Following my exercise this morning, I spent more than two hours watching prison programs on National Geographic network. The first show portrayed prison gangs. The second show focused on life in high security prisons. The third show described the history of the Aryan Brotherhood, a notorious prison gang. As I watched the television shows, I [...]
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 [...]
The possibilities for prison reform legislation continue to improve. In the early morning, often writing two blog entries on prison experiences, I wrote letters to various senators who have expressed an interest in prison reform. Although I had not yet seen the Bill that Senator Webb submitted to Congress on prison reform, I knew that [...]
The efforts Senator Jim Webb has launched to begin prison reform legislation compels me to set a new goal. Although I have not yet received the articles describing exactly what is taking place in Washington, from what Carole told me, Senator Webb is convening a panel of experts to explore the most effective strategies to [...]
Today was a bonus day for me. I don’t get too many of these, and I really appreciate them when they come. Since Carole was scheduled to work on one Friday earlier this month, and since this month had only four weekends, we had sufficient visiting points available to visit on a Saturday. I woke [...]
During my visit today, my wife told me about the flood of news that describes efforts being made across our country to reform the prison and sentencing system. On 20 March, Kevin Johnson published an article in USA Today describing how money shortfalls were causing states from across the country to support new legislation designed to reduce [...]
President Obama delivered his second prime time news conference this evening. He has been accessible to the media during his first 60 days in office, much more so than any other president. I value each opportunity to learn from his leadership. The purpose of his conference this evening was to advocate for the massive budget [...]
Many of the men with whom I serve time at Taft Camp seem like children on the days leading up to Christmas. They are giddy with anticipation for the prison reform legislation that they feel certain is about to pass. The talk focuses on bills the Congress is about to introduce that will provide more [...]
President Obama made another significant break from the policies of the previous Bush administration when he signed an order authorizing federal funding for stem-cell research. The reports that I saw on CNN indicated that President Obama would not allow the specious value of politics to interfere with the objective findings of science. We have seen [...]
The economic crisis that plagues the lives of millions really stings some people in prison. Today I interviewed Thomas Ross, a fellow prisoner who serves time with me at Taft Camp. Thomas serves a lengthy sentence, though the prison time is not nearly as difficult as the despondency that comes with knowing that his wife [...]
