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Another FBOP Failure: Tammy's Story — When “Funding” Becomes a Death Sentence

 


Here we go again. Another woman, another broken promise behind razor wire. Another excuse that starts with “funding” and ends with neglect.

Tammy’s story is not new. It’s not unique. And that’s the biggest tragedy of all. Because her life—and her vision—matter. And so does every other person sitting in a Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) facility, hoping for even the most basic human care.

Recently, Tammy reached out to share what’s been going on at her facility, and I think it speaks for itself:

"Recently I wrote about how the BOP seems to be broke. They took away several items at food service due to funding—like the salad bar (which, by the way, was just plain lettuce mix and generic dressing), they’ve limited eggs (maybe understandable with the bird flu), and removed extra items like beans and rice.

What I didn’t mention, but probably should have, is that my prison doesn’t even repurpose leftovers. They literally throw away pounds and pounds of food daily from our kitchen.

Today I went to get bras again. Turned down. ‘Funding not available to purchase bras at this time.’

But that’s not even why I’m writing. Yesterday I got called to medical to see the eye doctor. His first question: ‘How are the new glasses working for you?’

My answer? ‘I don’t know. It’s been a year and I still haven’t gotten them.’

Then came the real bombshell.

He told me I have macular degeneration with edema. That I was supposed to be sent to a retina specialist. That I should have seen him every 3 months. That none of that happened. And if it doesn’t happen soon, I could go blind in my left eye.

He said he was walking my file to my doctor that same day and re-entering the orders.

Can anyone say lawsuit? I can.

This facility cannot take care of the people housed here. I keep hearing 'funding, funding, funding.'

That’s not the problem. The problem is mismanagement and overcrowding.

If the courts used other methods of incarceration for low-level, non-violent offenders or people with 18 months or less—like probation or ankle monitors—and actually implemented the First Step Act and the Second Chance Act the way they were intended, so much of this mess could be avoided.

I don’t even know what to do anymore. I’ve been incarcerated for 20 years, about to start my 21st. I had a 110-year sentence. Recently, I got 70 years taken off. With good time, I have about 12.7 years left.

I just hope things improve between now and then… I’ll keep you posted."

And we hope she gets to keep her sight so she can see that freedom.

Let that sit for a minute.
The system failed her not once, but repeatedly—and nearly irreversibly.

Let’s be clear: "Funding" is the fallback word agencies use when they don’t want to take responsibility. But when basic needs like bras, food, and preventing blindness go unmet, it’s no longer a funding issue. It’s willful neglect. It’s abuse under the color of law.

Overcrowding didn’t happen by accident. It’s a policy choice. The FBOP has the tools to relieve it—First Step Act, Second Chance Act, compassionate release, home confinement—but too often they let those tools rust. And people like Tammy suffer for it.

I’m watching women in federal prisons be told they can’t get underwear or see specialists because the budget’s tight, while the very agencies running those prisons waste millions in overtime, contracts, and administrative bloat.

Where is the accountability?

Where is the outrage?

I’ll tell you where it should be—right here. In our voices. In our advocacy. In our refusal to let Tammy’s story become just another name in the file.

Tammy—you’re not forgotten. Not today. Not ever. You keep posting. And I’ll keep sharing. We’re building something louder than silence.

#EppersonEmpowerment #PowerOfOurVoicesLLC #FBOPFailure #PrisonReformNow #MedicalNeglectIsAbuse #JusticeForInmates #HumanRightsBehindBars #FederalBureauOfProblems #MacularDegenerationMatters #OvercrowdingKills #ThisIsWhyWeFight #FirstStepActNow #SecondChanceAct #AccountabilityBehindBars #WeSeeYouTammy #SystemicNeglect #ReformNotExcuses #IncarceratedButNotInvisible #PrisonVoicesMatter #WomenInPrisonDeserveDignity

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