Prison Journal: Day 7,921
April 17, 2009
This morning I resumed work on the chapter for Professor Joan Petersilia’s book at 1:55. It was my third day of writing for the chapter and I’ve made good progress. If my writing is as productive tomorrow, I ought to finish a first draft of the chapter.
The chapter provides a condensed view of the experiences I’ve had and the motivations that drove me through all the years I’ve served in prison. I’ve enjoyed writing this chapter as it forced me to remember my early years and how the prison adjustment changed after my first decade. I tremendously honored that Professor Petersilia invited me to contribute a chapter and I want the work to exceed her expectations.
I spoke with Carole last night on the phone and she told me that Professor Petersilia had sent her a message to make sure I understood the chapter was not due until March of 2010. I knew that I had a long lead time, but I also knew that as a prisoner, my life could change at any time. Part of my goal-oriented prison adjustment requires me to focus on completing goals as quickly as possible. That way I can move on to the next.
I describe the ways that goals have influenced my prison adjustment through this chapter I’m writing for Professor Petersilia. My hopes include the possibility that this chapter will provide evidence on the need for prison reform that will encourage more prisoners to embrace goals as an integral part of their prison adjustments.
As a consequence of the commitment I make to goals and completing them on time, I feel as if I always have something to strive toward. Each goal becomes a step on a ladder I have been building since 1987. This ladder has lifted me far from the depths of my imprisonment and I intend to continue climbing until I am home. Once release does come, I feel confident that the goals I have set will help me emerge with the strength I need to make a successful transition.
Today is my wife’s birthday. Carole turned 45, which is the same age as me. We were fortunate in that her birthday fell on a scheduled visiting day, so we were able to share it together. I feel that my release date is coming closer, and I stand hopeful that some change will surprise us, enabling us to begin our life together as a married couple. Living as a prison couple has been a blessing, but I am ready to return home, and home is with Carole.
Before my visit I ran three miles. That short run boosted my tally to 1,109 miles over the past 126 days.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,920
April 16, 2009
With an eagerness to complete this chapter I’m writing for Professor Joan Petersilia’s book, I woke this morning at 2:06. I had a productive writing session until 7:30 this morning. The sun was shining and I then walked to the track to begin my exercise. I ran 10 miles and followed the run with 400 pushups. My tally now stands at 1,106 miles over the past 125 days.
Following my exercise I returned to the quiet room and resumed work on the chapter. While writing, I heard a sad story. Another prisoner just returned to Taft Camp. He had been released from the camp about one year ago. Now he has returned with another year to serve because he violated the conditions of his supervised release.
The irony is that the man feels grateful for his return to prison. He was all smiles, shaking hands and hugging all the prisoners he knew from before he left. When he learned that the chow hall was serving pancakes for breakfast, he expressed elation.
When I later appraoched the man to confirm what I had heard about his joy at returning to Taft Camp, he greeted me with a hug. To gauge his reaction, I told him that I was sorry he had returned to prison. He told me it was the best for him. The recession has made the world unbearable, he said. He couldn’t gather the funds to rent an apartment, couldn’t find employment. Sometimes he went without food. One year at Taft Camp offered the respite he said that he wanted. When his lawyer was going to argue for six months, the man said he wanted the full year in prison.
I work hard preparing for the obstacles ahead because I’ve seen too many people return to prison. I feel sad for the man, and sad for society that operates a criminal justice system that releases 700,000 people each year, many of whom lack the skills and resources to function in society. I expect to play a role in changing such dismal realities. Prison reform can help.
This month has kept me busy with longer-term writing projects. Soon I will return to more extensive blogging.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,919
April 15, 2009
At 2:15 this morning I began writing a chapter for Professor Joan Petersilia’s new book, Oxford Handbook on Sentencing and Corrections. I worked on the project enthusiastically, as I want to finish a draft of the chapter by next week. With discipline, that will not be a problem.
My responsibility is to write about living in prison. I will bring the reader through my various stages of confinement and describe the values that guided me. The other authors who are contributing chapters come from an academic or public-policy background. I feel honored to be the only prisoner contributing and I want to please Professor Petersilia with my contribution.
Following my morning writing session, I attended the TOAD program. We have a group of students from the local community scheduled to visit the prison this coming sunday. This morning we set the agenda on who would speak,what skits we would perform, and what messages we would convey regarding the importance of avoiding crime.
Following my TOAD meeting, I had to write a lengthy description of how the Toastmasters public speaking group conducts its sessions. I played an active role in bringing a Toastmasters speaking club to the penitentiary when I was held in Atlanta. My case manager asked me to describe how we ran our meetings, so I obliged her by writing out a six-page description.
Handing her the report I prepared led to a lengthy conversation. My case manager told me that she had received a request for some information pertaining to my case from the office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney. Nothing may come of the request, though I felt a bit of hope in knowing someone from the pardon attorney’s office might be reviewing my file. Still, I must stay grounded and continue this focus on my preparations for release.
I ran 10 miles early this morning, before the TOAD meeting. The new tally stands at 1,096 miles over the past 124 consecutive days.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
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