Thank you for this opportunity to elaborate on steps I think leaders can take to make America’s prison system more effective. My thoughts on effectiveness mean that leaders should implement reforms that will reduce recidivism and lower prison operating costs. To achieve such an end, I think we need fundamental reforms.

The reforms I think would work best would include a mechanism that offered opportunities for offenders to reconcile with society. Frankly, I do not see how we serve justice by isolating offenders, extinguishing hope, and oppressing their spirits. Such an approach, to me, leads to high recidivism and unsafe societies. It seems that only the taxpayer is punished by having to fund a system that perpetuates failure.

A far more effective system, I think, would encourage prisoners to earn freedom through merit. I believe the power of incentive is far more effective than the threat of punishment. Even a former Supreme Court Justice, Warren Burger, urged prison reform that would offer opportunities for offenders to earn freedom through merit over sustained periods.

Every offender would be a likely candidate to participate in such a program. Though only objective accomplishments would advance an offender’s standing. Leaders could work out details of what incentives would be appropriate. I simply argue for a mechanism that does not exist in the system of corrections today. From my perspective, that is a fundamental flaw that contributes to high recidivism and high operating costs.

I wish you success with your academic program and your career.

Sincerely,

Michael

My wife and I are grateful for your supportive comments. We work as a team. I would not be nearly as effective at contributing to society and preparing for release if I were not blessed with her love.

My observations do not suggest that prisons focus on punishment. They don’t. The focus is on isolation, or warehousing human beings.

I don’t sense that I’m being punished for example. Rather, I’m being confined – unnecessarily – at great cost to American taxpayers. The punishment ended decades ago, when I was initially processed into the system. Since then, I’ve adjusted and the punishment has worn off.

As far as the warehousing is concerned, staff members regularly tell me that their focus is preservation of the institution. High level administrators have told me they don’t care about what efforts I make to prepare for the obstacles that await my release. They implement rules to block my access to
society because their primary concern is the institution. It is only the First Amendment that protects me, as prison administrators do not support
transparency.

I am convinced, and the Pew Report corroborates, that prisons are more costly to run without prison reforms. The first reform I would bring would be to open access to telephone, visits, and e-mail so prisoners could work toward nurturing ties with family and positive support networks. Then I would implement incentives or mechanisms through which prisoners could work toward earning freedom through merit. We ought to measure justice by an offender’s efforts to reconcile with society and prepare for a law-abiding life. I do not think calendar pages turning is a particularly good measure.

Prolonged incarceration, especially for nonviolent offenders, is costly and destructive to the fabric of our society in my biased opinion. To me, reform is necessary because prisons have proven too costly, with the only benefits flowing to prison lobbyists and the organizations that reap the benefits of massive prison expenditures.

Thank you again for your support.

Sincerely,
Michael

Let me start by saying it means a lot to me to see someone in prison being so helpful to the community. I never knew there are people out there like you. It could be me just being naive or that I watch to much in the media that give felons a bad name. Regardless, thank you so much for what you are doing, it is truly inspiring.

Now, in regards to the article above “Prisons fail to prepare prisoners for society” I have a few questions; Why do you think prisons focus more on punishment then reform? To name of few, what kind of programs do you think should be implemented to help prisoners reform? Why these particular programs over other possible solutions? Lastly, some people believe that reform would be too costly of a direction to take especially because it doesn’t come with a guarantee that recidivism rates would decline. Therefore, how would you convince these people that reform is still necessary?

Thank you for your time.
I wish the best for you and Mrs. Santos.
Sincerely,
Jason Meidl

My questions for you are: What kind of constructive programs would work for thoes willing to partake in them? Do you think that there would be enough people participating for the state to put enough money into the program? Who would be the likely candidates for such a program? Would everyone participate or are there too many people inside who aren’t getting out, and therefore don’t care about such things like the outside society?

I have been reading your book and I find it very interesting. I think it is very well written and it reflects the length and time you put into writing a book that noone wanted you to. I think society needs to read and understand what you have brought to light about prisons. Thank you for your time.
Sincerly,
~Ryan Krusi~