Prison Lobbyists vs Prison Reform

Read Michael’s recent posts on Change.org: Most Popular Posts by Michael Santos What Happened to Prison Reform? Do Longer Prison Sentences Make the Public Safer? The View from Inside: Prison Time Doesn’t Equal Justice Take Action on Long-Term Imprisonment Bring Back Federal Parole And here’s a related article addressing the issue of prison lobbyists vs. […]

Prison Administrators Can Lower Recidivism Rates by Offering Incentives

As I watched political news shows this past Sunday morning, I heard many Republican pundits assailing President Obama’s economic stimulus package with accusations that it lacks incentives for success. I wish those conservatives would support the use of incentives when deliberating over strategies for prison reform. For more than 21 years I’ve served time in various […]

Prisoner Contributions to Universities

As a long-term prisoner, I’ve always felt as if I had a duty to reconcile with society. One contribution I could make was to document my journey through the federal prison system. I have written extensively about my experiences of living in prison for more than 21 years. I have also written about others. The […]

Redemption in Prison has Meaning Under Obama Administration

We must pass through a few more weeks before a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court will swear President Obama into office. Yet reports I have read in various newspapers indicate he is moving quickly to fill the void of wisdom in leadership for our country. As a long-term prisoner, I am particularly interested in […]

Ordinary Americans Face Harsh Justice, While Powerful Enjoy Christmas at Home

In 1987, I was 23-years-old. That was the year I was arrested. I did not have more than a high school education then, and I had made some bad decisions. To earn an income, I wrongfully joined a group of friends and acquaintances to sell cocaine. We distributed cocaine to consenting adults only, and we […]

Was My 45-Year Prison Sentence Just?

As readers may know from my books and articles available at criminal-indictment.com, my position is that we could create a more effective system that better serves the needs of society if we created programs that encouraged prisoners to prepare for law-abiding lives upon release. Justice should not be determined with the initial sentence, but rather […]

My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror

My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror is an autobiography describing the career path of Louis J. Freeh, who was a former director of the FBI. Prior to his post as FBI Director, Freeh had been an FBI agent, a U.S. prosecuting attorney in the Southern District […]

College Professor and Students Visit Me at Taft Camp

After more than 20 years of continuous confinement, every opportunity to interact with or contribute to society comes as an incredibly welcome treat. Yesterday, I had such a privilege, and I will savor the memory for many years to come. These experiences remind me that I will not live as a prisoner forever and that my return […]

Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America’s Prison Population

Read Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America’s Prison Population, a new report published by the JFA Institute (November 19, 2007). This report is a wonderful testimony for change and much-needed reform and relief in America’s prison system. Overview: Report Says U.S. Prison System In Need of Major Change Criminology experts and practitioners gathered […]