I spent the early morning working on the foundation documents that I began writing yesterday. At six I went outside to exercise, and after I returned it became clear that I wouldn’t spend much time writing. The weekends can be difficult to find quiet space—others use the table where I work to play cards and table games. I used the time to watch back-to-back episodes of reality television shows on the National Geographic Network that show various aspects of prison life.
As I watch prison shows, I feel as if I’m doing market research. Millions of people watch these shows that depict society inside prison boundaries, and I suspect the reality television programming influences the thoughts people have about prison—these shows dramatize the hopelessness of life inside prison boundaries, and they emphasize the struggle of maintaining order. What they lack, I think, is a clear picture of how prisons fail to prepare individuals for law-abiding lives upon release. Prisons condition many for continuing cycles of failure. Through my work now, and upon my release, I intend to contribute to reforms that improve this system, and reality television may be a tool I use.
Obviously I cannot work on television programming while I serve my sentence. What I can do is collect more information that I will use and draw from in the future as I strive to educate citizens on the ways that we can improve America’s prison system. Instead of focusing so much attention on the need for more steel gates and concrete walls, I’d like to show that, just as we need protections against dangerous offenders, we also need to encourage those who strive to overcome the challenges of confinement so that more offenders can emerge as law abiding, contributing citizens. That is a role I am well qualified to fulfill.
People in prison need to see that with discipline and commitment to a deliberate plan they can walk out of prison with resources and support that lead to successful adjustments in society. Likewise, taxpayers, legislators, and administrators need to see the value in providing such encouragements. Reality television, together with literature I write and speeches I deliver, will help me spread this message. I look forward to my release date and to continuing this work.
This morning I ran 10 miles and followed with 400 pushups.
[Consecutive running log: 3,556 miles in 401 days]
[Pushups in 2010: 5,400]
Sunday, 17 January 2010
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