’. His end of the conversation went: No, No, where? I don't live here all the time, no the brick isn't new, it’s been specially reclaimed from genuine east end buildings, no no no, yes, you can’t come in without a warrant!I wanted to put the baddies in the cells and at this rate I had nothing.“I tell you what sir, shall I come back in the morning to take a statement? When your eyeballs are back inside your skull and you can talk in complete sentences?” “If I may I would like to come inside and see the extension you’re building, just to check they haven’t damaged it? or I could wait until my colleague has got a warrant!”Flush go the toilets. “Yes they are brick! My brick, yes mine!”Good Morning sir!The only thing I hate more than scraping stabbed kids off their corners, trying to advise thirteen year old pimped out toms he doesn’t love you, and digging out locusts from their fecal mausoleums is the hypocrisy of the respectable middle classes who sustain the industry that keeps those children and vulnerable adults in hock to psychopaths.I volunteered to cover the Lovebox festival in Victoria Park for a bit of overtime. It’s a happy family event for white middle classes to listen to authentic ghetto music, drink wine and get their children's face painted. I was stood at the entrance just before opening and watched a tide of £300 sunglasses and £1,200 baby strollers assemble with their offspring.I told my skipper I didn’t like the middle classes. I felt they got away with too much of the shite we had to shovel round here. We hatched an idea, he called for a sniffer dog van. One was often skulking around the Shoreditch clubs in the early hours of a Saturday and over he popped for a quick spot of exercise.The first five people through the gates all got arrested for drug possession. A 13 year old thoroughly depressed grey skinned kid with £150 and a big bag of weed on him. A pair of yummy mummies pushing two kids, dragging two more with six tabs of E inside a lipstick tube and two more ingested. A couple of parents on day release and a minor celeb.When the crowd subsided we found bags and bags of cocaine, E and ketamine among the abandoned organic trail mix squashed into the soil where they had stood.I really wished I had got the mummies - they went way screaming as their children were taken into police custody and the social called. I got the ghostly sad sack.He was a lovely kid, very sad, very lonely and completely and utterly grassed up his mother for supplying him with the weed. It came from her exquisite hand carved ethnic wooden box on her mantlepiece.Mum was a bit cross when she arrived to take him home. Apparently I was a great number of bad things. My job was to find “real” drug dealers and the scumbags who vandalised her car not chase stupid tiny amounts of cannabis at festivals. The nature of my birth and my educational qualifications to stand in judgement on how she raised her child - whose father was a lawyer - were called into question.“There is absolutely no harm in a bit of blow!” She exclaimed so loudly the Custody Sergeant gave me the ‘get this over with now!’ face.“He hasn't got the size for it! madam, and neither do you!”I don't remember exactly what I said next but it was good. I asked where she bought the drugs, over the counter from the 24/7 shop that also fences your stolen phones, or direct from a 12 year old courier who your personal habits have pushed out of school and into the firing line of stabbists?Two nights ago, three streets from where you live, a 14 year old girl was violently sexually assaulted by members of the same gang that control drug supply in your postcode. It was most likely an initiation of a lieutenant, who was counting your money the next day.If you think your socio-economic status insulates your conscience from the horror your harmless hobby puts poorer families through when you fund the gangs who run their estates, I’m hear to tell you, I’ve been granted a Section 18 search of your home address as you are under arrest on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a minor with a controlled substance.The custody sergeant had a gaoler waiting.Felt so much better, and my skipper gave me a thumbs up. We had adana kofte with chilli sauce from Dirty’s on the way back.Honest to god, when it clicks and goes well it’s the best job in the world.This used to be called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, I have long been a member, and think it states my position on the drugs war well enough.About Us | Law Enforcement Action Partnership UKPolice, undercover operatives, intelligence service, military and a range of figures from the criminal justice system are joining together with civilians to raise awareness to the failed, dangerous and expensive pursuit of a punitive drug policy. Our main goals at LEAP are: To educate the public, the media and policy makers to the failure of current …http://ukleap.org/about/

Michael Cohen’s Days in PrisonIntakeMichael Cohen will self report and surrender to Federal prison on May 6, 2019. Most probably no later than 2 PM. If he misses the deadline, he will be considered a fleeing felon. US Marshals will come after him with a warrant.Most likely, he will step in through the front door of the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, New York. FCI Otisville was requested by Cohen’s attorneys and recommended by the Judge in Cohen’s sentencing memorandum.Otisville is a Medium Security Prison with a detention center, and an adjacent Minimum Security Satellite Prison Camp, which is home to about 117 men. The Camp is where Cohen will serve his time.Traditionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was not bound by Judges’ requests. But typically they would honor a Judge’s recommendation. The First Step Act, signed into law in December of 2018, now actually requires the BOP to assign a convicted felon to a facility within 500 driving miles of home.It is possible that due to his close association with the current President of the United States, and for his safety, the Bureau of Prisons may decide to assign Cohen to another facility rather than Otisville. We shall see.If Cohen ends up at Otisville, from my personal experience, there will probably be many lawyers serving time there. As well as doctors, politicians and business executives. Michael Cohen should have plenty of company and feel right at home. He’s going to be with a lot of people just like him.FCI Otisville meets the needs of a Jewish inmate population, offering Seders in the cafeteria among other accommodations. In general, Low Security Prison Camps are not as restrictive as higher security prisons. But contrary to popular belief, they are by no means “Club Fed”. In the final analysis, it’s a Federal prison.Doors are locked and Cohen doesn’t have the key.Cohen will probably enter through the same door visitors and guests use to enter the prison. He will have to surrender any jewelry and other personal effects, except for a wedding ring, and religious artifacts such as a mezuzot, and for Christians, a chain with a cross. Other religious artifacts, such as kufis, headbands, yarmulkes and other materials will be available for purchase in the prison commissary.But what he can bring in, including money, will be entirely up to the particular prison and intake corrections officer (CO). That will be Cohen’s first encounter with BOP authority and rule. Nothing after this first encounter has to or will make any logical or humanistic sense. It just has to make BOP sense. Or even more restrictively, CO sense.Now, according to the FCI Otisville Inmate Handbook, Cohen is:INTRODUCTION — You are now in the custody and care of Federal Bureau of Prisons staff of the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, New York.Once he is escorted from the non-secure waiting room, through the heavy, imposing security door that can only be unlocked by COs behind bullet proof dark glass, his life changes. He moves from the free world, to a world where he has lost the vast majority of his freedoms.Many of the niceties of life, the little things he once enjoyed will be gone for the length of his stay. He may have researched all of this himself, or have been counseled by his white-collar crime specialist attorneys. Or he may have even purchased or been given a copy of The Federal Prison Handbook.Any and all of those sources will give you some idea of what is in store for you. But the fact is, you don’t know what you don’t know, and won’t, until you actually know.The proof is in the serving and living of a jail sentence…The rest of Cohen’s intake will go down like this:Fingerprinting, Photograph/Mug Shot, DNA SwabDisrobing — his clothing and shoes will be returned to a person and address of his choice — in my case my wife received the package with my clothing and shoes. She left the package unopened for 33 and 1/2 months. She could not bear to even look at it.Body search and cavity check. They don’t touch you, but you have to “drop trou’” and spread. A humiliating episode. The first of many.Assignment of ill fitting temporary clothing and shoes, plus bedding, towel and toiletries. He may not actually get any toiletries. They seem to “miraculously” disappear from intake.Otisville winters are cold. So the clothing may be warmer than a thin white t-shirt, skimpy pants and thin-soled sneakers like those issued during my intake. This temporary clothing will be all Cohen gets until the next time the Camp laundry opens, and until he is able to establish a prison account and purchase commissary items.Cohen will receive a cursory orientation and will be referred to or may even be provided a copy of the FCI Otisville Camp Admissions & Orientation Handbook. Click on that link for some interesting reading.After his intake process is completed you will be able to look up Michael Dean Cohen in the BOP Inmate Locator and find his inmate (Register) number, Prison location, age, race, and sex, and that all-important estimated release date. The actual date will be based on a number of factors that will play out during his sentence.You can look him up now, but this is what you will see:Michael Cohen’s BOP Record Locator Search ResultsHow do I know that is his actual record? The last 3 digits of his Register Number are for the Southern District of New York. And the number 86067 is an indication that he is a relatively new assignee. 86,066 have gone before him.Plus he is not in BOP custody yet, and his release date is unknown. Until he self surrenders and is processed, he won’t be in BOP Custody and his release date will remain “unknown”.With respect to his release date, the First Step Act provides for credits an inmate can earn while serving time. These credits can be used for early release to a Half Way House or to Home Confinement. It remains to be seen how this will impact Cohen’s sentence.After processing, Cohen will take his bedding and other things he was given, and will be walked over to the minimum security Camp by the CO where he will be assigned a bunk and left on his own. Now it will be up to him and his new “bunk mates” as to what happens next.Typical Living and Sleeping Accommodations in a Federal Minimum Security Prison CampFirst Afternoon and CountCohen will likely be assigned a bunk before the 4 PM daily count. He will have to learn how to make that bunk bed properly. It varies prison by prison. In the camp where I served the majority of my time the Warden insisted on “hospital corners”. Why? Recall what I said about BOP rules and logic. Just because.Here is more about daily counts from the Otisville Camp Prison Handbook:“Ordinarily, there are five counts during the week, and six counts on weekends and holidays. During the week, counts are held at 12 midnight, 3 AM, and 5 AM, 4 PM, 10 PM. On weekends and holidays, a 10 AM count is added. Notwithstanding this schedule, additional counts may occur at any time.”This is how the BOP determines that every one of the inmates they are responsible for is present and accounted. They count noses as their “fail safe” method ensuring no one has escaped. It is a manual count. No clickers, iPads, handhelds or anything even closely resembling the 20th or 21st century. No writing anything down until the entire count is complete.Yep. The CO goes down the rows of bunks counting, with index finger extended, out loud or under their breath: One, two, three. Sometimes they hold a pencil to point and count with. This is why you can’t talk during the count, lest you confuse the counting CO. It is easy to confuse COs. They are easily distracted and confused.During my stay with the BOP there were many counts that had to be redone in mid-count. Because the CO got confused or lost track. Maybe he or she (yes there are female COs in Male prisons) was thinking about all those inmate toiletries they had squirreled away in their locker and they lost concentration.I saw some recounts as well, after the total count, when the actual numbers didn’t match what was expected. As a result, the whole count had to begin from scratch. Pissed COs, and the inmates are pissed as well.So to provide the right “environment” for the COs you must stand for most of the counts, and remain totally silent. The midnight and 3 AM counts are the exception, since they are taken while you sleep. But your head must be uncovered and visible.What happens if you talk during a count? Besides confusing the CO? It will probably get you a strong warning and may even earn you a “shot”. This a black mark on your record. Shots are tracked by the BOP Prison Counselor.Too many “shots” and you end up in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) which is a much more restrictive area. It is indeed a special place.Too many of those SHU visits and you may end up being transferred to a higher security even more restrictive facility.Understatement: This would be a really bad thing!More on the special’ness of the Special Housing Unit later.Once the 4 PM count is over, Cohen will be able to have his first prison meal at the Camp Cafeteria. It will behoove him to have made some cursory acquaintances by then. Because there are inmate rules and norms, especially kitchen, cafeteria and food related. For instance, where you sit, and who you sit with.These are best learned from other inmates and by first hand careful observation. Not from having inadvertently and unknowingly violated them.Meals and FoodMeals at Otisville are served at the following times:Monday — FridayBreakfast 6:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSaturday, Sunday, and HolidaysBreakfast 7:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSupposedly the food at the Otisville Camp is “good”.I’ve eaten at 7 different prisons. Federal and State. I’m not a hardened criminal or anything like that. I just got to travel a lot BOP style. Did a lot of undesired travel on “Con Air” with US Marshal escorts toting shotguns and automatic weapons.The US Marshals are no laughing matter…As a result of my travels, I got a chance to sample the fare at many prison facilities. And I also got to eat quite a few bologna sandwiches.I’m not sure what other people’s definition of “good” is. I wouldn’t exactly label any of the Prison food I ate as “good”. Passable is as far as I would go. In some cases, the food is downright inedible.A rare exception was the food at the Strafford County Department of Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire, a privately run prison where I served 4 months. The food was surprisingly good. And plentiful.And the issue with prison food is not just the ingredients. It’s also the way the food is prepared. A few examples of both types of issues…Undersized chicken sold cheaply to the BOP because no other food distribution outlets will accept itBoiled canned collard greens, unseasoned and bitter. Served regularly. To this day I can’t even look at collard greens without gaggingMystery meat. No further comment neededWatery, unsalted canned green beansWatery coffee, often with grounds. In the camp I was in, coffee was made in a big stove top boiler and then siphoned off into plastic dispensersOn the plus side of food, prison breakfast is usually good. Cereal, oatmeal, and eggs on the weekend. Sometimes pancakes.Fruit is always a popular item. Bananas are highly prized, although not always offered on a daily basis. Apples are a regular offering. Oranges are frequent. At one prison where I served time, we had a 4 week run of Peaches that were huge, juicy and outstanding, I thought I was in heaven.And milk. Milk is always available. A good source of protein. I would drink 3 or 4 glasses a day for the protein. Especially important when I began to work out regularly and lose weight.Those inmates that can afford it, supplement cafeteria food with purchases from the commissary. They become Masters of the Microwave and can prepare tasty, if not downright elegant meals. Rice. Beans. Chicken. Salmon. Tuna. Mackerel. Beef.There is a Prison combo microwave meal called “Batch”, which is made up of rice, beans, a protein, such as chicken, beef or fish, and whatever spices can be purchased from the commissary or “borrowed” from the kitchen. It’s tasty.Some inmates make and sell “burritos” from the Batch. Price? One pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Tuna and Mackerel pouches are prison currency. As are stamps.A haircut is usually one pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Want your bed made up nice? With those hospital corners? A pouch.By the way, the burritos are awesome!Inmates without the culinary inclination and with the means, may “hire” another inmate to cook for them. Often times these meals made from commissary items are supplemented with contraband items either smuggled in to the prison or stolen from the cafeteria. Onions. Peppers. Chicken. Tomatoes. And the ever popular bananas.Though I was never inclined to hire a prison “Chef”, and could not afford one even if I had been, I’ve tasted meals cooked up by these entrepreneurs. Unbelievably good. Actually, incredible. I had a piece of prisoner made Flan once that rivaled any I’ve had in good Miami restaurants.Once during my time at FCI Miami, an inmate who was a former Chef at a well known Miami restaurant made me a meal to thank me for help I provided him. It was INSANELY good. I couldn’t believe what he had accomplished with just the Microwave. Even the presentation was great.Just to make clear though, I much prefer to dine on excellent food as a free man, at an actual restaurant, and with loved ones…First NightAfter Cohen eats his first BOP provided meal there will be a few hours for recreation, personal hygiene, hobbies, phone calls to family, letters, reading or sending emails, reading scripture, attending classes, listening to music, or engaging in personal reflection before the 10 PM count and lights out.However most likely, he will be too disoriented, unfocused and confused. Plus, his available resources will be severely limited to engage in any meaningful activity.As an example, since a portable radio is required to listen to Camp TVs, he will not have access to one unless someone lends it to him. Possible, but unlikely.He won’t be able to call anyone, including family members for at least several days. No telephone account and codes will have been established for him yet. And he won’t have any money in his account with which to pay for calls. Even if he brought cash with him, it was taken, to be deposited into an account under his name.Feeling altruistic? You can send money to Cohen’s account. He can buy Tuna and Mackerel pouches and get a haircut or have his clothes pressed for visits.Perhaps due to his “celebrity” status, many Camp inmates will seek Cohen out. Just to talk. Size him up. Or exploit and intimidate him. He’s going to be a hero to some, a goat to others, and an anti-Christ to the Trump supporters.He’ll have to eventually reconcile with all of this. Most assuredly, he will. It’s inevitable. Soon the celebrity status fades, and then Cohen will be old news.Tonight though, he is merely trying to make sense of it all. And to survive his first day and night. He is “trying on” this new persona. And slowly learning how to act, talk, adapt, behave. He is slowly processing and defining who THIS version of Michael Cohen is right now, and who he will become in the months to come.When the 10 PM count is over, the lights go out, he lays on that ridiculously thin mattress, and his head hits that BOP-issued poor excuse for a pillow, he will most likely have trouble falling asleep. He will stare at either the ceiling above if assigned the top bunk, or the bunk bottom directly above him.Reality has set in. And In prison, reality is a true and relentless bitch…First Wake UpHas Michael Cohen been an early riser throughout his life? Well, he is now.The day at Otisville Camp begins with a 5 AM count. Rise and shine. Stand at your bunk. Mouth shut. Until the count is over.Establishing a sustainable morning routine is essential. Typically you would want to have one for weekdays, and one for weekends. In my case, on weekdays, I was up, hygiene tasks done, dressed, out the door, and in line at the cafeteria. Not the first in line, but definitely not in the last 3/4 of the line.The weekend would necessitate a slightly different schedule, for reasons I will elaborate below.Breakfast at Otisville Camp starts at 6 AM. If there are bananas or other highly coveted items, you’d best be in line and in the cafeteria before they run out.Stand in line. File in once the doors are open. Walk your tray through the line. Get your breakfast. Sit with your usual crowd. Finish up and get out. Time for a few minutes to get the day together in your head and it’s time for “work”.Cohen’s WorkThe prison work day starts at 7:30 AM. Cohen most likely won’t have a job on his first day at the Otisville Camp. Jobs are assigned by Counselors. A Counselor is a glorified CO. I met very few Counselors that I would actually consider the counseling type. For the most part, in my experience, Counselors were arrogant, rude, ignorant, and mean spirited. But they wield immense power. Don’t piss off a counselor.So Cohen will most probably be given some busy work, such as policing the grounds, until the counselor is able to assign him to a work detail. Typical first work detail assignments for a newbie would be in the camp cafeteria.Entry level cafeteria tasks would include preparing the room for meals, washing trays and dishes, and cleaning up after meals are served. No cooking or meal prep at first. That is left to more experienced kitchen-assigned prisoners. Besides, Cohen doesn’t seem the type to want to cook.Cafeteria duty is not all bad, if the right CO is in charge. You tend to eat more and better than your fellow inmates. Although the early shift typically begins at 4 AM, to get the prep done. And that takes some getting used to.In my case, the FCI Miami Cafeteria CO was sadistic and cruel. And he treated the inmates in accordance with his mean streak. I could not wait to fulfill my cafeteria duty, and then move on to other prison jobs. Maybe Cohen will be lucky and get to skip that whole ordeal.First WeekCohen’s first week will be more of the same as his first day. Except that he will probably get issued his regular prison clothes (a nice Khaki color in Otisville), undergarments, shoes, and standard bed roll consisting of two sheets, 1 pillowcase, 2 towels, and 2 wash cloths.The undergarments leave a lot to be desired. Tin Miami, they were threadbare and stained. With worn out elastic. And plenty of holes. Maybe Otisville will be more fashion-conscious.Cohen will be well advised to purchase a few T-Shirts, underwear, socks and a towel at the Commissary. I could not afford to buy any of these until family and friends were able to put together funds and deposit them in my account.As such, I used the prison issued underwear and towels for about 6 months. This experience molds and shapes you. Especially if you have become accustomed to expensive clothing, custom shirts and suits, silk ties, bespoke shoes and the like.Cohen’s focus for this first week should be to settle in, get his financial account established and funds deposited so he can purchase essentials at the Prison commissary, make phone calls and send emails.He will have to establish phone privileges as well. This means he will have to list and register the numbers he wants to call with the Camp Counselor.Cohen will be allowed 300 calling minutes per month which can be used for either direct or collect calls. Any minutes remaining at the end of the month will not carry over to the next month. Extra minutes are given during months with major holidays.There is a 15 minute maximum per call and you must wait 30 minutes between calls. There is usually a line to use the telephones. After a call, it could be several hours before you can use the phones again. The cutoff is 10 PM every night. So typically, you are going to get one chance at a call per day.All calls are recorded and monitored by Prison administration so Cohen must be careful what he and the people he calls, say to each other. You don’t talk to your lawyer on a regular prison phone. Those calls are made with permission and in the counselor’s office.Cohen must track his phone time carefully. Once he exceeds the monthly 300 minute limit, he can make no more calls until the following month.Do the math…300 minutes per month in a 30 day month is 10 minutes of calling per day. It’s not hard to use up your time quickly, especially at first when separation anxiety sets in and you want to speak to many family members.By the way, each call Cohen makes is announced to the recipient as a call originating from an inmate at a Federal Correctional Facility. The called party must acknowledge and accept that call.If the recipient rejects the call, either by accident or on purpose, the called telephone number is taken off the allowed call list. Getting it re-established in the system will require a trip to the counselor’s office.First MonthBy now, Cohen will be receiving visits from people on his approved visitors list. He will need to place people on his list and request they be approved by the Camp Counselor. There is a limit. As I recall, no more than 12 visitors. The BOP will perform a background check and will vet the requested visitors before approving. This is a hassle for potential visitors.The whole VISITING experience is a big hassle.You’ve got to really want to visit someone who is serving time in a Federal prison to put up with the hoops you must jump through…Cohen will be allocated 12 visit points per month. A weekday visit is one point. weekend or holiday visits are 2 points. He must alternate weekend days, and can have no more than 4 weekend visits at 2 points each for a total of 8 points. That leaves 4 points for weekday visits. Cohen must keep track of this as well.You can’t just show up to visit someone in Federal prison as the mood strikes you…The BOP has no flexibility when it comes to these rules.That first visit will be a big milestone of Cohen’s prison stay to date.These are the FCI Otisville visiting hours. But as mentioned earlier, not both Saturday and Sunday. Prisoners are assigned a day that alternates. One week, it’s Saturday, the next week its Sunday, and so on.Monday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmFriday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSaturday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSunday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmHolidays 8:00 am — 2:45 pmIf Cohen is going to be like most inmates I served with, he will make sure to look his best for visits. Well groomed, Hair cut and combed. Clothes clean and pressed. With a small application of prison-approved fragrance oil (no alcohol, naturally).The goal is to put your loved ones at ease when they realize you are taking care of yourself and you exhibit a positive frame of mind.MailNo surprise, there are many rules. As you might well imagine.The most important rule to know — All mail, incoming and outgoing, is opened and read by a CO.This is how they control contraband, illicit photographs, questionable materials, and how they “snoop” on you.Mail is distributed at a daily/nightly mail call.If you are not there, you don’t get your mail until the next mail call. Some COs will relax these rules, and give you mail outside of mail call. Or even let someone collect it for you. I wouldn’t count on that, until you see it consistently practiced.What you can receive is tightly controlled.No surprise, there is an 8 page Bureau of Prisons policy on incoming publications. You can find it HERE . In most cases, certain types of publications, such as books and newspapers, and some magazines, can only be received if they are sent directly from a publisher or distributor.From the policy:At all Bureau institutions, an inmate may receive hardcover publications and newspapers only from the publisher, from a book club, or from a bookstore.The BOP states:Publications determined detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or that may facilitate criminal activity, or are otherwise prohibited by law, will be excluded from Bureau facilitiesAnd their policy goes on to state:The Warden may not establish an excluded list of publications. This means the Warden shall review the individual publication prior to the rejection of that publication. Rejection of several issues of a subscription publication is not sufficient reason to reject the subscription publication in its entirety.Mail is important in prison, It is a vital way of keeping in touch with loved ones. And an important part of staying connected to what is going on in the outside world, through newspapers, periodicals, and books. And a major factor in staying busy, productive, educated and fulfilled.Suffice to say, Cohen won’t be able to assume he will be able to “legally” receive and read whatever he wants. There will be limits. Just one more in a long list of freedoms lost.Cohen’s “Permanent“ Prison JobMost certainly by this time, Michael Cohen will have landed his full time prison gig. He will be paid anywhere between 0 (yes, zero. Some jobs pay NOTHING) to 40 cents per hour, based on the job and where he is assigned.Although there are a few prisons that have Industry jobs that pay higher.Did you know there is a BOP policy for Inmate Work and Performance Pay? Of course there is.Cohen will most probably change jobs multiple times while serving his sentence. It is pretty common, especially since the first job or two is usually in one of the less desirable work environments.Suffice to say, he won’t be “making ends meet” in the style to which he is accustomed on Federal Inmate prison pay.Medical CarePerhaps I should title this section Lack of Medical Care. Although I found that most of the health care employees that work in the BOP have good hearts and want to do the right thing. The issue is, their hands are tied by policy and a lack of freedom, scarcity of medication, and very few actual treatments they can prescribe and dispense.The psychologists and drug program counselors that I met and worked with, were extremely dedicated and competent. So if Cohen has to address any of these types of issues, and the prison he is eventually sent to is staffed with these people, he will be in competent hands.However some of the doctors I encountered in the BOP are just plain hacks.Cohen should be careful what kinds of diagnoses he receives and remedies he is prescribed by BOP doctors.Run of the mill issues like hypertension and diabetes are dealt with in a pretty straightforward manner. Although I did see some diabetics experiencing wild swings in their blood sugar levels and being rushed out of their cells suffering from hypo or hyperglycemia.And the BOP does a decent job of ensuring that those inmates that suffer from dependency to substances get their daily doses of methadone or whatever other medication they require. These are strictly controlled during “sick call”.If any other serious health issues are experienced by an inmate, they will usually be sent to a local hospital, clinic or specialist. This the rare exception, and is not easy to get accomplished. It usually takes persistence and consistent “noise” on the part of the inmate until the BOP doctor agrees.Some inmates who suffer from chronic conditions that are not treatable in a regular BOP prison medical facility may be transferred to a BOP special medical prison, such as Butner in North Carolina.Butner “is the Bureau’s largest medical complex, which operates a drug treatment program and specializes in oncology and behavioral science.[1]Among its inmates is Bernie Madoff. — from WikipediaButner, NC Federal Medical ComplexAt least at these types of facilities, an inmate can expect a higher level of medical care than they can get at a regular prison.Suffice to say, Cohen should do any and everything in his power to stay healthy and not require medical treatment beyond the more regular types of ailments. He should also look to the commissary for over the counter medications that are allowed for purchase and use to address any specific minor ailments.First YearThe first year tends to crawl by slowly. In Cohen’s case, with less than 3 years to serve, it will seem to move more quickly. Although each missed set of holidays while in prison tend to cause one to experience the slow ticking of the clock.As such, it will behoove Cohen to not “count the days”. Counting days is “counter productive” in prison. Not at all recommended. Your experienced and senior fellow Cons will tell you that immediately if they see you counting.You serve your sentence one day at a time. But you don’t count those days…If Cohen stays busy, occupying his waking hours with interesting and worthwhile activities, time will move briskly for him.Unless…he messes up…The SHUIf Cohen commits any violations, or earns enough “shots” even for minor infractions, he could serve time in the Special Housing Unit. This is a place akin to Solitary Confinement, although you will typically share a confined cell, complete with it’s own toilet and sink, with a fellow inmate.Just think for a brief moment about the logistics of a small, confined cell with a shared toilet which is out in the open and connected to the wash basin.2 Inmate SHU — It is Indeed SPECIAL!Private SHU Accommodations!A stay at the SHU also comes with a resplendent and complementary orange jumpsuit to differentiate Cohen from the regular population.No TV in the SHU. And a very limited supply of well worn paperbacks wheeled by once a week. You must select no more than two books through the pass through in the door.No magazines or newspapers are allowed.And you get a choice once a week between a shower, or recreational time. One or the other.But not both.Recreation time is an hour confined to chain link holding cells with no roof, within a concrete structure. You get to see a piece of sky while pacing back and forth.And the shower? Supervised the whole time by a CO. No privacy.The food is similar but not the same as the regular prison food. Plus it is cold by the time it gets to those in The SHU.I spent 2 weeks in the SHU. Needless to say, not at all an enjoyable experience.If Cohen stays within the rules, he will never experience the friendly confines of the Otisville SHU.He will fall into the rhythm of regular Federal prison life and just do his time.Perhaps he will begin working on that book we all know he is going to write!Fast Forward to the Last YearThat last year is a longish seeming stretch of time. Again, not focusing on time itself is a wise ting to do. If Cohen listens to his more successful fellow felons, in this last year of his sentence, he will intensify efforts towards activities, perhaps even involving himself in a few new ones.A new hobbyLearning a new skill (musical instrument, for example)Taking some additional coursesPicking up some additional books to readStepping up his exercise and physical activitiesPreparing a Life Plan — what to do with the rest of his lifeAs before, the trick is, to fill those days to the brim with stuff to do.Idle hands are the devil’s workshop…Last MonthIf Cohen has kept his nose clean all this time, he is in the home stretch. His good time calculation has reduced his sentence by a certain percentage, and he is not having to serve the entire 3 years. Soon, Prison staff will call him in to the office and provide him with a calculated release date for the halfway house. At this time, they will also tell him what facility he will be assigned to.Now he should be focusing on the following release-related activities:Preparing a plan for the immediate next 6 monthsLining up potential employmentFilling out required formsArranging for personal property to be mailed back — on his dimeDeciding what personal property to leave behind and give away to his inmate buddies — food, clothing, toiletries, headphones, radio, etc.Last DaysIt will be hard to focus as the magical date nears. Again, executing the items on his release To Do list should be his entire focus.Cohen needs to concentrate and keep his eyes focused squarely on the prize —Which is his RELEASE!Last NightI couldn’t sleep the night before my release. Understandable, right?This is probably the night Cohen gives away all his stuff.He will also say all of his goodbyes, and pledge to keep in touch.Except for a few rare exceptions, he most probably won’t.I have kept in touch with a handful of people I met during my time. We were there for each other, and I saw and continue to see them as reformed, contrite and positive people who have turned their lives around. It will be up to Cohen to make the decision as to who is worth keeping in touch with, and who is worth forgetting about forever.Day of ReleaseThe day of release is a whirlwind of activity. Cohen will probably be ready to go even before lights-on in anticipation of his departure from Otisville.He will bathe, and dress in the clothing he will wear to the half way house. Strip his bed and take it to the on duty CO. Empty his locker if he hasn’t already done so, and wait for his name to be called over the PA system, or for a CO to come get him.I distinctively remember how that went for me:“Fiallo. Report to the Main Building for Release.”Sweet music to my ears…Slaps on the back. Shaking of hands, and a short walk to the same place where the original intake was done. As I walked those steps, I never looked back. Cohen will probably do the same.Once in the main facility, the CO performs the following ritual:Form to be signedInstructions for reporting to the halfway house, including how much time you have been given to get thereInventory of anything you are taking with youEscorting to the main entrance by the CO, where it is verified that you are who you are supposed to beThen that massive iron door is opened, and you step outAnd Cohen is finally out…Again, I never looked back, and most probably, neither will Cohen.Whoever is picking him up will meet him in the parking lot where a happy reunion outside the confines of the BOP, will take place. And he is off to the half way house.In my case, I had enough time to first stop home and greet family before the eventual trip to the halfway house.Releases vary from prison to prison. A lot will depend on Cohen’s actual and specific circumstances. But how I described is probably how it will go down.Half Way HouseHalf-Assed House, or Prison Lite, is what I’ve heard these facilities called by the residents.I’m honestly trying to be very objective here.Half Way Houses are designed to facilitate re-entry from the stark reality of prison to the “real” reality of street life.They go by other fancy names as well. Such as Residential Re-entry Facility.An Actual Residential Re-Entry FacilityFrom Wikipedia:In criminology the purpose of a halfway house is generally considered to be that of allowing people to begin the process of reintegration with society, while still providing monitoring and support. This type of living arrangement is often believed to reduce the risk of recidivism or relapse when compared to a straight release directly into society.From the artificial reality of prison life to the real reality of normal life…In reality, the Half Way House is not that much different than prison. In fact, you can argue that it is worse, because in many cases, the people having dominion over you are for the most part, minimum wage employees who can’t get any kind of real law enforcement jobs. And there is little to no real or valuable support and assistance for residents to aid in their re-entry.Some of the workers lord their positions over the residents constantly and treat them like second class citizens. I would submit that this is counterproductive to creating an environment where someone who has served their sentence can successfully re-enter society.That being said, I don’t know how Michael Cohen will fare with his half way house experience. I am sure there are some half way houses in this country that do a great job. In my experience, talking to many inmates and looking at the facts as objectively as possible, many do not.Typical Half Way House Sleeping ArrangementsThis is probably what Cohen will experience:His entire stay will be closely monitored. That, they do a great job atLeaving for work, arriving at work, leaving work to return, and arriving back will be tracked and loggedCohen will not be allowed any stops to and from work, without express written permissionHe will not be allowed to go out to lunch while at work. He will take a lunch packed and provided by the halfway houseCohen’s work supervisor at his first job, will be initially interviewed and will also be periodically asked how Cohen is doingHe will be periodically checked up on at the job by a halfway house employee, in personCohen will have an assigned Half Way House work detail, in addition to his regular day job — kitchen detail, cleaning bathrooms, general cleaning, yard work, etc.He will eat three square meals a day at the Half Way House until he is placed on home confinementCohen will have to get permission and formal approval for any other “excursions”, such as — haircuts, doctor’s visits, trips to the DMV or Social Security Office — the time it will take to get there and back will be calculated and Cohen will be tracked and expected to call in when he arrives, and when he leaves to returnCohen will have to “drop urine” on demand. Even after home confinement, when called, he will have a prescribed amount of time to return and “drop”Cohen will be subjected to breathalyzer tests — usually upon returning. Alcohol is strictly forbidden while under Half Way House jurisdictionCohen will experience random searches for contraband, which is any item or material not allowed in your possession by the Half Way House. His locker will be “tossed” while he is away.Most likely, Cohen will not be allowed to have a cell phone while at the Half Way House. His specific facility may have relaxed this ruleA monthly financial statement will need to be prepared and submitted by Cohen, detailing income and expenses. The Half Way House takes 20% of his gross pay every weekFamily visits will be administered similar to when in prisonCounseling sessions will most likely be prescribed and are mandatoryCohen won’t be allowed to drive unless his license is current and he has a clean record. He will have to show proof of insurance, and that he owns the vehicle, or that the owner has allowed him to use it. The car will be thoroughly inspected, and will undergo random inspections as wellCohen will meet with his probation officer at least once during his Half Way House timeOn the plus side, the food in the halfway house will most probably be good, although not necessarily plentiful. After all, there are many mouths to feed.A Half Way House Food Line — this one was good!Residents BewareAny violations of rules may result in his Half Way House term being violated and he will be returned to prison to serve the remaining time.One Saturday morning, as I was having breakfast at the Half Way House before being released to home confinement, the US Marshals showed up. They took one of the guys at our table back to prison, in handcuffs, to serve out the remainder of his sentence. The Marshals were not happy campers and showed it. They’d much rather be chasing fugitives ala Tommy Lee Jones…His violation? He had stopped on his way back to the Half Way House from work to buy an ice cream cone.They mean business…Home ConfinementSoon after arriving at the Half Way House, Cohen should be doing all he can to receive “home confinement” status. Assuming his family agrees to take him back in the home (not always a slam dunk), this should be Cohen’s primary objective in order to reclaim some semblance of normalcy in his life.Half Way House time sucks. Big time.The quicker you leave, the better off you are.A job is the primary requirement to earn home confinement status. If he has one already lined up before he arrives, then he is “half way” home (excuse the intended pun).The other requirements are:Continue to obey all Half Way House and BOP rules. One needs to remember, even while at a Half Way House, you are still under BOP jurisdiction. You are serving out the last 6 (or less) months of your sentenceStay clean and soberAttend prescribed individual or group counseling sessions if applicableMaintain your work statusInstall a separate land line in your home with no call forwarding, so that the Half Way House can always reach you. And you can’t “fool” them by forwarding that line to wherever you may “unauthorizedly” beReport to the Half Way House immediately when called for any reasonAnswer the separate land line when they call — in my case, they would call at least twice a day, every day, with one at 2 AM every morningPay the Half Way House 20% of your pay once you start a job, for the duration of your termContinue to submit monthly financial statementsDo not associate with anyone having a criminal record. Report any encounter to the Half Way HouseReport any encounter with law enforcementDo not drive a motor vehicle unless you have been authorized to do soRequest written permission for any time to be away from home or work — including haircuts, attending religious ceremonies, or doctor visits. Once granted an excursion, you must abide by the times allotted for the trips. And you must call when you leave, call when you arrive, call again when you are departing for home, and call when you arrive homeAll of these restrictions and requirements continued for me even after I was put on home confinement. For the whole 6 months of my term. It’s possible that rules have changed or have been relaxed by the time Cohen begins his home confinement.Back to the Real worldMichael Cohen was disbarred by the New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan on February 28th. Having lost his law license, he will most probably never get it back and will no longer be able to practice his trade. He could try, but chances are, he will not prevail.I know many disbarred attorneys under similar circumstances, that have tried to get their licenses reinstated. Despite obtaining many letters of support from other attorneys and people in the community, they have not succeeded.Life after a felony conviction is different. Obvious, right? There are many things you most definitely won’t ever be able to do, and others that you can’t do, either temporarily, or until some action is taken to remove the restriction.For example:Voting — some states allow felons to vote, others require a petitionOwning a gun — at the present time, only a Presidential pardon or commutation can restore this Constitutional rightHolding certain offices — I don’t know the specifics of his sentence, but he may not be able to run for, or hold certain offices. The terms of my conviction bar me from ever becoming a Corporate officer or serving as a member of the board for a public companyBeing hired by certain companies — some opportunities will be forever closed to you. Some companies maintain a policy of not employing convicted felons. Period.Some will tell you that a felony conviction does not immediately disqualify you, but the reality is, you get nowhere when you try to seek employment with these companiesRejection by social or community groups, associations, and clubsDisapproval for certain financial transactions or for creditAs he faces these, and encounters other difficulties related to the stigmatization associated with being a convicted felon, he will be serving the other terms of his conviction.Being snubbed by former acquaintances and “friends” is something else Cohen should be prepared for. There are people that were close “friends”, of the fair weather variety, while you were flying high. Now they won’t have anything to do with you. For the most part, Cohen will be better off not having these kinds of people as “friends”.The terms of Cohen’s sentence includes a probationary period where he will have to report weekly to a parole officer, more commonly, a Probation Officer.Missouri Department of Corrections — A PO Meeting With a ParoleeAnd let’s not forget about the $1.39 million in restitution, $500,000 in forfeiture and $100,000 in fines. Those are obligations he must meet, if he hasn't already.By the way, during the time he is BOP custody, Cohen will most assuredly have to make agreed upon restitution payments. These will be taken out of his commissary account.Cohen’s probationary period was set at three years of supervised release. This time will be overseen by Cohen’s assigned US Probation Officer. It is likely that he will have different POs during his supervised release period.He may have community service to perform as well. I was sentenced to 200 hours of community service which took me a year and a half to complete.At the end of the first year, if he has kept all the rules and the Probation Officer has no objections, Cohen could apply for a shorter Probationary Period. There are no guarantees of getting that approved.During the probationary period, Cohen will continue to file financial reports, and must also report any encounter with law enforcement and with other convicted felons. He may also be required to attend prescribed group or individual counseling.To maintain good standing with his “PO” during the entire period, he will have to continue to be gainfully employed.It’s important to note that a violation could land him in jail, potentially to serve out the rest of his probationary period. For example, if Cohen were to lose his job, he would have to find alternative employment rather quickly or risk violating the terms of parole, and ending up in prison again.Cohen should do every and anything he can to stay on the narrow path and on the good side of his PO.Where the Rubber Meets the RoadFor Cohen, this is complete transition time now. The end game.A new life. Unless he forgot all about what earned him a prison sentence in the first place, he will have made or at least begun the transition from high flying huckster lawyer/fixer to convicted felon while serving his sentence.If he didn’t change his ways, his prison stay definitely will afford him the opportunity to keep shucking and jiving, bragging, wheeling and dealing, continuing to be a total asshole, and to actually refine and hone these skills.If he has the right attitude and resolve, the full transition he has to make is from Federal Inmate to regular human being.Is he capable of that?We are all capable. But for numerous reasons, some of us succeed and some of us fail. We continue the same foolhardy mistakes over and over.Groundhog day…Given the high rate of recidivism among Federal Felons (anywhere from 16% to over 80% depending on factors such as age, education and type of crime), some fall again. And they return to the warm, cozy confines of jail.It will be up to Cohen, and Cohen alone which way his life goes, and which path he decides to take.In the end, perhaps now, Michael Cohen will find peace.Finding that peace is totally up to him.Just like it was to me…“It is the bungled crime that brings remorse.”― P.G. WodehouseThis is how Michael Cohen will experience prison…Visit my blog at Enrique Fiallo – Mediumor my web site at The Way - Practical and Simple Life Coaching

Accidents statements can be found just about anywhere you go. Even if you are just at home, at the street, on the road, at the park or at your workplace. Accidents can occur if you do not take immediate action once you have identified the threats and risks that are found. That is why, it is important to list all the essential details in order to better understand each of the possible threat or hazard assessment. The list also serve as your basis in order to have an effective investigation of the situation.Related:40+ Sample Incident Report FormsOnce you have understood the nature of these hazards, it is easier for you to come up with some effective solutions on how you could treat each of them. Thus, immediate response is a must in order to avoid the worsening of the situation. Accidents are most common at workplaces, most especially when the job requires lots of effort in accomplishing a task. Even at the road, when individual drivers do not follow the traffic rules and regulations. Further on this article are some examples, basic steps and tips when you write an sample accident report. These steps are effective or effectual when certain accidents are handled.Accidents That Are Often EncounteredAccidents are unintentional circumstances which sometimes are inevitable and are often caused by latent hazards or threats. These could be prevented if, and only if, the possible causes are treated with preventive actions before these causes destruction. Here below are some examples to better understand the point being made here.An example of an accident which are most likely to occur at home is when a house was burnt down by a fierce fire. When complaint investigation results are out, it turns out that the cause of the fire was the gas range left open. And when the cigarette was lit with a lighter by a man just outside or nearby the window, there went the fire viciously consumed everything and left nothing but ashes of the house. In this given example, the accident could have been prevented if the person liable for the accident is responsible enough.Proper way of how things should be done at home should be heeded, observed and practiced. Another way to ensure the safety report and security of each member in the family at home is by conducting a home evaluation.This kind of evaluation for safety at home is conducted effectively when all safety precautions are met. These are completed with home evaluation forms for safety which are used to identify and assess all the possible hazards or threats for the family.Another example of an accident that often takes place at the office or at work is when an employee was physically injured. The injury was caused by a malfunctioning of an equipment. Turns out that the equipment release has been operating for almost a decade and yet, it was not replaced with a new one. The malfunction was due to the rusting of parts inside the machine. And this resulted from the negligence of the maintenance team. According to the investigation of the accident, the team believed that the equipment is still functioning well and so, there is no need to replace or report it to the business management to be replaced.Yet, the equipment malfunction had caused a great loss in the company. Plus, their employee or worker was injured when the equipment was wrecked. The accident could have been avoided if proper maintenance of the surroundings, including the equipment or machines used for the company was prioritized. Conducting a risk assessment analysis is also a great help in order to better determine the latent risks that could cause some incidents or accidents. Thus, the filled out risk assessment form serves as the basis to correct and prevent these threats.Basing on the examples given above, all relevant contact information that are gathered from the witnesses or victim/s should be documented using the form for accident reports. In this way, these accidents are effectively and thoroughly analyzed by the people in charge.Writing an Accident Report EffectivelyWhen there are accidents, it is important that the details are complete for investigation. This is in order to know what and how these had happened. The details should be listed in the accident report form for better analysis and interrogation to those who had witnessed the accident. The reason for filing report forms is that these help the authorities determine what are the possible accidents that could repeatedly happen. And in order to prevent these from taking place once more, authorities are to take actions to correct them. Here are some basic steps that are helpful when you file an accident report.Make sure that you have all the general information first before you come into writing the details.Base the details on the facts, and not on the opinions of other people.Investigate or interrogate the witnesses and not just random people.Respond immediately to the accidents in order to have accurate information.Analyze or review thoroughly the data or information that you have gathered.Complete the accident report form with the necessary information.Have some corrective action procedures and plans such as safety precautions or procedures to be followed.Filing an Accident ReportWhen you file an accident report, here are the following information that you should secure:Specific date and time of when the accident has occurredThe area or location of the accidentThe type of accidentDescription of the surroundings (what were the people around doing before accident took place)Basic information of the people or victims involved in the accident (such as the name, job title or position, department or company, contact number)A brief description of what has happenedThe cause of the accidentThe damage/s resulted from the accidentThe person who witnessed or responded to the accidentThe person who reported the accidentThe person to whom accident was reported toCorrective actions or solutions made during and after the accidentTreatments taken for the injuriesThese are the basic information that are often needed in order to solve the situation. It is important that these are secured when there are accidents that are taken place. This is for the reason that these help you write effective accident report and identify effective solutions to avoid or prevent these accidents from happening again.