Prison Journal: Day 8,356
June 26, 2010
Posted by Carole Santos
Honestly, I didn’t know anything about prison before I reconnected with Michael. However, when I pledged my heart to him and joined my life to his in February of 2002, real prison suddenly had an every day presence in my life and I felt a responsibility to learn about it. I was eager and willing to listen, read, and study. I wanted to know everything about the environment in which he had already spent 14 years. I soon realized that the system confining him (and more than 2 million others) was desperately in need of comprehensive reform, and I felt honored to join Michael in his mission to bring about change.
A reader sent a comment about my Day 8,347 journal entry. In that blog I wrote about the numerous similarities I see between what exists in the prison system and what is presented on an episode of Hoarders, and the reader objected to my analogy.
I sent a lengthy response directly to the reader to clarify why I’d written the article. I didn’t need to respond with so much detail, but this person’s beliefs (as stated) were vague and stereotypical, expressing exactly the kind of misperception that we’re working to dispel through this blog, on PrisonNewsBlog, through Michael’s other published articles on Change.org and on Huffington Post, and in his books and other published articles and academic contributions. Accompanying the response was my hope that the reader would absorb it and find some motivation to think a little harder about why it’s important to know why prisons don’t work and why reform is necessary.
It’s frustrating that in the 21st Century people continue to accept–without question–sorely inaccurate messages from politicians, lobbyists, and those who profit from the prison system about how prisons are funded, operated, and populated. It’s only when prison touches the lives of citizens that the education process begins for them, but then it’s too late.
At the rate this country’s prison population continues to grow, every citizen should make it a priority to study all sides of the issue and make an informed decision. It’s hard to deny the truth, and the evidence is right there for anyone who cares to look.
Prison Journal: Day 8,347
June 17, 2010
Today’s blog is from Carole Santos
I’ve watched a few of episodes of Hoarding: Buried Alive on TLC. Hoarding is a disturbing condition in which sufferers are unable to stop themselves from acquiring and holding onto possessions. It’s a costly, debilitating condition that destroys relationships and creates an isolating environment. Hoarders are unable to break the behavior cycle without extreme intervention. Each episode of the show features the intervention process; specialists who treat the condition attempt to help a hoarder let go of (and dispose of) mountains of hoarded possessions. The emotionally wrenching process is probably what fascinates and draws viewers. Nevertheless, the show places a giant spotlight on this horrific, secretive condition.
I’m constantly thinking about prison in some way–even while I watched an episode of Hoarding last week. As the drama on television unfolded, I found myself comparing the characteristics of hoarding behavior (secretive; excessive acquisition of possessions; failure to use or discard possessions; costly; debilitating; destroys relationships; isolating environment) to prisons and those who legislate, regulate, and govern them. The more I thought about it, the more clear it became to me: The prison system is a compulsive hoarder!
There are volumes of published reports, studies, and statistics that validate and document the relatively recent explosion of federal and state prison populations and the resulting costs, both social and financial. But those reports are usually prepared by and distributed among the “think tanks,” not the general public, and if/when they are reported in the news media, citizens don’t seem to have an interest in hearing about prison or changing it.
Of all the prison system’s characteristics that are consistent with hoarding, though, I think the most relevant is its vigilant resistance to reducing the massive population. (Remember, inability to discard possessions is classic hoarding behavior.) Whether it’s individual States seeking to balance budgets with massive deficits, or the BOP’s willful disregard for the provisions of the Second Chance Act, or Congress’s romance with prison lobbyists, even discussing the idea of implementing early release for nonviolent and deserving prisoners generates extreme emotional distress among those who rely upon, support, and operate state and federal prisons.
Prison dehumanizes because administrators treat prisoners like possessions, like inventory. Registration numbers replace names. Prisoners are processed and managed in the same way inventory is processed and catalogued. Move them here, send them there…pack up, disrupt…just a number on a page in a file. Wives be damned, children be damned, families be damned, costs be damned…it’s all about the numbers and acquiring more! Even while hoarding such a massive, ever-increasing population, the prison system refuses to utilize those tremendous resources. (For one example, read Michael’s recent blog article: Catastrophe in the Gulf: Utilize Prisoners as Manpower.) I’m not an expert, but it doesn’t take an expert to figure out that by removing opportunities for prisoners to maintain community ties, eliminating mechanisms for earning freedom, and cutting programs that promote rehabilitation, administrators and legislators utterly reject the idea that prisoners are human resources, the majority of whom could contribute to society in meaningful ways—especially those with valuable skills, education, and talents.
Treatment for a compulsive hoarder is comprehensive. It requires an interdisciplinary team of professionals who are committed to going the distance, and who are prepared to confront deep emotional dysfunction and irrational resistance to change. As explained by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD): “Assistance is needed from many sources. A team needs to be assembled. Members of the team should be identified before beginning additional work. A written strategy needs to be outlined and contractual agreements made before proceeding.” To “treat” (translate: reform) the prison system will require scores of professionals (scholars, sociologists, activists, and others who are pushing hard for prison reform). Senator Jim Webb has proposed a committee to define the written strategy—Congress only needs to agree to it.
The problem is obvious to me but, as Michael’s wife, prison is part of my life and I think about it every day. Perhaps if it was featured on an episode of Hoarders, millions of viewers would finally recognize that the prison system is desperately in need of an extreme hoarding intervention. Does anyone know the executive producer at TLC?
Michael’s exercise log for today:
ran 10 miles / 4,917 miles over 552 days
1,000 pushups / 65,600 pushups in 2010
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Prison Journal: Day 8,271
April 2, 2010
Today Charlie, a new prisoner at Taft Camp, sat down to talk with me in the room where I write. He self-surrendered to the camp two weeks ago, and amazingly, in that span of time he’s been able to surmise all that is wrong with the prison system. Charlie is serving a nine-month sentence for credit card fraud and he wanted to advise me on what I should write about in order to improve the prison system.
Charlie suggested that instead of writing the blogs, articles, and book projects to apprise readers who want to learn more about the prison system, I should spend my time more productively by writing only to the U.S. president and individual members of Congress. He said that I should work to persuade our country’s leadership to enact laws that would send prisoners into the armed forces. Rather than wasting time in prison camps, anyone serving time in prison should instead be inducted into the military. The armed forces would teach discipline and train the prisoners for productive employment, Charlie said, and the military could benefit from the additional troops.
I agreed with Charlie that his position had merit. In fact, I told him that in times past, authorities did make better use of those who served sentences for violating criminal laws. More than 100 years ago, for example, Alexander Machonochie made a name for himself by contributing to the settlement of Australia with British prisoners. Machonochie was the warden of Norfolk Island and he governed his prison colony with the use of incentives. Every prisoner, he believed, deserved the power to earn freedom through merit. Rather than wasting taxpayer funds by warehousing people, the British prisoners at Norfolk Island off the coast of Australia worked. Through their contributions the prisoners earned gradually increasing levels of freedom.
Even judges in the United States once offered offenders an option of signing up for military service rather than serving time in prison. Those days have long since passed, however. I explained to Charlie some of what I’ve learned through my long journey in prison. Today’s prison system is one of isolation and warehousing, without even the pretense of an effort to prepare individuals for law abiding lives upon release. We’re fortunate at Taft camp, where opportunities exist for us to work on independent study projects or goals that will improve our lives. But the system isn’t designed to reward such behavior. Besides that, lobbyists who represent recipients of the $60 billions of taxpayer funds that keep these human warehouses afloat resist changes that would slow the easy money.
My remaining time in prison is limited and I must it wisely while I am here. I don’t have the platform yet to devote my life to prison reform. Instead, I told Charlie, I must continue working to ensure I emerge from prison strong. That’s why I will stay on course with the work I’ve been doing for so long.
I ran 5 miles and did 400 pushups
[consecutive running log: 4,222 miles in 476 days]
[pushups in 2010: 33,300]
Friday, 2 April 2010
Prison Journal: Day 8,213
February 3, 2010
I heard a radio broadcast announcing that the Senate will swear in the newly elected Scott brown, Republican from Massachusetts, tomorrow. The new Republican eliminates the supermajority of the Democrats, and that equation, supposedly, will introduce new hurdles in bringing about a liberal agenda. I’m not clear on Senate rules that require supermajority votes of 60 to pass some bills, and simple majority votes of 51 to pass other bills. As I follow politics in 2010, I’ll become more educated on these intricacies.
My limited understanding of how the U.S. Congress operates doesn’t satisfy my curiosity. With 59 Democrats in the Senate as opposed to 41 Republicans, it seems to me that liberals have the power to pass bills that further their interests. As a prisoner, I’m most concerned about legislation that would reform the federal prison system and laws to encourage prisoners to work toward earning freedom. More of my fellow prisoners would adopt such strategies, I know, if they could see hope for a better life. But the newspapers I read lead me to conclude, sadly, that Congress is not considering prison reform bills at present and that it may not look at such proposed legislation in 2010. Too many other issues, it seems, take precedence.
In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision that allows businesses to spend their money on supporting or opposing political candidates, I expect that all politicians will face increasing pressure from the massive Prison Industrial Complex. The financial war chests of correctional officers’ unions, as well as businesses that reap profits from the $60 billion in revenues that state and federal governments spend on our prison system, will spend with abandon to oppose anyone who strives for a more effective prison system. When I write “effective”, I envision a system that encourages more prisoners to earn freedom through merit, a system that lowers recidivism rates because more prisoners would leave confinement with skills to function in society, a system that would not waste billions of taxpayer dollars.
The Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) has an opposite agenda—it wants expenditures to rise, regardless of what havoc such misguided policies have on society. Rather than wanting to end the cycle of failure, the PIC wants it to spin faster, with not only higher recidivism rates, but by expanding prison systems with sons, daughters, wives, husbands, and friends of prisoners coming into the system as well.
Upon my release, I intend to work toward educating citizens on ways we can improve America’s prison system while simultaneously lowering costs. But I expect to serve my full term, which means about three more years of wasting $100,000 in taxpayer funds to keep me in prison.
This morning I ran 10 miles. I met with the youth outreach group after my run so I didn’t strength train today.
[consecutive running log: 3,713 miles over the past 418 days]
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Obama…Answer This
October 27, 2009
This is fantastic!
Check out: http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/990
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F34p0YiSp8g&feature=player_embedded
What it’s about:
1. Alienation of people: We are creating refugees amongst our own people. Inmates come back not feeling like they are part of their own community; not knowing “we the people” means them too.
2. Break up of families: unreasonable prison policies and a culture of oppression is further tarring up families and communities. How can this system support fathers in taking responsibility?
3. Transparency in government: We are turning one group of people to another (great majority of inmates are minorities) With Media barred from facilities and no independent oversight there is no accountability in Massachusetts DOC. Why isn’t media allowed in? If they want to investigate abuses and mismanagement why are they are constantly denied access.
4. President’s Leadership needed: How can President go and see Guantanamo Bay but doesn’t look into his own prisons? Can he assume that everything is right here? How come he can address schools, Middle Eastern countries, but will not address prisons?
5. System accountability: Every prison is different; there is no “system.” So who is responsible for outcome? Each State should be accountable about its prison system to the President. Focus on one place at a time. Find what’s wrong in MA to pass it on to another institution.
Prison Journal: Day 8,050
August 24, 2009
I saw a blurb cross the streaming news ticker at the bottom of the CNN screen this morning that related to prison crowding in the State of California. The state legislature is deliberating over prison reforms that would allow nonviolent California prisoners who participate in education or vocational programs to serve the remainder of their sentences in community confinement centers. I applaud this progressive news.
Some citizens oppose any type of early release for people in prison, regardless of what efforts the prisoners make to reconcile with society. I don’t understand such a lust for punishment. It would seem that by now, all citizens would recognize the need for “smarter” use of our prison resources. It’s absurd to me that some citizens limit their perceptions of justice to calendar pages turning.
What would prove more beneficial to society?
- Requiring a nonviolent offender to serve every day of a 10-year sentence OR
- Encouraging that nonviolent offender to earn a vocational certificate and train for sustainable employment over a four-year period, then releasing him to a supportive group and employment?
To me, the second alternative makes so much more sense. The only segment of society that would benefit from the first would be the bloated prison industry, or those who identify with “Shylock,” Shakespeare’s character from The Merchant of Venice.
This morning I began writing at 1:51 am. I’m continuing to enjoy writing about my earliest months with Carole. Today I wrote through page 401 of the manuscript, and I feel so proud of Carole’s commitment to our marriage and happiness.
I ran 10 miles in the morning, bringing my running tally to 2,261 miles over the past 255 days.
Prison Journal: Day 8,031
August 5, 2009
During the 22 years I’ve been confined, I’ve never heard a U.S. Attorney General say that America’s dependence on incarceration is economically unsustainable. Yet that was what Attorney General Eric Holder told the nation’s lawyers at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association.
Mr. Holder isn’t the first high profile government leader to call for smarter incarceration policies. In 2003, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said the same thing. I’m optimistic that change is coming. At the same time, I recognize that I have an ongoing responsibility for the challenges I will face upon release.
This morning I began my preparations at 1:51 am, when I sat down to outline chapter seven of my new manuscript, Earning Freedom. I feel good about the progress I made, and I began writing the first pages of the chapter. By the time I put my writing gear away, I wrote through page 281 of the manuscript.
I ran 10 miles in the early morning, boosting my mileage to 2,092 miles over the past 236 days.
Following my run, the generous staff sponsor of our youth outreach program, TOAD, provided an assortment of fresh pastries for everyone in our group. That was a real treat, a gesture that everyone appreciated.
Then a bit later in the morning, I enjoyed a lengthy telephone call with a lawyer who has joined my legal team to help me. I’m feeling very blessed to have their support.
Prison Journal: Day 7,925
April 21, 2009
At 3:00 this morning, as I waited for officers to walk by my cubicle for a morning census count, I listened to an NPR broadcast reporting on Pesident Obama’s mandate to cut hundreds of millions in wasteful spending from the U.S. budget. That report inspired me to write a few blogs on the need for prison reform.
It really troubles me to read of how massively our nation’s prison population has grown. I feel a sense of duty and a responsibility, a calling, to influence others to support prison reform. I know that Americans do not generally think about imprisonment until it has a direct influence on their life, or happens when someone close to them is arrested. As a long-term prisoner, however, I can think of myriad ways that our dysfunctional prison system afflicts the life of every taxpaying American.
As I continue reading this wonderful book by Professor Joan Petersilia, I’m amazed at the statistical data. In When Prisoners Come Home, I read that our country incarcerated 196,000 people in 1970. Since then the incarceration rate has grown by more than 1,000 percent. the costs for incarcerating so many people have risen to upsetting levels. American taxpayers now spend well more than a billion dollars every week to isolate and punish offenders.
Where do those tax dollars to fund prison expenditures come from? According to the recently released Pew Report, those funds have been redirected from educational funding, health care funding, and funding for other social services. This year I heard news reports that funding was not available for college programs at California State University to the extent necessary; 10,000 university students could not work toward their degree as a consequence.
Prison spending hits every American, and much of it is unnecessary. I have served 22 years in this system, despite my having been ready to make significant contributions to society a decade ago. We need prison reforms to cut this ridiculous program that causes more harm than good to society. I will keep writing about the need for prison reform.
I ran 10 miles this morning, lifting my tally to 1,049 miles over the past 130 consecutive days.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,923
April 19, 2009
I resumed work on the rewrite of the chapter for Professor Joan Petersilia at 2:20 this morning. By 7:30 I had completed the project. Had I been able to access a typewriter, I could have typed the document in a couple of hours at most. Prison has made me a fast typist, but the rules of Taft Camp prohibit using typewriters for personal work. Rewriting this chapter has taken about 10 hours, and I think I invested about 40 hours in total to create this first draft. I expect to invest another 40 hours to refine it before publication, though I’m grateful for the opportunity to make this contribution to prison reform.
In order to finish this chapter in five days, I adjusted my schedule. I’ve spent the majority of my writing time over the past two weeks writing projects that have a long lead times. The first project was the sample chapter for my next book proposal. The next project was this chapter draft for Professor Petersilia. As a consequence of this deliberate commitment to goals I set, I have had to sacrifice some of my blog writing energy. Tomorrow morning I intend to catch up by writing several blogs that I’ve been neglecting. It remains a goal of mine to keep readers informed about how I thrive through imprisonment. I hope they see that a key component of my prison adjustment has been setting goals and using them to guide me through each day. All of the goals work in harmony to advance the purpose of my life, which is to contribute to society and to prepare for a successful return.
Following my completion of the rewrite, I went outside to run 10 miles. That boosts my tally to 1129 miles over the past 128 consecutive days. I’m grateful that my body feels strong, without aches, despite the running without a break. I believe the exercise makes me stronger, healthier, wiser, and more disciplined. I intend to exercise every day of 2009, and to run without a day off for as long as I can.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Prison Journal: Day 7,922
April 18, 2009
At 2:22 this morning I resumed work on the chapter for Professor Petersilia. I wrote the first words for this chapter last Wednesday morning at 2:15, and today, at 7:15, I finished a first draft. Professor Petersilia asked me to write 7,000 words. Since I’ve written the chapter in longhand I don’t have an exact word count, though with 28 pages of about 250 words per page, I expect that I am within the range.
The reason writing this project has been so important to me is because I consider it a great privilege to publish alongside some of America’s leading penologists and academics. These types of projects expand my sphere of influence. Our country confines more than 2.3 million people, and I know that few Americans really understand the culture of confinement. The more I’m able to contribute to the literature, the more chances I have of debunking the myth that prisons only produce failure. I hope to influence prison reforms that will help more people emerge successfully, and I feel honored that Professor Petersilia opened this opportunity for me to contribute.
The title of the book Professor Petersilia is authoring is The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections. Oxford is a distinguished academic press. I expect that many policy makers will rely upon Professor Petersilia’s book as a resource to guide their decisions, and I am glad they will have an opportunity to read about my prison adjustment. I hope to inspire those readers to promote prison reform.
Since I wrote the first draft of the chapter in longhand, I had to rewrite it neatly. I worked all day on the rewrite, though I only made it through page 12, which was not even halfway. Writing 7,000 words neatly on unlined paper takes time, though it was time well invested as it gave me an opportunity to make some initial edits. I intend to finish the rewrite tomorrow morning.
This morning I ran 10 miles and followed the run with 300 pushups. I weigh 174 pounds, which was the same weight I had when my prison term began in 1987. I feel blessed to have such good health, and I am convinced that regular exercise has contributed. Today marked my 127th day of continuous running without a beak, though I’ve been exercising steadily for 22 years. I now have 1,119 miles in my running tally.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
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