Despite my inability to join in festivities, I certainly have much for which I can feel grateful. I express gratitude for the many blessings of my life every day, and today I bow my head with special prayers for my loving wife, for my family, for good health, and for the opportunities I have to appreciate life.

Yesterday I met Leighton, a young man who self-surrendered to Taft Camp from the San Diego area. New to prison, Leighton brought a fresh perspective as he experienced his first full day in federal prison. He had spoken with my friend Justin before he self-surrendered, so Leighton had an idea of what to expect. Yet he stood in amazement when he saw the amount of waste firsthand.

It’s true that the easy atmosphere of federal prison camps would astonish most taxpayers. At first impression, the prison camps look like recreational resorts, with grown men spending all of their time lounging, exercising, or wasting time. Prison camps truly waste taxpayer resources and human lives.

Certainly, the “punishment” comes with separation from family and community. But taxpayers suffer a high cost for this brand of justice. As Leighton observed, an enlightened society could do so much more than operate these prison camps that separate nonviolent and non-threatening people for years at a time.

The post Twenty-Three Thanksgivings in Prison appeared first on Prison News Blog.

John had been a senior executive for a global corporation. In the interests of advancing his career, John had made some decisions that turned out to violate antitrust laws. He had clung to beliefs that he was not guilty of having violated any criminal statutes, as he was only doing what his job required. When prosecutors went after John’s employer, however, senior officers in the corporation made decisions that resulted in John becoming a scapegoat.

Had John cooperated with the government attorneys from the outset, he surmised that he would have received an immunity deal that would have shielded him from criminal prosecution. Such a decision, however, would have implied that John was not on the team and resulted in his being ostracized. His career would have suffered, he said.

As a consequence of John’s having lived under the absolute assumption that he would never serve time, he did not make adequate financial preparations. For years he had earned an income in the low six figures, and John said that he had not lived beyond his means. Still, he had made financial decisions for his family based on the belief that his high income would continue.

John’s trouble with the criminal justice system had lasted for several years. In the beginning, the corporation had covered the substantial legal costs. When decisions were made to sever ties, John not only lost his income, but he simultaneously became responsible for six-figure legal fees. John did not anticipate the financial ruin problems with the criminal justice system would bring to his family.

People who are coming into the criminal justice system would be wise to learn more about the ancillary consequences. The family members often suffer much more than the prisoners once the judge imposes sentence. While John spent his time walking around the track and reading, he knew that he had burdened his wife with having to deal with foreclosure and bankruptcy on her own. He said his life was a disaster, and the sentence was much more difficult to serve as a consequence of his failure to make adequate preparations for his family.

New prisoners ought to learn from John’s anguish before they come in. I recommend they read Preparing to Self-Surrender among other other articles available through the catalog.

The post New Prisoners Should Prepare Family Before Self-Surrendering appeared first on Prison News Blog.