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

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Posted by Michael Santos | Filed Under Prison Journal 

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During his 23+ years of continuous confinement in federal prisons of every security level, Michael Santos has emerged as one of the leading voices on America's prison system and the need for prison reform.Learn more about Michael’s specific efforts, achievements, and contributions.


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