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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

This answer is mainly based on the Normandy campaign- June-Sep 1944.I was at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson in Hampshire a couple of years ago, and I witness a chap telling his friends and family that Tiger tanks were mainly destroyed by Naval bombardment and air attack by Typhoon aircraft. I was too polite to correct him, but I believe that cannot be substantiated!From a combat point of view, the biggest threat to Tigers came from other tanks and tank destroyers. I have posted on the capability of British Shermans and Fireflies to deal with Tigers at Did Sherman tanks battle Tiger tanks during WW2?.The most effective method the Allies had to destroy Tigers was by getting them to have to move!This latter point sounds a bit like that scene in Monty Python's "Life of Brian" where the criminal is sentenced to death in the Arena. He runs around, pursued by the well armed gladiator, who, weighed down by his equipment, has a heart attack and drops dead! The criminal then runs around whooping in victory! life of brian gladiator sceneOkay, lets look at some evidence for this. This is mainly based on Allied Operational Research.The results were collected from examination of 36 Tiger wrecks by members of No 2 ORS and No 20 WTSFF [see Ref 1] to find out who these chaps were].The Tigers showed 13 AP penetrations with 8 hits failed to penetrate, based on close survey of five of the vehicles. Ref 3Interestingly, 7 out of 8 kills by AP were made prior to 8 August, and all 26 abandoned and destroyed kills came after 8 August. This is significant, as in the latter part of the period under survey, the warfare became more mobile.How Representative is this Data?Tigers damaged in Normandy up to 12th August [Ref 4] were as follows:Table 2 Knocked out and Damaged Tiger Tanks by ArmyBy 1st Canadian Army 10 KO plus 2 damagedBy 2nd British Army 122 KO plus 52 damagedBy 1st US Army 0 KO with 27 damaged.*The USA “knocked out” was very stringent, requiring a wreck to be captured.So there were 132 Tiger kills, (see Annexes A and B for more information) the analysis is of 36 so 25%- not a big sample, but representative, albeit there is a two week underlap on the data- I don't know how many. Ref 4 gives 25 Tigers knocked out by Commonwealth Shermans up to 12 August. The is some confusion here, because the total number of Tigers killed and damaged, however, exceeds the numbers committed. Tiger and Tiger II are not disaggregated, they are lumped as Panzer VI.Now of course, the data I have presented is both selective and far from exhaustive- see the data at Annex B and make your own judgement.Comments on Commonwealth Forces in NormandyNote, notwithstanding Saving Private Ryan- the Tigers gave the Commonwealth forces a lot more bother than the US forces![I have read many accounts that portray the efforts of the Commonwealth forces in Normandy as being a second rate effort by a tired and risk-averse army using second rate equipment. However, the statistics do not seem to bear this out. The Commonwealth forces in Normandy destroyed more German armour (1200-1300 vehicles)than they lost at the Battle of Kursk. Commonwealth forces lost 1600 tanks, so the exchange rate was about 1.3 to 1 in the German favour. Now considering the Germans were defending, that is none too shabby!]Data from the Italian CampaignThe view that forcing the Germans onto the retreat is the way to deal with the Tiger threat is backed up by experience in the summer 1944 in Italy. A technical team from the New Zealand 2nd Infantry Division set about examining Tiger tanks left behind by the German retreat. They found 12 Tigers, ten of which were showed no evidence of battle damage; they had simply conked out! They came up with this simple maxim to defeat the Tiger "Push him..make him run!" [Ref 5]ConclusionsFrom the data I have provided, combat losses to Tigers were mainly to gunfire from Tanks and Tank Destroyers.However, it seems clear that the best way of destroying Tigers is to get them to move, where their poor reliability means they will break down or else un out of fuel. The recovery teams will not have time to fix them before they are over-run. Of course, this effect is exacerbated by the destruction of rolling stock and fuel supply problems caused by interdiction by Allied aircraft.Annex A Tigers in NormandyIn Normandy the Tigers were from sPz-Abt (heavy tank battalion) 501, 502 (assigned to I & I SS Panzer Corps) and 503 (assigned to 21st Panzer Division). Each heavy tank battalion was of about 45 tanks. SPz-ABt 503 was assigned some Tiger 2s.All these units were mainly deployed against Commonwealth units near Caen. [Ref 6]Annex B. Tigers Losses according to Different AuthorsRef 8. gives 132 Tigers lost in Normandy (agreeing with Ref. 4), and states: about 50 were lost to ground combat, about 18 to bombing, at least 9 to “carpet bombing” rather than fighter bomber attack. You will have seen the Tiger on its side in crater pictures! 51 abandoned, 2 sunk in a river , the reason for the remaining 10 or so Tiger losses was unknown.References1. Copp T Montgomery's Scientists - Operation Research in Norwest Europe (2000)2. ORS report No 17 Analysis of German Tank Casualties in France 6 June-31 August 1944. Tables 1 and 2.3.Ibid Table 5.4.Army Operational Research Group Memorandum C6 A survey of tank warfare from D-Day to 12 August 1944 (1952) Table 1.5. RG 24 14180 (BRAC) Who killed Tiger? New Zealand Army Study for the 8th Army, July 1944(Sourced from Jarymowycz RJ Tank Tactics from Normandy to Lorraine Boulder 2001)6. Wilbeck C I Swinging the Sledgehamemr, Combat Effectiveness of German Heavy Tank Battalions in World War 2.p 957. Zaloga S Armoured Champion (2014) p 251 based on primary German sources8. Restayn J Tiger 1 on the Western Front (1999)

I recently wrote a blog post titled How to Read Like a Doctoral Student. I give you the summary here.In this post, I’ll share five techniques I’ve learned over the past year while learning how to read as a doctoral student, where I’m required to read, retain, and recall large amounts of complex information.5 Advanced Techniques to Learn How to Read More EffectivelyRead with a Purpose in MindDo you read novels at work?Probably not, if you’re like most people. You have job to do, for crying out loud. But, when you read like a doctoral student, reading is your job. You must treat it as such.Keeping that in mind, every time I crack open a book or journal article, I do so with a clear purpose in mind.I read to accomplish a predefined goal. When done, I don’t linger in the material, I move on. If you don’t take anything else away from this article, remember to read for a specific purpose.Let’s look at some reasons I might need to read something. Depending on your job, you may come up with a different list.Read in LayersImagine a journal article or academic book is an onion. Both consist of layers of material. And, both can make you cry.Thinking of reading material as a series of layers to be peeled focuses my time and energy on only the layer that will best serve my purpose at that moment.Layer One ScanningThe first layer of a piece is its outer shell. Layer one scanning reveals the most basic information. I use that information to decide if it is relevant to my purposes.The output of layer one scanning is simply a list of relevant pieces I will later read for layer two survey-level information.For a journal article, the first layer is comprised of just the title and abstract.Together the title and abstract should contain enough information to decide if the article warrants closer examination.The first layer of a book includes its title, cover material, table of contents, and any relevant book reviews.If I believe a piece could be useful to my research, I move it to a second layer reading to understand its background, conclusions, and key points.Layer Two ReadingLayer two reading is the scientific equivalent of CliffNotes™.The second layer of a journal article is comprised of the abstract, introduction, and conclusion, also known as the AIC. In layer two reading, I quickly read the abstract, introduction and conclusion and lightly skim the method and analysis sections and all tables and figures.A book’s second layer consists of its preface, introduction, table of contents, chapter introductions and conclusions, and, again, any figures and tables. In addition, I skim the body of each relevant chapter looking for important nuggets. This will give me a fair approximation of a book’s contents with only a few hours investment.Layer Three ReadingThe third layer of a piece represents its nitty-gritty details.A third layer reading is a full, detailed examination of the entire piece (article or book). At this level of reading, I engage deeply with the material, reading it front to back, closely examining every figure and table, every claim or finding, every step of its narrative.Clearly, I reserve third layer reading to pieces that are highly relevant to my topic of interest.While reading each progressive layer of material, I highlight and annotate. In other words, I engage the author in a conversation via the margins of the piece.Converse with the AuthorActive learning increases information retention and recall. In fact, systems such as the SQ3R Methodprovide a well-trodden approach to active reading.My version of active reading includes reading in layers (action) and conversing with the author (another action) at increasing levels of detail. Conversing with the author requires both systematically highlighting text and scribbling comments in the margins.The deeper I read, the more I converse. The conversation should heat up as I develop a more nuanced view of the piece.Highlight and AnnotateWhen I read in layer two, focusing on the abstract, introduction, and conclusion, I highlight the most important points in yellow, usually less than one sentence per paragraph. Orange highlighting designates supporting points, while sky blue marks any references I need to further examine.In addition to structured highlighting, I write brief notes in the margins, questions, cross-references, etc.Consume instead of PreserveIf you are anything like me, you love books. You probably have stacks of books sitting near your chair as you read this. Like me, you might even have some in protective coversBut when I read to learn, I consume my material. I destroy books and journal articles with highlighters and red pens.Yes, deface, mutilate.I should be clear, though. I only deface books in electronic format or books still in print that I can easily replaced.If a book is out-of-print or borrowed (e.g. from a library), I never mark in it but instead use plenty of sticky notes.The point is that purposeful reading of a book or article is important work. Work often requires consuming resources.The book or journal article is there to serve my purpose.Summarize and Synthesize the MaterialAfter spending time reading, highlighting and annotating an article or book, it is time to put the new information in context and make sure it is available for future recall.Unlike the ancients and their method of loci, people today are not trained to retain and recall vast quantities of detailed information using memory alone.Instead of trying to remember everything using my sketchy-at-best memory, I use a structured process of summarizing and synthesizing new information. How in-depth I do this depends on the reading layer in which I’m operating.Layer OneDuring layer one reading I’m simply trying to collect and organize relevant sources for later use. During my searches, if a piece looks interesting based on its title and abstract, I simply import the reference into Zotero, my citation management software.After a layer two reading, I will have highlighted and annotated the most important parts of the book or article. Immediately after reading—or better, while reading—I put notes into a structured Google Sheet called a “conceptual synthesis worksheet.”I create one conceptual synthesis worksheet for each important keyword or concept in my research topic. These worksheets also correspond to the subfolders in my Zotero citation management software. For example, a current project has worksheets and Zotero subfolders for the following topics: Entrepreneur Personality, Angel Decision-Making, Angel Motivation, and Angel Investor Characteristics.Layer TwoAfter layer two reading, in addition to populating a row in a conceptual synthesis worksheet, I often write (meaning sometimes write) a prose summary and synthesis of the piece in a structured “Journal Reading Summary Form.” In the JRSF, I address the following questions:What is the aim of the research? Specifically, what “big picture” practical question ishighlighted and what more focused research question is addressed?Why should anyone care?What major theory(ies) are used to support the work?What methods are used to test the study’s hypotheses or research questions?What are the major findings/conclusions?What are the most important contributions of the research?Early in my doctoral program, a professor handed out these questions to the class. But, there are several “how to read a journal article” documents floating around the Internet with similarly structured note-taking forms.Layer three reading helps develop a deep understanding of a piece. In my experience, this only occurs after attempting to synthesizing the material with other research I’ve read and with my own thoughts.Layer ThreeSynthesizing material during level three reading requires developing an understanding of how the piece relates to the work of others and the work that I am doing. This is where I really question the material, think critically. Question everything: assumptions, methods, sample, validity, and reliability. Where are the contradictions? Do the conclusions make sense in the real world? What are the flaws (all research is flawed) and how could those flaws be overcome in future research?I use one of two ways to synthesize material during layer three reading (deep reading). If a piece is not immediately needed, I write a stand-alone memorandum and store it in Zotero.If I need the synthesis for a current project, I might also create a shortened version of the memorandum and include it in the project’s annotated bibliography, if it exists. In any case, I also save the AB entry in Zotero for future use.As I mentioned at the top, this is a summary of a recent blog post. Good luck with your reading!