Readings in philosophy helped me through the early years. I felt as if I learned much from wise men who lived before me. Sun Tzu, for example, wrote that a wise man always makes a point of knowing his enemies. Aristotle, on the other hand, suggested that a wise man ought to himself. Although I learned from many philosophers, I derived my adjustment strategy by incorporating those lessons from Aristotle and Sun Tzu.

Knowing my enemy meant that I had to understand all of the adversaries around me. That meant I had to make a point of knowing everything I could about the prison system in which I lived. I also had to take time for introspection. I spent hours thinking about the values that drove me to crime, and the type of life I wanted to create for my future. That meant knowing both my strengths and my weaknesses.

From my readings, I was able to create an adjustment strategy. I’ve written extensively about my adjustment strategy in articles available on www.criminal-indictment.com and in books I’ve written. Essentially, I determined to reach goals that I set. As a consequence of knowing both my environment and my strengths, I found that I could create a niche for myself within the prison. I committed myself wholeheartedly to the plan for release that I had set. With that plan, I was able to work toward specific goals. Focusing on those goals felt a lot easier than dwelling on the 45-year prison term that my judge imposed. The adjustment strategy made all the difference in my life. Through my writings, I expect to share the strategy with others.

As a consequence of the commitment I made to my adjustment, I was able to build a life of meaning in prison. I earned academic credentials that have opened numerous opportunities. Because of my education, I was able to communicate with others. Many people have come into my life. People believe in me because I say what I want to achieve and I provide regular reports that describe my progress. That work engenders respect from others, and that is how I build support.

Through my work I’ve been able to avoid the negativity of prison. Besides that, I have managed to generate revenues that contribute to society and prepare for my release. Most importantly to me, the work I have done has enabled me to build a family with a magnificent woman who married me in a prison visiting room. As crazy as it may sound, my life in prison surpasses that of many less fortunate people in society.

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In prison, however, educational pursuits have little influence over a man’s status. The prisons where I served my first decade were violent. Earning respect required an individual to instill fear in other men. A college degree would not yield much respect, but a man who was skillful in using a knife might win the privilege of a single cell. If a person was able to control a prison gang, others might pay homage to him. Such distinctions seemed trivial to me. I knew that I would walk out of prison gates one day, and I focused exclusively on steps I could take to prepare for the challenges I expected to face.

Later, as I served more time, I found that I developed a kind of seniority. Prisoners respect those who have served lengthy periods with dignity intact. Now I have more than 21 years of prison behind me. That length of time gives me the unwelcome distinction of being the prisoner with the most time in at my prison. Wherever administrators send me, I will be in the top two percent of prisoners with continuous time inside.

The crime for which I am serving my sentence may not offer me much distinction in prison. The length of time I have served is what seems to matter. More than the time, however, would be the blessings I have found since my sentence began. Prisoners admire me because I have published several books and because I have created a life for myself while serving a lengthy sentence. Despite the limitations of confinement, I have resources in the world, employment opportunities that await me, an extensive network of support, and an extraordinary marriage with an exceptionally beautiful woman who married me in a prison visiting room.

Other prisoners would like to serve time in the way that I have, as my life surpasses that of most long-term prisoners. Anyone who makes the adjustment choices that I made can prepare for release and find meaning. I describe strategies that helped me in articles available at www.criminal-indictment.com.

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