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Pass It On Seminar
Description of my participation in dynamic personal growth seminar, Pass It On, at Taft Camp, led by Scott Evans. As a long-term prisoner I am grateful for every opportunity to learn and interact with society. Yesterday, on April 11, 2008, I felt fortunate to attend a three-hour personal growth seminar that administrators at Taft Camp […]
Speech on Second Chance Act
I delivered this speech from memory to a large audience at a Toastmasters Group meeting at Taft Camp on March 31, 2008 to share my understanding of the Second Chance Act. Good morning Toastmasters and guests. Thank you for the honor of your attendance and attention. I want everyone in this room to know that I […]
First Quarter Report, Taft Prison Camp 2008
I began 2008, my 21st year of imprisonment, with a high degree of optimism. Now that we’ve moved beyond the first three months of this year, I feel better than ever. I keep track of my daily progress by recording my activities in a weekly planner. When this year began, I knew that we would […]
A New Earth, Chapter 2 Workbook Questions
As part of Oprah’s online class, my wife and I are working through Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, together by reading and answering the weekly workbook questions. Following are my answers to the questions posed in the Chapter Two workbook: Pay attention to any repetitive thought patterns, particularly negative ones about yourself, your life, or […]
On the subject of parole
I recently received a wonderful letter from a young college student who is studying criminal justice in Michigan. He was assigned to read one of the books I wrote, and he asked a few questions that I thought readers of my Blog might have an interest in. Accordingly, I am posting his insightful questions along […]
Suggestions for New Prisoners
Now is a much better time to begin serving a prison sentence. That may sound ridiculous to the casual reader, the normal person who doesn’t believe there is ever a good time to begin a prison term. I am speaking relatively. The time is much better than 1987, when I began serving my sentence. In […]
A New Earth – Chapter One: The Flowering of Human Consciousness
As part of Oprah’s online class, my wife and I are working through Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, together by reading and answering the weekly workbook questions. Following are my answers to the questions posed in the Chapter One workbook: Why did you decide to read this book? My wife, Carole, sent me Eckhart […]
Speech On Leadership
At Taft Camp, as has been the case in any other federal prison where I’ve been held, I am responsible for creating my own opportunities to grow. My motivation is not to earn any meaningless certificates, or even to ignite hopes of advancing my release date. I strive for improvement because I find fulfillment in […]
Those Outspoken Against Drugs
For the first time since 1987, I left prison to participate in a community service program. More than 246 months had passed since I walked in society. The sensations surprised me. They began soon after I walked out of the Taft camp and sat in the back seat of a van that our staff sponsor […]
College Professor and Students Visit Me at Taft Camp
After more than 20 years of continuous confinement, every opportunity to interact with or contribute to society comes as an incredibly welcome treat. Yesterday, I had such a privilege, and I will savor the memory for many years to come. These experiences remind me that I will not live as a prisoner forever and that my return […]
Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America’s Prison Population
Read Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America’s Prison Population, a new report published by the JFA Institute (November 19, 2007). This report is a wonderful testimony for change and much-needed reform and relief in America’s prison system. Overview: Report Says U.S. Prison System In Need of Major Change Criminology experts and practitioners gathered […]
The Second Chance Act of 2007
The Second Chance Act of 2007 continues to bring hope to the lives of prisoners confined in Taft Camp. As of this writing, the possibility of this legislation passing remains alive. I’m hopeful that both Houses of Congress will approve the Bill and present it for signature to the President before the year ends. Although […]
Taft Prisoners Contributing to the Lives of Others
TOAD is an acronym for a leadership group in which I participate under the direction of Counselor Griffin at Taft Camp. The letters in TOAD stand for Those Outspoken Against Drugs. Several inmates participate in the group with the intention of helping others make better decisions. Each month, Counselor Griffin escorts a group of TOAD […]
Preparing Goals That Lead to Happiness and Success
With more than 20 years of prison behind me, I expect to serve somewhere between 51 and 63 more months as a federal prisoner. Because I am an old-law inmate, prison officials must compute my good time differently from most others. Besides that, I have a sliver of parole eligibility. On account of those complications, […]
Encouraging Others to Use the Free Services of PrisonSuccess.com
I’m very grateful to my sponsors and my wife for having built PrisonSuccess.com. This is a social networking Web site that we designed with hopes of helping other prisoners prepare for law-abiding lives upon release. It costs inmates nothing to participate on the site, yet allows them to document the progress they make through their […]
