Comments on: How to Avoid Problems and Violence in Prison http://prisonnewsblog.com/how-to-avoid-problems-and-violence-in-prison/ Prison News and Commentary Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:07:56 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 By: Michael Santos http://prisonnewsblog.com/how-to-avoid-problems-and-violence-in-prison/#comment-215 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:19:58 +0000 http://70.87.13.10/~prison/2008/11/how-to-avoid-problems-and-violence-in-prison/#comment-215 Dear Melissa,

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to respond to your questions. My prison adjustment began soon after I was locked in confinement. I was only 23. The crimes of drug trafficking carried long sentences, and I came to grips with the reality that I would serve a lengthy time in prison. The sentence itself would be too long for me to understand, as I knew I could serve more time in prison than I had yet to live.

Because my sentence was so long, and because I felt remorseful for the humiliation I had caused my family, I had to redeem myself. That was the message I received through prayer. My focus became education, and I set goals in place to work toward earning academic credentials.

When I began serving my term, a program was in place that allowed prisoners to qualify for Pell Grants. That funding enabled me to participate in an undergraduate program and earn a degree. I wrote to graduate schools and persuaded Hofstra University to admit me on a probationary basis. In 1995, Hofstra awarded my master’s degree. Those educational credentials opened other opportunities to live a meaningful life.

I strive to live as an example for my fellow prisoners and to inspire them to live goal-centered lives. In every prison where I’ve been held I’ve taught classes that described the strategies that have guided me through prison. I don’t think those strategies have made my time in prison easier, though they have made me feel more productive.

I hope you find my answers responsive to your questions, and I wish you success with your career.

Sincerely,
Michael Santos

]]> By: Melissa Rosario http://prisonnewsblog.com/how-to-avoid-problems-and-violence-in-prison/#comment-157 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:13:26 +0000 http://70.87.13.10/~prison/2008/11/how-to-avoid-problems-and-violence-in-prison/#comment-157 3/11/2009
Mr. Santos:
I am a Criminal Justice Major at CSULB and currently enrolled in DR. Torres’ Corrections class. Class requirements include reading your book, “Inside,” and also selecting one of your articles from “Prisonreform.com.” Our assignment is to present ot you a question or questions that revovle prison reform.
In your article entitled “How to Avoid Problems and Violence in Prison” you indicated that you avoided confrontations with other prisoner because of the goals you set for yourself and the having high expectations for yourself.
My question for you is what makes your prison time easier than another inmate that also has high hopes/expectation for themself.Do prisoners know what you do and do they feel that you try to make yourself better than them by educating yourself and plan to leave prison with a possible career in line. This question is a question out of curiousity, how did you attain a degree from college, while in prison and do you help other prisoner by helping them get an education, have goals for outside of prison, or helping them have a positive outlook at life after prison, like you have?
Thank you for your time and I enjoyed reading your article and helping me in my Criminal Justice Career. Thank you and God bless
M. Rosario

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