Advocacy at USP Marion

Building Coalitions for Change

When I visited USP Marion, I did so with a deep awareness of its history. For many years, Marion was known as the nation’s most secure federal prison, taking over that role when Alcatraz closed. It operated as the most restrictive facility in the country until the Bureau of Prisons opened the supermax at Florence, Colorado.

Marion’s Place in History

During my own journey, I became familiar with Marion long before I ever set foot there. When I was confined at USP Atlanta, our prison served as the step-down unit for people released from Marion. That experience gave me a sense of the culture that shaped men who lived under its restrictions.

I remember meeting Chuck Harrelson, the father of actor Woody Harrelson. Chuck had been convicted for assassinating Federal Judge John Wood and spent years at Marion. I later saw him at Atlanta, where he attempted to escape with a few others. His story reflected both the volatility of that era and the need for a new approach to prison culture.

Introducing Our Program

When I returned decades later as a free man, I was grateful for the chance to work with staff at Marion, introducing the Prison Professors self-directed reentry program. My goal was to show both staff and incarcerated people that we can change the culture of confinement—transforming prisons from places of volatility into environments that prepare individuals for success after release.

The Power of Coalitions

Reform requires coalitions:

• People in prison must take responsibility by memorializing their journey—documenting progress through biographies, journals, book reports, and release plans.
• Staff members must support and encourage these efforts, reinforcing the idea that preparation matters.
• Advocates and community partners must use these records as evidence to press for policies that expand opportunities to earn freedom.

When these groups work together, prisons can incentivize excellence, making facilities safer for everyone—staff and residents alike—and ultimately safer for society when people return home.

Why It Matters

Too often, the culture of confinement emphasizes control over growth. But that culture doesn’t produce the results society needs. Volatile prisons endanger staff, destabilize the incarcerated population, and fail to reduce risk upon release.

By contrast, when we define excellence and reward people for pursuing it, we create a system that produces measurable results: fewer disciplinary incidents, stronger community reentry, and safer outcomes for society as a whole.

Looking Ahead

My visit to USP Marion reinforced the importance of continuing this work. By building coalitions, by encouraging people to memorialize their preparation, and by securing staff support, we can transform even the most historic and challenging institutions.

Step by step, we are working toward a future where earning freedom through merit is not just a vision but a policy reality. That change will reduce the dangers of life in prison and replace them with opportunities for hope, dignity, and success.

Would you like me to draft a parallel “staff-facing” version of this article (like the Hazelton and Morgantown pieces), framed as if Warden Marion’s leadership were reporting on your visit internally to staff?

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