The economic crisis that plagues the lives of millions really stings some people in prison. Today I interviewed Thomas Ross, a fellow prisoner who serves time with me at Taft Camp. Thomas serves a lengthy sentence, though the prison time is not nearly as difficult as the despondency that comes with knowing that his wife and children are struggling financially.

Newspapers and news magazines are covering the challenges people across the nation are suffering. President Obama and his leadership team have an economic plan to stimulate the economy and help American families. I intend to make more of an effort to write about people I’m meeting in prison, as I know the economic problems of unemployment, foreclosure, and health care complicate prison adjustments.

Carole and I feel blessed to have stability in our lives. We have been struggling as a prison family since 2002, though long-term plans we made, together with our commitment to each other, enabled us to prepare. In our case, the preparations began long before our marriage. I made a commitment to educate myself at the beginning of my term. Because of that choice, Carole and I we were able to pursue an income stream through my writing. Royalties that flowed from books we published enabled Carole to attend nursing school. We chose that option because our research showed the shortage of nurses. Health care is one of the few sectors that offers job security. As a prison family, we both understand the importance of stability for our family.

When I counsel other prisoners, I try to help them develop long-term plans that will strengthen them through confinement. Those plans must include their family members, as imprisonment is an affliction that hurts the entire family. The recent Pew Report shows that 1 in 31 Americans is beholden to the criminal justice system. For black and Hispanic families, the number is much more discouraging.

Carole and I continue our efforts to prepare for my release. While we serve this sentence, however, we are equally committed to influencing leaders to support prison reform legislation. Members of Congress like Danny Davis and Senator Jim Webb are leading the charge, though I feel a responsibility to make contributions from inside prison boundaries. Carole is helping by learning more about steps we can take to reach more people through our blog. She and our friend Josh recently signed up for a blogging class. I do my part by waking early and writing stories and articles on prison each day in longhand. We are a real prison family.

I woke this morning at 2:30 and I finished writing four blog articles before 7:00. I ran 10 miles, continuing my running string for the 85th day. I interviewed Thomas and in the late afternoon I began writing his story. In the evening, I began reading through well written course material Carole and Josh were studying on blogging techniques. The more I learn, the more effective I hope to become on expanding my authority as a writer both on prison reform and overcoming adversity.

Saturday, 7 March 2009

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