Prison Journal: Day 8,199
January 20, 2010
Every time I talk to a new prisoner who arrives at Taft Camp, I become more convinced of the value my friend, Justin Paperny offers as a prison consultant. Today I spoke with Rick, a businessman from Los Angeles, who arrived in Taft to begin serving a 27-month sentence for tax evasion. Rick’s struggle was much more difficult as a consequence of the inaccurate information he received before surrendering to prison.
Rick’s attorney did not advise him on the pre-sentence investigation. After Rick had paid his attorney to represent him through trial, the attorney switched to tactics and advised Rick to plead guilty. Rick agreed, but despite the strategy shift that would require fewer man hours by the attorney, Rick did not receive a refund from the exorbitant fee he paid. Worse yet, after the guilty plea, the attorney ceased to counsel Rick through the remainder of the criminal justice process. Without guidance, Rick fumbled through his meeting with the probation officer who prepared the pre-sentence investigation report. Rick did not know that he had a right to review the PSI report prior to his sentence. After his sentence, the attorney said, “You’ll be fine,” to Rick but he could not respond to Rick with any answers about life in prison.
When the day came for Rick to report to prison, his attorney told him to surrender to the U.S. Marshal’s office in Los Angeles. That wretched advice resulted in Rick being locked inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, then in a holding facility at the Victorville prison, before marshals arranged for Rick to be transported in chains to the minimum-security camp in Taft.
Through MichaelSantos.net, my wife Carole makes numerous articles available to guide people as they confront problems with the criminal justice system. The articles do not offer legal advice; they describe what I’ve learned as a long-term prisoner, and they describe the experiences of others. People like Rick who are new to the criminal justice system could save themselves a lot of grief by reading more about the jaws of justice that are about to grip them. Even better, they should talk with Justin Paperny, as he can tell them the steps he took to navigate his way through the system successfully. Had Rick called Justin, he would have saved himself tens of thousands of dollars, and loads of paralyzing anxiety.
This morning I ran 10 miles, but an 8:00 appointment with the TOAD outreach group precluded my strength training.
[Consecutive running log: 3,586 miles over the past 404 days]
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Prison Journal: Day 8,180
January 1, 2010
I had a wonderful boost of energy this morning when I opened my eyes at 2:28 and acknowledged that we’re in a new year, and a new decade. I was eager to begin making progress toward the goals I’ve set. The first order of work for me was organizational. I transferred dates and records I’ve kept in my 2009 planner to the new 2010 planner that I’ve been storing in my locker since November. Then I began writing.
I finished a book report for Black Boy, a wonderful autobiography by Richard Wright, and I wrote my fourth quarter report for 2009. That year is now behind me. It was a productive year, but I’m glad that it’s now in my past, along with all the other years I’ve served in prison. My 23rd holiday season is also a memory. Before sleeping last night, I thought about where I was and what I was doing on each of the previous New Year’s eves since 1987. I have clear memories of each—always in a prison rack, eager to sleep and wake to a new year.
But beginning 2010 is different from all the years past, at least symbolically. It’s different because I’m now in the decade that will mark my release from prison, no matter what. The feeling is sweetened because release will come in the early rather than the latter part of the decade. I don’t know whether release will be in 2010, 2011, or 2012, but I know with certainty that I’ll be home before the end of 2013. At worst, I have three more holiday seasons in prison, and I doubt I’ll serve all three.
After writing a bit in the early morning, I spent time working on a collaboration project I’ve begun. This project will keep me busy through June, assuming it continues until completion. I’m not at liberty to write the details of it, but the work makes a significant contribution to my family and to society. When I’m released from the restrictive world of prison, I’ll elaborate more freely on the measurable work I do in preparation for future. Now that I’m in the final 10 percent of my imprisonment phase, my focus on preparations becomes more laser like, without any distractions.
This morning I enjoyed my first exercise of the New Year. I continue to run slow but steady. Carole wasn’t scheduled to visit until 9:30, so I had time for a full exercise session. I ran 10 miles and followed with 400 pushups. In order to reach my goal of 100,000 pushups by year-end, I’ll keep a pace of 2,000 pushups each week throughout the year.
Today I begin reading Lessons From Prison, a book that my friend Justin Paperny wrote. He served about one year with me in Taft Camp, and used his time effectively by becoming an author and training for a career he envisioned as a speaker and consultant. He’s one of the few prisoners I’ve known to walk out of prison with a career intact, and begin thriving at once. I look forward to finally reading his book.
[Consecutive running log: 3,410 miles over 385 days]
[Cumulative pushup total begins with 400]
Friday, 1 January 2010
Prison Journal: Day 8,140
November 22, 2009
Last September my friend and partner Brad Fullmer drove up from Los Angeles to visit me and I just received the picture we took during the
Michael with Brad Fullmer
visit. I met Brad through my friend and other partner, Justin Paperny, who spent about one year at Taft Camp. Both are partners because they’ve been supportive of my work, and as I wrote about in my manuscript, Earning Freedom, Justin and Brad will play a role in the career I want to build upon release.
It’s always a privilege for me to make new friends, and Brad is especially interesting because of the years he played in major league baseball. After graduating from high school, he entered the draft and the Montreal Expos selected him in the first round. Brad is one of the few players to have hit a home run at his first major league at bat. He distinguished his career further by stealing home plate during a World Series game when he played for the California Angels.
When I ‘m released, I hope to build a career as a speaker and consultant. Brad and Justin will join me in these efforts to offer strategies we all embrace that can assist others in reaching their highest potential. My expertise comes from the context of triumphing over adversity, but the lessons I’ve learned translate into areas besides the criminal justice system. With Brad and Justin working together with me, we expect to contribute to many segments of society.
Justin has begun this career already, building experience as a speaker on ethics. He speaks to university and corporate audiences, describing the importance of leading a values-based life. Besides speaking on ethics, Justin offers consulting services for individuals about to encounter the criminal justice system, and I know he’s offering a great service to assuage anxieties while preparing others to make the most of difficult situations.
It’s a privilege for me to have friends and partners like Justin and Brad. Visiting limitations don’t allow me to see them too often, but I look forward to working with them upon my release.
This morning I ran 10 miles.
[consecutive running log: 3,070 miles in 344 days]
Prison Journal: Day 8,126
November 8, 2009
Last year I made a friend here at Taft Camp. His name is Justin Paperny and he served a year with me. Justin was a stockbroker who received a modest sentence for violating securities laws. More important than the white collar crimes that brought Justin to prison was the productive ways that he used his sentence to bring meaning to his life.
Justin recognized that he couldn’t sit around moping over the time he served. Instead, he had to use the sanction as an opportunity for introspection. Through that better understanding of himself, Justin was able to create a schedule while serving his sentence that would lead to a more fulfilling life upon his release. I admire what he did, and I was happy to receive a letter that describes the career he’s been building during his first six months after release.
While serving his sentence, Justin wrote a book that he titled Lessons From Prison. He wrote the book to help other white collar offenders understand the system, and to use the book as a teaching tool that would show other professionals the consequences that frequently follow unethical behavior. He’s now leading a niche business speaking about ethics and consulting with others who want to make the best use of their time.
When I read about Justin’s success, I’m encouraged at the opportunities that await my release. I don’t know how much time I have remaining to serve, but I have 267 months of prison behind me, and I feel strongly that the lessons I’ve learned will be of value to others who face struggle in their own lives.
This morning I ran 10 miles and followed the run with 350 pushups.
[consecutive running log: 2,944 miles over the past 330 days]
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Prison Journal: Day 8,085
September 28, 2009
I had an opportunity to read an article in the Los Angeles Business Journal today that reported on how law firms are expecting a surge in white collar prosecutions. Most prosecutions will stem from the sub-prime mortgage crisis and frauds that related to the businesses serving that industry. Regardless of the particular criminal charge, most will lead to convictions, and those convictions will lead many to federal prison camps like the one I’m in at this very moment, in Taft, California.
The months before the criminal justice system takes its bite out of white collar offenders are the most important. The decisions an individual defendant makes during those first months will determine the severity of legal expenses, as well as the defendant’s exposure to sanctions. As I read the article, I thought about how unprepared most of those future defendants are at this moment, and how much they could help themselves by speaking with someone who has been ground up by the criminal justice machine. If I could advise them, I’d urge them to contact my friend, Justin Paperny.
Justin graduated from USC to launch a successful career as an investment professional. He worked as an account executive at UBS before one of his accounts that he should have been managing more closely resulted in his prosecution. He served a year at Taft Camp, for a securities law violation, but that year became one of the most productive of his life – he even wrote a book, Lessons From Prison. Anyone facing a white collar crime offense ought to call him, as Justin’s guidance could help those fraud defendants make better decisions.
My writing prospects continue, but they’re different from Justin’s informative book. This morning, at 1:48, I resumed work on the edit of Earning Freedom and worked through chapter seven. That’s now in the mail on its way to my wife. I ran 10 miles, lifting my running tally to 2,576 miles over the past 290 consecutive days. Running without a day off has been one of the most empowering decisions I’ve made and I intend to continue even though my pace slowed measurable this past week.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Prison Journal: Day 8,041
August 15, 2009
I woke early this morning, at 1:07, invigorated after my wonderful visit with Carole yesterday. She looked radiant, and I can’t believe my good fortune to have married such a lovely woman while I still had so much time to serve in prison.
Carole brought some news from my friend Justin Paperny. Justin served a year with me here in Taft Camp, and we grew to be close friends during our time together. He transferred to a halfway house in Hollywood last May, and since July he has lived under strict restrictions of home confinement. Later this week, on 18 August, Justin concludes his prison and confinement obligation. He still must report to a probation officer for supervised release, but at least the prison system’s hold on him has come to an end.
Justin served his sentence with dignity, and worked exceptionally hard to use the time effectively. During the 12 months he served, Justin exercised daily, he read voraciously, and he wrote to document every day of his journey through a blog his mother, Tallie, maintained on his behalf. Besides all that, Justin wrote and published a book while he was at Taft Camp. The book is called Lessons from Prison, and it’s available through his web site at JustinPaperny.com.
Readers who may be new to the criminal justice system may want to contact Justin before they get too far into the process. Before he self-surrendered to Taft Camp, he made some decisions that cost him considerable amounts of money, and exposed himself to a longer term in prison. He is an example of a man who not only survived prison, but truly thrived through prison, as his accomplishments attest.
This morning I resumed my work on the Earning Freedom manuscript at 1:36, writing the first words for chapter eight. By the time I finished my writing day, I reached page 330 of the manuscript. I ran 10 miles in the morning, bringing my running tally to 2,178 miles over the past 246 days.
Prison Journal: Day 8,025
July 30, 2009
This morning I resumed my work on chapter six at 1:24 am. Sometimes the urge to write more wakes me, and I sit up in my rack. Why sleep more? I’m rested and motivated, so I hop down, gather my dictionary, pens, and envelopes stuffed with my previous writing, and walk to the room where I work.
When I opened the door this morning, another prisoner was sitting at the table reading. Whereas I was just beginning my day, he had not yet gone to sleep. Many prisoners spend their days sleeping, and watch television or play table games at night. The early mornings are my most productive, so I was glad when the other prisoner surrendered the table and room for me to work.
At 4:00 am, I watched as Walt, a friend of mine, carried his boxes up toward the control center and walked out the doors. After more than 12 years of prison, he was released to a halfway house. When he walked out, I was reminded of my other friend, Justin, who was released from Taft Prison Camp last May. It must be an extraordinary feeling to leave prison. I thought about the possibility for awhile, though the concept still seems surreal to me. I’ve got a few more years to serve, another 1,000 or so days. That reality put me back to work on my writing.
By the end of the day I advanced chapter six through page 258. Tomorrow morning, I will edit rather than write, but I’m still on track to finish this chapter next week.
I ran 10 miles this morning. My tally is now 2,039 miles over the past 230 consecutive days.
Prison Journal: Day 7,954
May 20, 2009
At 2:37 this morning I gathered my writing gear and walked toward the quiet room where I work. On my way, I passed by cubicle number ten, where my friend Justin Paperny was assigned. I saw that he was looking at his watch. It was a big day for him and his family, as he had completed his time as a prisoner.
I didn’t acknowledge Justin. We had said our farewells and wished each other luck yesterday afternoon. He knew that I woke early every morning to write, but I told him to walk past me as I did not want to cloud my thoughts with longings for release.
In the room where I wrote in the morning, I sat in front of a large window. Since the sun had not yet risen, the darkness outside resulted in the window reflecting the movements in the hallway outside the room behind my back. At 3:15, I saw the reflection of Justin carrying his mattress to a storage area. He was ready to walk out. I kept focus on my work, trying to ignore the mixed emotion of seeing another friend go home.
Just before 4:00 this morning, I saw movement outside the window. Justin was carrying two boxes, walking away from the housing unit toward the camp’s exit. The guards had unlocked the doors for him, and soon he was out. I wondered what it must feel like to walk out of prison and into the free world. Someday I’ll know, but for now, the concept of liberty still feels surreal to me. Most of the time my release date feels close. When a friend goes home, and I don’t make many friends in prison, release can feel very far away. That is when I miss my wife the most, and it’s painful.
The emotions disrupted my writing. At 6:00 I went outside to run. After 10 miles, my tally advanced to 1,412 miles over the past 159 consecutive days. In the afternoon I read news magazines and wrote a few letters. I decided that I would resume my other writing projects tomorrow. I’m glad that I will visit with Carole on Friday.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,953
May 19, 2009
My friend Justin Paperny is being released tomorrow. We’ve been serving time together since he arrived at Taft Federal prison camp in late April of last year. Prior to his self-surrender, Justin worked as a stockbroker at Bear Stearns and then UBS. His conviction was the result of an unfortunate decision he made in an out-of-character moment. I enjoyed the time we served together, and although I’m happy that he soon will return to his supportive family, I’m going to miss his company.
That is the nature of imprisonment. We make friendships that frequently expire with release dates. Mine is not scheduled for another four-plus years, though with parole and halfway house consideration, I do not expect to serve three more full years. Some days my release date feels closer, as if forces are working behind the scenes in my favor. Still, close or far, it’s crucial that I suppress thoughts about when release will come. My focus must remain on the essential preparations I need to complete.
My sentence resembles a marathon, and I’m now in the final stretch. With more than 80 percent of my prison time behind me, I need to modify my adjustment through these final months – or years – of my confinement. I don’t expect that I will invest much energy in building close friendships with other prisoners, as I need to focus total concentration on my work and the strategies I will employ to triumph over the obstacles that await me.
The important projects require that I write. I must continue creating content that has the possibility of opening new opportunities. Today I began work at 2:45. I finished my edit and expansion of the chapter I wrote for Professor Joan Petersilia.Tthe chapter now exceeds 10,000 words, and I hope it meets her needs. If not, I will make adjustments as she directs. Today’s mail brought an invitation for me to make another contribution to my mentor George Cole’s book on corrections. I also must write my weekly article for PrisonTalk.com
At 6:00 this morning I ran 10 miles. I followed my run with 300 pushups. This run brings my tally to 1,402 miles over the past 158 consecutive days.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,947
May 13, 2009
I don’t make too many friends in prison. Throughout the decades I’ve served, I’ve conditioned myself to serve time alone, interacting with no more than one or two of my fellow prisoners on a daily basis. I find more peace in solitude, as it feels disconcerting when friends I make go home. Next week at this time, my friend Justin Paperny will return to his community near Los Angeles.
Justin was a former stockbroker at UBS who served a bit longer than a year at Taft Camp. He pleaded guilty to a single count of securities fraud, and we met soon after he arrived. Justin was assigned to the same housing unit as mine, and we spent a lot of time together. I met his wonderful mother in the visiting room, his father, his brother, and several of his close friends, including Brad Fullmer and Sam Pompeo. The past year advanced quickly, as we created a small community here.
During the time that Justin was here, we ate together most every day, and we worked at the same table in one of the unit’s quiet rooms. I introduced Justin to the therapeutic relief that comes through writing, and I worked with him as he prepared his memoir, Lessons From Prison.
Upon his release, Justin expects to launch a new career as a speaker and consultant. He aspires to help others make better decisions, and I applaud his efforts. I look forward to seeing him again upon my release, though that liberty may not come for three to four more years.
I know that he is enthusiastic for his release, and I feel happy for him. As I move through these final years of my sentence, I expect to serve my time alone, relying only on the written word and visits from my wife to keep my focus. This is the end, the final miles of my marathon, and I cannot afford to take my mind off the task at hand. That requires a total investment of my energy in preparations for release. I’m on it.
This morning I began my work at 2:40. I spent the day working on the proposal for the new book. After several hours, I completed the outline for a 105,000 word manuscript. Now I must work on the proposal itself. I enjoy this work.
I ran at 6:00 AM. With today’s 10 miles, my tally now stands at 1,347 miles over the past 152 consecutive days. I’m running home.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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