Comments on: Prison Reform Should Include Incentives to Encourage Positive Growth

By: Wendy Limon

Wendy Limon — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:46:55 +0000

Hello, Mr. Santos
I really enjoyed reading several of your articles that I had the privilege to read. The article that struck my attention the most was the one about incentives encouraging positive growth. In “Prison Reform Should Include Incentives to Encourage Positive Growth” you mention how the media has been reporting higher levels of stabbing, lethal violence and corruption within the federal prison system. Do you think the stats reported by the media have influenced current/future inmates to propagate the violence within prisons? I also agree with you when it comes to the need to create more tolerant prisons to encourage inmates who are striving to reconcile with society. Furthermore, do you believe that your time spent in prison has provided you with the ability to reenter and reconnect with your community/society prior to being released? And or how other inmates can benefit from such positive incentive programs. Thank you for your time.
-Wendy

By: Carole Santos

Carole Santos — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:33:50 +0000

Hi Kyla,

Michael responded to your questions here:

http://prisonnewsblog.com/2009/02/my-strategy-for-staying-focused-through-prison/

Best wishes,
Carole Santos

By: Kyla Hernandez

Kyla Hernandez — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:27:02 +0000

February 10, 2009
Mr. Santos:
In your article entitled “Prison Reform Should Include Incentives to Encourage Positive Growth” you indicate appropriate prison reforms would not only focus on creating more oppressive environments to punish those who persist in wrongdoing, prison reforms should also include creating programs through which minimum-security inmates can earn greater access to privileges like visiting, telephone calls, commissary, educational opportunities, and community service, in which I totally agree. Prisoners who are well behaved should get positive incentives for their cooperation.
My question to you is ” With all the violence that goes on in the prison, how do you stay focused and not fall in to the trap of violence by influences of other prisoners with aggressive and violent behavior?” and when you do come across various prisoners with aggressive behavior, how would you approach them and encourage them to pursue their education while being incarcerated to help past time without wasting time?
By the way, I enjoy reading your articles and I just began reading your book. I appreciate the time you are taking to contribute to my understanding of corrections.
K. Hernandez