Prison Journal: Day 7,904
March 31, 2009
I received a copy of Senator Jim Webb’s bill to establish the National Criminal Justice Commission in last night’s mail. The Senate bill differed from what many prisoners were hoping to read. Prisoners had been hoping for prison reform legislation that would bring immediate relief. They wanted actions that would reinstate parole, offer more good time credit, or some type of mechanism through which they could advance their release date. I am conditioned to have more patience.
When my wife conveyed her enthusiasm to me about Senator Webb’s bill during a phone conversation last week, I misunderstood what was coming. This bill will establish a commission to study the criminal justice system and make recommendations for meaningful prison reform. I am optimistic that significant improvements will follow. Yet the Bill indicates taht the commission will not report its findings to Congress until the fall of 2010 at the earliest.
My understanding of the legislative process suggests that the Hosue of Representatives must also pass a companion bill. Once both houses of Congress pass the bill, the President will sign it into law. That is when the 18-month time line begins to toll.
After the commission makes its recommendations to Congress, the Congress will need to draft new legislation to implement the prison reform legislation. Accordingly, I do not expect prisoners will begin to see relief from this effort until 2011 at the earliest. If that scenario plays out, then a prisoner would have to have a release date scheduled in 2012 or beyond to potentially receive the relief that this initial step of prison reform legislation will bring.
When asked whether I thought the tendency of confining nonviolent offenders for decades would persist, I always answered no, but with a caveat. I always anticipated that I would serve my entire sentence. Just as I was completing the term, I reasoned, some type of prison reform would come. It appears as if that will be the case.
Currently, I am eligible for relief to a halfway house between the months of April and August of 2012. That means I’m scheduled to remain in prison for about three more years. It’s possible that legislation resulting from Senator Webb’s commission may advance that date, though Carole and I ought to keep our hopes for relief grounded. I’d like to see President Obama appoint a new pardon attorney and a new Director of the Bureau of Prisons who shared his vision of hope. Those appointments might bring more immediate prison reforms that would improve the lives of people in prison today.
I intend to continue my work. I will write about the prison system and about strategies to grow through confinement. Simultaneously I will work to strengthen my marriage and prepare for the challenges that await my release.
This morning I wrote four blogs before 7:00 a.m. Then I exercised. I ran 10 miles and followed the run with 300 pushups. My tally now stands at 960 miles over the past 109 continuous running days.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,903
March 30, 2009
The possibilities for prison reform legislation continue to improve. In the early morning, often writing two blog entries on prison experiences, I wrote letters to various senators who have expressed an interest in prison reform.
Although I had not yet seen the Bill that Senator Webb submitted to Congress on prison reform, I knew that other senators joined him in sponsoring the legislation. Those senators included Specter, Reid, Leahy, Durbin, Graham, Schumer, Murray, Wyden, Brown, Warner, Gillibrand, and Burris. I wrote individual letters to each of those senators.
My purpose in writing letters was to introduce myself as a long-term prisoner who could offer a unique perspective. Each one-page letter revealed that I was in my 22nd year of imprisonment, that I had earned two university degrees, published extensively, and could offer prison reform suggestions that would lead more offenders to emerge as law-abiding citizens.
I don’t know how the members of Congress will advance the cause for prison reform. Yet I feel strongly that I can contribute testimony that will assist their deliberations. Writing letters from prison may not be the best way to establish myself as an authority on prison reform, though it is one step I will take to persuade Congress to call me as a witness on prison reform issues.
After finishing the last of those letters, I went to exercise. I ran four miles, then I had to stop because the camp administrator paged me. She wanted to speak with me about a group of at-risk adolescents who would be coming to Taft Camp to listen to our TOAD presentation. The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday evening and she asked me to coordinate. The page interrupted my exercise. Rather than resume my run, I recorded the four miles and let my legs rest. I now have 950 miles recorded over the past 108 days.
In the afternoon I led the seventh meeting in our session for the Entrepreneurial Compass class. We met in the chow hall, as the warehouse where we usually meet was filled with inventory. Scott Evans, the motivational speaker from Los Angeles was present for the class. Walt, one of the participants, delivered a speech on his prison experiences and preparations for release.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,902
March 29, 2009
The efforts Senator Jim Webb has launched to begin prison reform legislation compels me to set a new goal. Although I have not yet received the articles describing exactly what is taking place in Washington, from what Carole told me, Senator Webb is convening a panel of experts to explore the most effective strategies to reform our criminal justice system. I’m setting a goal to contribute to that panel.
I don’t know how to go about persuading Congress to call upon me, but I’ve set a strategy in place. Today I wrote letters to several people from within my network of support asking for assistance. They are creative, intelligent people. Whereas I cannot access the telephone, e-mail, or the internet, they can. I’m hoping they will use their talents to make a connection. Some will call Congressional staffers, some will use social networking services to lift my profile, some may even visit Senator Webb’s office.
There is a reason I should offer testimony before the Congressional panel that is contemplating prison reform ideas. One is that I have 22 years experience of living in prison. Another is that I have educated myself during my imprisonment. By committing to a positive adjustment pattern, I have opened opportunites that will help me overcome the challenges that await me. The experiences I have had will bring members of Congress insight on prison reforms that will ensure more prisoners emerge successfully, as law-abiding citizens.
Certainly, the members of Congress will call upon the law enforcement community, academia, the clergy, and other social scientists to provide testimony. I will reach out to such people through letters to seek their assistance in making contact with the appropriate decision makers. As a prisoner, Congress would have to subpoena me as a witness. Though I feel strongly that I could provide valuable insight to help their deliberation over appropriate and effective prison reform.
Each week I will write letters to members of Congress. I ask those within my network of support to use their creativity to reach out as well. The time has never been more favorable for possible prison reform legislation. I must work hard and consistently to advance the call.
This morning I wrote two blogs. I spent the rest of my writing hours on letters to people who could help me initiate the process of connecting with Congress. I also wrote an introductory letter to Joan Petersilia, a distinguished professor who invited me to contribute a chapter to her new book. I ran 10 miles and followed with 300 pushups. My tally now stands at 946 miles over the past 107 days.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,901
March 28, 2009
Today was a bonus day for me. I don’t get too many of these, and I really appreciate them when they come. Since Carole was scheduled to work on one Friday earlier this month, and since this month had only four weekends, we had sufficient visiting points available to visit on a Saturday. I woke with a lot of enthusiasm to spend a second day in a row visiting with my wife. Some may think it odd that a few more hours in a visiting room with my wife could mean so much, but for me that time with Carole is as close to liberty as I know.
I knew that I would only have a half day with her, as Carole had to attend an event for Nichole in Santa Barbara later in the afternoon. Despite the three hours she would have to spend on the road, Carole drove into the parking lot at 8:10 this morning. We spent four magnificent hours together. I wish the prison rules provided more accessibility to visiting and telephone privileges, as I really cherish opportunities to nurture my marriage.
During our visit, Carole and I spoke about the changes going on in Congress. Prison reform has become a real likelihood. With the election of 2010 ahead, I feel strongly that legislation will pass within a year, as the Democrats will want to see the change before the campaign season for the next Congress begins.
Sentence reform is a huge deal for Carole and me. We believe that by this time next year, a new law will exist that ought to advance my release date. I would not be surprised to return to society in 2010. Because of that possibility, Carole and I feel high levels of optimism. We’re ready. Carole has a nursing credential that provides her with excellent employment stability. While Carole works as a nurse, I will build my career as a speaker, writer, and consultant from the home we build together. It’s very exciting for us to plan on living together as husband and wife. Feelings of being a man, as opposed to a prisoner, are returning to me.
I woke to prepare for my visit with Carole at 3:00. In the early-morning hours I wrote four blog articles. Then I ran five miles. That lifted my distance tally to 936 miles over the past 106 days. In early April I will cross the 1,000-mile goal that I set last December.
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,900
March 27, 2009
During my visit today, my wife told me about the flood of news that describes efforts being made across our country to reform the prison and sentencing system. On 20 March, Kevin Johnson published an article in USA Today describing how money shortfalls were causing states from across the country to support new legislation designed to reduce its costly prison population levels. On 25 March, Jennifer Steinhauer published an article in the New York Times that conveyed the same message.
Some analysts worry that these prison reforms could undermine public safety. When I read such reports, I feel outrage that I am so hindered from communicating with American taxpayers about what I’ve learned about our prison system over the past 22 years. From my perspective, smart prison reforms would enhance public safety by lowering recidivism rates. Across the board prison reforms that release tens of thousands of prisoners who have not worked to earn freedom, on the other hand, will lead to spikes in criminal activity and ruin the prospects for a sensible criminal justice system.
Yesterday, Carole said that she read about Senator Jim Webb’s proposed legislation to empanel a body of experts for the purpose of gathering data that would lead to prison and sentence reform. I would like very much to contribute to that panel and I will make efforts to reach out. The panel ought to consider the insider views of a man who has worked hard to reconcile with society over a sustained period of time. I know the reasons behind both negative and positive adjustment patterns in prison, and through my work, I hope to apprise lawmakers of prison reforms they can make that would increase the numbers of offenders who emerged as law-abiding citizens.
Carole and I discussed the likelihood of prison reform legislation over the next year that may advance my release date. By April of 2010, we expect to see new laws in place that will result in my return to society sooner than my current release date suggests. We both suspect that I could return to society before the end of 2010. That date suits us well, as it is more than two years ahead of schedule, and it provides Carole with time to move closer to the completion of her nursing degree. The higher professional credential will provide our family with greater financial stability, which we both consider an essential component to my transition to society after a quarter century in prison.
We’re both encouraged to read these reports about the call for prison reform. Whether it comes in time to help me, I’m glad to have so much of my sentence behind me, and to have the blessings that will assure my success with Carole upon release.
Before kissing my beautiful wife this morning, I ran five miles and wrote two blog articles. My string of 105 running days continues, and my accumulated mileage has increased to 931.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,899
March 26, 2009
Two staff members from Taft Prison Camp drove seven other prisoners and me to Bakersfield this morning. Ms. Mickelson, our staff sponsor, coordinated the field trip that would allow us to make three separate presentations to teenagers who were attending a community school for at-risk youth. This trip to Bakersfield was my fifth outing from prison as a participant in the TOAD group, and I appreciate the privilege.
The reason I enjoy participating in these speaking assignments is that I can sense the value members in our audience place on the message. They range in age between 13 and 18, and all of the kids are in some kind of trouble. The other schools expelled them, or they are burdened under some type of supervision by the criminal justice system. These kids need guidance, and they express an interest in the stories we provide about our experiences.
It’s not only the children, the staff members who work in the schools tell us how the children talk about what they learned from our presentations for several days. These kids are not new to prison. When I ask how many of the kids have family members who are in prison, every hand rises. They are kids who were raised in prison visiting rooms, kids who have not been strangers to the rigid rules of confinement. One student said that his father and two of his brothers were in prison, and each of them were serving sentences north of 10 years. One girl told me how her brother had been murdered four days after he was released from prison. These were children who knew tragedy, and they hurt. It was a privilege for an opportunity to provide some guidance, if even for a few hours.
Naturally, none of the TOAD members glorify our experiences when we share our stories. We tell them about the twisted values that led us into criminal activities, and the heavy price that our families pay with us because of our bad choices. I am careful to express the burden of responsibility, to let those in the audience know that I serve a lengthy sentence because I did not make good choices. When they hear that I’ve been in prison for 22 years the children give me their full attention. I’m hopeful that we conveyed a message, and that they will consider the more positive options we offered.
Another advantage of traveling to the local schools for this type of outing was that our staff sponsors, the teachers at the school, and those in the audience did not look down on us as prisoners. In that setting, we do not even feel as if we are prisoners. We are people, making a contribution to a better community. A sense of liberty comes with the trust others place in us for those hours we spend away from a prison. It is a taste of what is to come, and I value the privilege. I look forward to experiencing freedom with my wife, Carole.
Before the road trip, I wrote two blogs in the early morning, and I ran three miles. My tally now stands at 926 miles over the past 104 consecutive days.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,898
March 25, 2009
I was pleased to have received an invitation to submit an article for American Corrections, the leading textbook for professors who teach courses in corrections. Professor George Cole, who has been a mentor and friend of mine for many years, was one of the original authors of this text. Since George is retiring, he is passing along his responsibilities of updating the book to a professor in Arizona. I wrote the Arizona professor yesterday to accept the writing invitation.
This was the second opportunity I had in March to expand my reach into academia. I’m also looking forward to contributing a chapter in the book that Dr. Petersilia of Stanford is compiling. Such opportunities may not be remunerative, but they ought to enhance my resume and they may expand my network of support. Besides what the efforts will do to enhance my prospects for release, they contribute to the educational experiences of others. This reward brings meaning to my life, as I feel as if I’m adding value.
When I read articles in the newspapers, like the one by Solomon Moore from 2 March in the New York Times, I know that American citizens lack an understanding about all the costs of criminal corrections. That article describes the billions taxpayers spend each year to confine so many people. Americans don’t have a clear idea of waht goes on inside these prison boundaries. I welcome all opportunities to share what I have learned from others and what I have experienced through so many years in prison.
Today I wrote five blog articles. I ran six miles in the early morning, then interrupted my run to attend the meeting scheduled for our outreach group, TOAD. We had a rehearsal today, as eight of our members will travel to a school in Bakersfield to speak with at-risk adolescents about the experiences we’ve endured as a consequence of our criminal behavior that began during our youth.
Following the TOAD meeting, I returned to the track to conclude my running. After four additional miles, my tally stood at 923 miles over the past 103 days. Tomorrow I won’t be able to run the full 10 miles as we’re scheduled to leave the prison early for our trip to Bakersfield.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,897
March 24, 2009
President Obama delivered his second prime time news conference this evening. He has been accessible to the media during his first 60 days in office, much more so than any other president. I value each opportunity to learn from his leadership.
The purpose of his conference this evening was to advocate for the massive budget he has presented to Congress. High deficit predictions cause some to worry on its viability. I have confidence in his ability to lead. He has a strong team and a level of competence that will serve him well. The idea is to spend on projects that will pull us from what has become a spiraling recession while simultaneously advancing our society.
The opposition continues to argue for a spending freeze. This seems a ridiculous proposition with unemployment rates in some major cities in excess of 20 percent, some states in excess of 10 percent, and a national unemployment average in excess of 8 percent. Only through government investment, or spending, have we been able to stabilize housing and initiate the flow of credit. Mortgage rates, I have seen, now hover at below 5 percent. With a spending freeze, as the Republicans want, the economy would crumble.
Mostly, I feel encouraged by President Obama’s courage to lead. He bases decisions on data rather than ideology. This difference shows up in the executive order he signed that provides federal funding for stem cell research. Leading scientists from across the world have been calling for this funding to advance medicine. Under George Bush’s legacy, no such funding was available as stem-cell research went against his ideology. Bush was our equivalent of the Dark Ages, when the Catholic church ruled the world and declared the advancement of science a capital offense.
Another example of a break from the stuck-in-the-mud policies of George Bush was President Obama’s order to support the states’ rights to issue medical marijuana through appropriate dispensaries. Science shows that marijuana can alleviate pain, despite the ideology of the hypocritcal right. I look forward to further leadership that will bring a more sensible drug policy.
By relying on scientific evidence rather than right-wing ideology or lobbyists, we ought to see prison reform introduced soon. The economy, health care, energy, and education will take an understandable priority. The evidence from academia and social science clearly show, however, that long-term imprisonment for nonviolent crime does not serve the interests of our society. I am confident that President Obama will lead us into a more enlightened prison system.
This morning I began my work at 2:30. I finished writing two blogs before 4:00. Then I completed a lengthy article for change.org. I ran 10 miles, lifting my total to 913 miles over the past 102 days. In the afternoon I wrote another article in response to what I considered a misleading statement to Congress by the director of the BOP.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,896
March 23, 2009
After a disappointingly unproductive weekend, I woke at 2:30 this morning rejuvenated. I read for a while, then began writing at 3:10. By 7:30 a.m. I had completed eight blog articles and sent them off with a letter to my wife. I felt good about writing more this morning than I had written over the entire weekend.
The fruitful writing session caught me up with responses to all the student questions I had received from Cal State Long Beach criminal justice program. As of today I have written lengthy responses to 86 students. According to my records, I await questions for only 13 more students and that will complete the semester requirements.
I appreciate this opportunity to interact with university programs. The students from Cal State expect to pursue work in law enforcement upon graduation. Many will become correctional officers or probation officers. It is conceivable that the probation officer who supervises my release may be a student to whose education my work is contributing. I look forward to contributing to this program, not only at Cal State, but at other universities as well.
I’m contemplating another book. Although I don’t want to publish another book during my imprisonment, I’m nearing the time when I ought to clarify ideas for the next manuscript. I should have a goal in place of finishing a book proposal, outline, and sample chapter before the end of this year. Several months may pass after the book proposal is complete before a publisher issues and agreement. If I succeed in getting another publishing opportunity, more than one year would pass before the book came to market.
I’d like to have at least one, and possibly two books ready for release at the same time that I complete my sentence. That kind of planning will help launch my career. Whereas the prison system hindered me by blocking access to media and effective promotions with my previous publications, once I finish my term I will not have to endure those limitations. I must prepare for that opportunity.
Writing, speaking, teaching, and consulting represent the one career I can pursue that my prison experience will not hinder. In any other career, I expect that others will reject me because of the bad decisions I made in my early 20s. As a speaker and writer on the subjects associating with thriving through adversity, on the other hand, I expect my prison experiences will prove helpful in validating me as an authroity. That has been my plan and I must continue to prepare.
Today I ran 10 miles, though I’m feeling new pains in my left knee and lower hip area. I have recorded 903 miles without a day of rest of the past 101 days. I’ve crossed the 100-day goal and I’d like to continue until I break through the 1,000-mile goal. Slow and steady.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,895
March 22, 2009
We had a stormy, rainy day here in Taft. Throughout the course of a year, these kinds of days come infrequently. I would say we enjoy sunshine more than 300 days of each year. I did not mind having to run through heavy winds and rain, but with the aches in my left knee area and hip, I ran only three miles. This week I ran a total of 50 miles, which was at least 10 miles less than I ran during any other week of the year. My tally now stands 893 miles of running over the past 100 consecutive days. I may lower my weekly totals for a while until my pain subsides. I’d like to keep the record of continuous running days going, and I will run as long as I don’t feel that I’m damaging my joints. I run slow and steady.
With the stormy weather outside, we had a lot of noise in the housing unit. These days are not optimal for writing. I wrote two blogs in the morning. Then I began reading The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey, who is the son of one of my favorite authors.
President Obama was scheduled to speak on 60 Minutes, and I would have liked to watch. I was in bed by 6 p.m., however, and sleeping by 6:30. This has been my least productive weekend of 2009. I’m not proud of it.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
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