News FeedResponse to Readers
Love Makes Prison Easy
Yolanda Perez read my report from the Fourth Quarter of 2008. From that article, she rightfully realized how fortunate I am to have such a loving, magnificent wife. I thank God and count my blessings for Carole every day. Yolanda had a few questions for me about my thoughts on release. She wanted to know […]
Is My 45-Year Sentence Reasonable?
Maria Iniguez reviewed an article I wrote about PSI reports and posted two questions. She asked whether I thought the 45-year sentence my judge imposed was reasonable for the types of crimes I committed. She also wanted to know whether the PSI could have left out information that might have influenced a lighter sentence. When […]
Prison Guards Interfere with Corrections
Brenda asked me two questions with regard to my article entitled They’re Prison Guards, Not Correctional Officers. Brenda wanted to know whether I thought guards were trained to harass prisoners or whether the culture conditioned them to abuse their authority. She also asked whether I came across any prison guards who were not abusive. When […]
Incentives Lead to More Effective Prisons
Noel responded to an article I wrote about the need for work-release and study-release programs in prison with questions about specific prison reforms I thought would work best to prepare more prisoners for law-abiding, successful lives upon release. The 21-plus years that I have served inside prisons of every security level convince me that we […]
Media Attention May Promote Prison Reform
Television networks have begun broadcasting shows that bring the ugliest aspects of the prison culture into American living rooms. Shows like Lockdown, Maximum-Security, and Inside America’s Prisons perpetuate the stereotypical images of the prison yard. Those shows focus on the failure, the gangs, the tattoos, and the violence. I am convinced that lobbyists who represent […]
Prison Culture Doesn’t Want Prisoners Writing About Prison
Nick wrote a comment in response to my article entitled They’re Prison Guards, Not Correctional Officers. He inquired as to my thoughts on why the prison system would discourage prisoners from writing about the culture of corrections. My perspective, of course, was shaped from having been locked inside prisons for the past 21-plus years. During […]
Prisoners Should Have More Access to Family and Community
Ankineh wrote a comment asking how my lack of interaction with my family and community has affected me, and also asked what suggestions I could offer to improve family interactions for prisoners. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to respond. Prison policies limit me to fewer than an average of 10 minutes of telephone […]
The Remorse and Regret of My Imprisonment
Makeda asked whether I ever regretted that I sold cocaine as a younger man, but she asked from an insightful perspective. Her question seemed philosophical, in observation that had I not sold cocaine, been convicted, and sentenced to a lengthy term in prison, I would not have had the experience of learning so much through […]
Prisoner Access to E-mail Makes Society Safer
J. Michaelsen wrote me a comment in response to an article I wrote suggesting that prison reform should bring email access to prisoners. The readers asked why I thought email access alone would help offenders prepare for release, and asked whether gang members would abuse such a privilege if it were offered. I appreciate these […]
Are All Prisoners Criminals?
Brandon is a criminal justice student who is using my writings as a resource to broaden his understanding of America’s prison system. He posted a few comments that sought my perspective on the potential for real reform within our prison system. I welcome an opportunity to respond. Obviously, I write from the perspective of a […]
Prison Policies Ought to Encourage Positive Leadership
Brittny left a comment in response to the article I wrote about Walt Jones. Since writing the first article about Walt, I wrote an update about his inspiration. I expect him to continue his final months with a positive adjustment and for him to make real contributions to society upon his release. Leaders in prison […]
Prison Visiting and Judicial Decisions
Kellen wrote me with questions pertaining to visiting, and with questions regarding my perceptions of recent judicial decision to lower population levels in California’s prison system Visiting privileges depend upon the security level of the prison. In higher-security institutions, the atmosphere feels more oppressive because of the higher concentration of guards, the surveillance cameras, the […]
Strong Community Ties Can Motivate Prisoners to Adjust Positively
Strong Community Ties Can Motivate Prisoners to Adjust Positively LaRita left a comment asking some questions about another prisoner with whom I served time. His name was Jeff, and the article I wrote about him described the obstacles prison administrators erected in obstructing Jeff’s efforts to marry the mother of his children. LaRita wanted to […]
Can Prisoners Furlough for Childbirth?
Kylee wrote me with questions pertaining to her husband’s confinement. He serves a 46-month sentence at the prison camp in Morgantown, Virginia. Kylee wanted to know whether a furlough for childbirth was possible, and she also had questions about opportunities for her husband to earn an MBA during his imprisonment. My experiences are that a […]
My Strategy for Staying Focused Through Prison
Kyla commented on my entry about the value administrators could create for society by offering incentives that would encourage more prisoners to work toward earning freedom. In light of administrators’ reluctance to offer incentives for productive adjustments, Kyla asked how I stayed focused and avoided the negative influences of confinement. As I have written elsewhere, […]
