Building Pathway to Clemency

At Prison Professors, we create these “Ask-Me-Anything” lessons for anyone striving to build a better future—whether you're visiting us online at PrisonProfessors.org, or working through one of our self-directed learning tools or printed workbooks from inside a jail or prison.

Each lesson is designed to walk you through essential strategies for success, including how to prepare for release, document your progress, and advocate for yourself effectively. In today’s lesson, we focus on an especially powerful concept: executive clemency—and how to prepare for it.

This particular lesson is based on a conversation I had with Seth Sundberg, a formerly incarcerated person who now volunteers with our nonprofit.

Like many people in our community, Seth once wore a khaki uniform and stood for count in a federal prison. After being convicted of a tax-related offense, a federal judge sentenced him to serve 71 months, which he completed across institutions in Texas and California. His story mirrors the experience of many people we serve: he made some bad decisions, lost his liberty, and later committed to making things right.

When Seth offered to volunteer with us, I invited him to share his journey—not just the mistakes, but also the transformation that followed. His experience illustrates the principles we teach every day: taking full responsibility, creating a personal plan for growth, and preparing—deliberately—for a more meaningful life after prison.

But before we dive into the details of Seth’s story, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture: what executive clemency is, why it matters, and how it may apply to your life.

⚖️ What Is Executive Clemency?

The United States Constitution gives the president a powerful tool to correct injustice and reward rehabilitation. That tool is called executive clemency.

Under Article II, Section 2, the Constitution states:

The President "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."

This provision gives the president sole discretion to lessen or erase the legal consequences of a federal conviction. Once granted, a clemency decision cannot be overturned—not by a judge, a prosecutor, or any court. It is final.

Executive clemency plays a vital role in a just system. It can:

• Correct sentencing injustices
• Offer mercy where appropriate
• Encourage rehabilitation and redemption
• Reward those who’ve demonstrated genuine personal growth

As you’ll learn in this lesson, clemency isn’t about asking for a shortcut—it’s about earning an opportunity for a second chance. And that opportunity begins with the work you do today.

🧾 Types of Executive Clemency (With Real Examples)

There are five primary forms of executive clemency. Each serves a distinct purpose, and understanding these differences can help you determine the best strategy for your situation.

One key point to remember: the president has absolute power over clemency. While the Department of Justice publishes policies and guidelines for clemency petitions, the president is not bound by them. Any sitting president can grant clemency at will—whether or not the applicant has followed the DOJ process.

For that reason, anyone facing complications with federal criminal charges should learn about clemency and consider whether it makes sense to begin building a long-term strategy.

Note: Presidential clemency only applies to federal convictions. If you were convicted in a state court, you must pursue clemency through your state’s governor or through a state clemency board established by state law.

Pardon

A pardon is an official act of forgiveness. It does not erase the conviction, but it removes civil penalties—such as restrictions on voting, holding public office, or owning a firearm. Pardons are often symbolic of rehabilitation and redemption.

Example:
President Donald Trump issued many high-profile pardons, including to people who had not formally applied. One example is Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. He was convicted of criminal contempt for defying a court order—but before serving a day in jail, Trump issued a full pardon.

Commutation

A commutation reduces a sentence without overturning the conviction. It can shorten the term of imprisonment or eliminate fines.

Example:
President George W. Bush commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby, a former White House aide convicted of obstruction and perjury. Libby never served a day—his sentence was commuted before he reported to prison. Many people in our community may seek commutation while still incarcerated or when facing excessive financial penalties.

Reprieve

A reprieve is a temporary delay in the execution of a sentence, typically granted to allow for further review, new evidence, or consideration of humanitarian factors. Reprieves are rare but have historically been used to pause death penalty executions to allow time for appeals or additional legal review.

Remission of Fines or Restitution

This form of clemency eliminates or reduces financial penalties imposed as part of a sentence. It can be granted independently of a pardon or commutation. Although rare, remission has been used to cancel fines when a person has shown strong rehabilitation and the continued enforcement of the fine serves no practical purpose. When a person receives a commutation or pardon, they may also receive a remission of fines and restitution.

Amnesty

Amnesty is a blanket form of clemency applied to a group of people, usually for political, historical, or social reasons.

Example:
President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders—those who had left the country or refused military induction. His act restored their legal status and allowed them to return to the United States without prosecution.

🧭 Why This Matters to You

Whether you’re awaiting sentencing or serving a long sentence, it is never too early—or too late—to begin preparing for executive clemency.

Anyone convicted of a federal crime can petition the president. And, as the examples above show, the president can also grant clemency even without a formal petition.

That said, clemency is rare. It takes more than hope or legal argument. It requires a strong, documented case, built on merit and evidence of personal transformation.

That’s what this lesson is here to help you build.

💡 Key Insight: Clemency Is Earned Through Action

At Prison Professors Charitable Corporation, we’re building a national movement to expand access to clemency. But here’s what I want you to remember:

No one should work harder for your liberty than you.

That means:

• Taking personal responsibility
• Documenting your rehabilitation
• Building a support system
• Learning how the process works
• And investing time, energy, and discipline over the long term

If you want clemency, you have to earn it through sustained, intentional action.

📝 Reflection Prompt

If the president asked you today:

“Why should I grant you clemency?”

—how would you answer?

Think carefully about your response. Use it as a writing prompt for a new entry in your profile at PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. This is your story—your chance to shape your legacy.

Our team will continue doing our part to advocate for a clearer path to clemency. But we can only feature you on our leaderboard if you’re putting in the work. That means building your profile and showing the world how you’re preparing for success.

Remember, no one should work harder than you for your liberty.

🔄 What’s Next

In the next section of this lesson, I’ll walk you through Seth’s full journey—how he fell, how he turned his life around, and how he’s preparing his own clemency petition.

Along the way, I’ll highlight practical steps you can take to build your own record of merit—starting right now, no matter where you are on your journey.

🏀 Who Is Seth Sundberg?

Seth Sundberg is seven feet tall—a former professional basketball player who played with the Los Angeles Lakers and professional teams in ten other countries around the world. After retiring from basketball in 2003, Seth built a successful career in real estate and finance. By most people’s standards, he had it made.

But success doesn’t immunize us from bad decisions. Seth became disillusioned with the financial system. Angry. Arrogant. He got involved in fringe financial ideologies—including what’s known as the sovereign citizen movement—and tried to challenge the IRS.

It backfired.

⚠️ Sovereign Citizen Movement—Why It’s Dangerous

Success in one area of life doesn’t immunize us from bad decisions in another area.

Seth had made it by most people’s standards. He was a former professional athlete, a successful real estate investor, and a business leader. But like many people, he became frustrated with the financial system—especially after the 2008 economic crisis. With challenges going around the country, and foreclosures going up, he became frustrated and started to research online. That research led him to start asking deeper questions about how money works, who controls it, and why the rules seem to favor institutions over individuals.

Frustrated and angered by the country’s deepening recession, he became susceptible to a dangerous ideology. Seth got involved with what’s known as the sovereign citizen movement—a loosely organized network of individuals who believe that most forms of government authority are illegitimate. They often claim that, through a series of obscure legal maneuvers, they can opt out of paying taxes, avoid criminal liability, or divorce themselves from federal law entirely.

Let me break this down clearly:

Sovereign citizens often claim that they are “natural persons” who are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. They may say that federal income tax is voluntary, or that filing certain documents can discharge debts or nullify criminal charges. Some even try to create their own courts or identify themselves as “freemen” or “private citizens” outside government control.

In Seth’s case, he was introduced to a theory called the OID process—“Original Issue Discount.” This theory falsely suggests that a person can file amended tax returns claiming massive refunds by asserting that debts or loans were actually income that was withheld illegally by the government or financial institutions. The IRS warns repeatedly that this is a fraudulent tax scheme.

The OID process was only one of many different concepts under the Sovereign Citizen Movement. Consider the following before we go on with Seth's story:

Other Concepts in the Sovereign Citizen Movement

1. Strawman Theory

This is one of the most widely circulated and dangerous concepts.

Belief:
Sovereign citizens claim that the U.S. government created a separate legal entity—a "strawman"—for every person at birth. They believe that this corporate identity is written in ALL CAPS (like JOHN DOE), while the "flesh-and-blood human" is distinct from it.

Tactic:
They try to separate themselves from the legal consequences of their actions by claiming, “That was my strawman, not me.” They may refuse to acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that only their strawman is subject to laws.

Reality:
Every court in America has rejected this argument as nonsensical and frivolous.

2. UCC Filings (Uniform Commercial Code)

Sovereign citizens misuse the UCC, a set of commercial laws that govern business transactions, to try to “free themselves” from debts or criminal charges.

Tactic:
They may file false UCC-1 financing statements claiming they are the creditor and the U.S. government is the debtor. Or they’ll file liens against judges, prosecutors, or correctional officers.

Reality:
These are fraudulent filings. They often lead to new federal criminal charges and severe sanctions.

3. Redemption Theory

An extension of the strawman theory.

Belief:
They believe that when a birth certificate is issued, a secret government trust account is also created in your name—often worth millions of dollars. They claim that by filing the right forms, they can “redeem” or access this account.

Tactic:
They may file bogus tax returns, affidavits, or “redemption forms” to try and access the so-called secret account.

Reality:
This is fiction. There is no secret account, and these actions are often prosecuted as fraud.

4. Refusal to Recognize Government Authority

Sovereign citizens often reject the legitimacy of:

• U.S. courts
• IRS and tax law
• Law enforcement officers
• Driver’s licenses or vehicle registration
• Passports, Social Security numbers, or birth certificates

Tactic:
Some create their own homemade IDs, license plates, or "court documents" claiming diplomatic immunity or “freeman” status.

Reality:
These tactics not only fail—they often escalate legal trouble and lead to additional charges, longer sentences, or solitary confinement in prison.

5. “Common Law Courts” or “Citizen Grand Juries”

Sovereign citizens sometimes try to create their own systems of justice.

Belief:
They argue that "common law" supersedes federal or state law, and they claim the right to convene their own courts or citizen-led grand juries.

Reality:
These efforts are meaningless in the eyes of the law—and often viewed as attempts to obstruct justice.

🎯 Why This Matters in Prison

While I served my sentence, I saw other people spread these ideas on the yard and law libraries. People who tried to share likely genuinely believed in what they were spreading, and they could be persusaive, saying things like:

• “You’re not really a citizen unless you consent to be one.”
• “Your name in all caps means it’s a fake identity.”
• “There’s a way to get out if you know the right loophole.”

It all sounds intriguing, especially for people in prison. They lost all faith in the legal system, and they wanted to believe that there was a way out. Many people in prison succumb to therapeutic litigation, and they would cling to anything that gave them hope, not realizing the danger and opportunity costs that came with every decision. Later, some of those people learn what Seth has come to conclude:

The sovereign citizen movement is a trap.

It offers false hope. It can lead to new criminal charges, and can destroy any progress a person might want to make toward early release, clemency, or success upon release.

✅ What You Should Do Instead

Focus on legitimate, proven strategies:

• Accept responsibility.
• Work through education and rehabilitation programs.
• Build a record of merit.
• Document your efforts in a public, verifiable way (such as through your Prison Professors Talent profile).
• Learn how to write clearly and advocate for yourself in honest, lawful ways.
• Understand that the stakeholders who represent the system (judges and prosecutors) will always view people differently if those people have a felony conviction.

📘 Reflection Prompt

• Have you ever been approached with paperwork or strategies that claim to “beat the system”?
• What questions could you ask to protect yourself from following bad advice?

Seth didn’t invent the process—but he got pulled into it. He filed what he believed to be a legitimate claim, and the IRS actually sent him a refund check for $5.7 million.

Four months later, they froze his accounts, indicted him, and eventually convicted him of tax fraud.

That single decision—rooted in distrust and fueled by the illusion of a shortcut—cost him more than five years in federal prison, and a felony conviction.

🚨 A Word of Caution

I want to be very clear here for anyone reading this in prison or jail:

Do not get sucked into bad ideas.
I am not a lawyer and I do not offer legal advice. But I served 26 years in federal prison, and that experience has given me a different perspective. Some people inside will spread “paperwork strategies” or “sovereign remedies” like they’re gospel. In my view, it's just therapeutic litigation, something to make people feel good, offering theories of what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear. The promise I always make: I will never lie to you, I will never ask you to do anything I didn't do, and I will never charge a penny for anything on PrisonProfessors.org.

If you act on these fringe beliefs—filing false liens, fake tax documents, or creating fake trusts—you risk new charges, conspiracy indictments, and longer prison terms. Even worse, you could be putting your loved ones in harm’s way if they follow your lead.

🔑 Ideas to Consider

The answer to your struggle is not in loopholes or anti-government theories. The answer is in personal responsibility, accountability, and documented transformation.

Seth eventually came to that realization. He owned his mistake. He stopped blaming the system and started building a better version of himself—from inside the prison walls.

He didn't file more paperwork. He picked up a guitar, earned college credits, read hundreds of books, and started planning how to build a business that could help others.

Those types of activities can lead to support and advance a person's candidacy for better outcomes, including clemency for some.

📘 Reflection Prompt

• Have you heard someone in prison try to convince you there’s a “secret legal hack” or a “paperwork remedy” to overturn your case or erase your conviction?
• How can you protect yourself from getting pulled into something that sounds good—but leads to more pain?

Write it down. Reflect on it. Describe what you're learning on a profile you build at PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. It's free! Memorialize all that you're learning, and use your writings as an asset to self-advocate for better outcomes.

As I wrote above, in Seth's case, the IRS sent him a $5.7 million tax refund after he filed his “OID” (Original Issue Discount). Four months later, authorities froze his accounts, he faced a federal indictment, and after he was convicted, a judge sentenced him to prison for tax fraud. He served five years in the federal system.

Let that sink in. A man who was once at the top of the world fell hard. But that wasn’t the end of his story. Obviously, we all make decisions that lead us to where we are. At any time, we can start making decisions that will open new opportunities, and lead us to where we want to go.

🔁 Seth’s Turning Point

When Seth went to prison, he did what a lot of people do at first: he blamed everyone else. He was angry at the government, the IRS, the courts, the system. He spent two full years pointing the finger at everyone but himself.

Then something changed for Seth.

He picked up a book—Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill. If you’ve read Think and Grow Rich, then you already know Napoleon Hill was one of the most influential self-help thinkers of the 20th century. But Outwitting the Devil is a different kind of book. It was written in 1938 but wasn’t published until 2011—because Hill’s ideas were considered too controversial at the time.

The book is structured as a fictional conversation between Hill and “the Devil,” who represents fear, procrastination, addiction, distraction, and every other force that causes people to drift through life rather than live with purpose. Hill presses the Devil to reveal how he manipulates people, especially those who feel stuck, powerless, or trapped by their circumstances.

There’s a quote from that book that has stayed with Seth to this day:

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

At first, he thought it was nonsense. But then he asked himself a powerful question:

What if that’s true?

What if this prison sentence wasn’t the end of the road—but the beginning of something better?

That moment changed everything. Seth stopped drifting. He stopped blaming. He took control.

📘 The Power of Book Reports

When Seth turned his life around, books played a huge role. He read more than 500 books during his incarceration. He also read the Bible three times, learned how to play guitar, earned multiple associate degrees, and enrolled in every class he could. He got in shape. He devoted himself more to his Christian faith. And most importantly, he found purpose.

If you want to build a compelling case for clemency or release, reading can be one of the most powerful tools you have. Our team at Prison Professors encourages all members of our community to read with intention, and to use the personal profile you build at PrisonProfessorsTalent.com to show how you're documenting what you learn and how your self-directed efforts are changing the way you think.

That’s why we strongly encourage you to write a book report for every book you read.

📚 How to Write a Book Report That Builds Your Record

Use the following format to make your reading count:

1. Why did you choose this book?

• Explain what drew you to the book.
• Did someone recommend the book?
• Did the title stand out?
• Were you trying to learn something specific?

2. What did you learn?

• Summarize key insights or quotes that impacted you.
• What lessons stood out?
• What challenged your thinking?

3. How will this book help you after release?

• Reflect on how the book will guide your behavior.
• In what ways will the book influence the decisions you make?
• How will the book shape the goals that you set?

There isn't any right answer or wrong answer to the questions above. They're simply prompts that any member of our community can use. Each entry into your profile should show the intentional decisions you're making to prepare for success. Then, the profile becomes an asset for your future self-advocacy, including a potential petition for clemency.

Here’s how Seth might have answered those questions for Outwitting the Devil:

• Why I chose it: I picked up the book out of frustration and boredom. I’d heard of Napoleon Hill, but I didn’t expect much.
• What I learned: Fear and blame were keeping me stuck. I was drifting. That quote about every adversity carrying a seed of benefit changed how I saw my time in prison.
• How it helps me: The book gave me permission to reframe my situation. I stopped seeing myself as a victim and started seeing myself as a builder. That mindset helped me launch a business after release.

Of course, he would have written multiple paragraphs, or multiple pages for each entry. For the purposes of this lesson, I only wanted to offer suggestions for members of our community to consider.

✍️ Your Turn

• What book are you reading right now?
• Could you explain why it matters to you?

Start writing one report at a time. Seth said that he wrote 500 books during the time he served in prison. Consider how valuable it would have been if he had a book report for every title. It would show his growth, his mindset, and his potential. It would have become an asset, like a portfolio of work.

But this lesson isn't about Seth. It's about you. Start thinking about steps you can take to build a robust profile. You'll create a body of work that will advance your pursuit of liberty. Remember, your goal isn’t to impress anyone—it’s to show the work of your transformation.

🍫 Prison Bars: A Business Born Behind Bars

One day in the prison kitchen, Seth saw something that disgusted him. A box of chicken had a label on it: "Not for human consumption."

That was his breaking point.

He decided he wouldn’t eat that garbage. So he started experimenting with food from commissary—granola, honey, oats, nut mix—to create a healthier alternative. Soon, he was making protein bars in prison.

What started as a way to stay healthy became a business. Other guys wanted in. One unit made the bars. Another sold them. Seth kept the books. It was a full-scale operation—run from inside.

That business became Prison Bars, a real company he launched after release.

Let me pause here and say: That’s how real transformation looks. It doesn’t come from certificates. It comes from creativity, commitment, and consistent work—even behind the walls.

📈 Life After Prison—and the Struggle of Reentry

When Seth came home, he didn't have much in the way of resources. He didn't have a job, an income, or much more than an idea.

He took his last $186 and used $150 of it to apply to a program called Defy Ventures, which teaches entrepreneurship to people with criminal records. At that time, Defy was just opening a branch in San Francisco—with sponsorship from Google.

Seth joined. He built a business pitch. He learned how to raise money. And he raised nearly half a million dollars to grow Prison Bars.

He later worked with 70 Million Jobs, a staffing company for people with criminal records. Then with Viapath, helping to bring job training content to prison tablets. He got back into real estate and found ways to create jobs for others.

And now? He’s working with our nonprofit as a volunteer to share his journey and help others—you—see the path forward. As we began working together to grow our advocacy, he thought it might be a good idea to apply for executive clemency. We agreed to work on this Ask-Me-Anything lesson, with hopes of influencing others.

🛤️ Executive Clemency: What You Need to Know

🏛️ Types of Executive Clemency:

• Pardon: Forgives the conviction, restores civil rights.
• Commutation: Shortens or eliminates a sentence.
• Amnesty: Blanket forgiveness for a group.
• Remission of Fine: Cancels financial penalties.

📜 Who Has the Power?

Only the President of the United States. Not the judge. Not the prosecutor. Not Congress.

📥 The Process:

1. File your application at justice.gov.
   
   
2. You don’t need a lawyer. You need a compelling story, supported by truth and documentation.
   
   
3. The Office of the Pardon Attorney will review it.
   
   
4. The FBI will investigate everything you say.
   
   
5. They will interview the prosecutor, the judge, and possibly your probation officer.
   
   
6. You can submit 3 letters of support—but build more public support outside of that.
   
   
7. The Pardon Attorney will make a recommendation.
   
   
8. The White House Counsel will review it.
   
   
9. The President will decide.
   
   

That’s the system. But here’s the key:

Start preparing NOW. Don’t wait until you’re out.

🧱 How to Build Your Case

When we help Seth with his clemency application, we’ll follow the same process I’m going to outline here:

Build a Record of Transformation

Use every day inside to show:

• What you’ve learned
• How you’ve grown
• What you’re doing to help others
• How you’ve accepted responsibility

Document this. Journal. Write book reports. Complete lesson plans (like this one). Track every step.

Tell a Powerful Story

Your application must:

• Acknowledge your crime
• Express remorse
• Show rehabilitation
• Illustrate community contribution

Secure Letters of Support

They must be:

• From people who know you now
• Not from family
• From mentors, employers, clergy, volunteers

Build Social Proof

You can create a public profile at Prison Professors Talent. It’s free. Our nonprofit built it for you. We host your work. It’s timestamped, verifiable, and public.

💡 Reflection Prompts

Write your responses and keep them in your portfolio or post them on your profile.

1. What adversity have I faced, and how can I turn it into an asset?
2. In what ways am I taking responsibility for my past?
3. What am I doing today to prepare for a better future?
4. Who outside of my family could speak to my growth?
5. What kind of impact do I want to make when I return to society?
   
   

📨 Preparing for the Clemency Investigation

Filing a clemency petition is just the beginning of the process. Once your petition is submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the Department of Justice follows a standard review procedure—and you need to be ready for it.

I learned from a former DOJ attorney, who worked inside the Office of the Pardon Attorney, that every serious petition will eventually trigger an FBI investigation.

That investigation is not designed to punish you—it’s designed to verify the claims you made in your petition.

Here’s what you need to know:

🔎 What the FBI Will Do

As part of its review, the FBI will:

• Read your full clemency petition
• Visit or contact the prosecutor from your original case
• Contact the sentencing judge
• Speak to your probation officer
• If applicable, contact the victim(s) of the offense
• Interview people in your community or personal network

Each of these individuals will be asked:

• Whether they support or oppose your clemency
• Whether they believe you’ve changed
• Whether you’ve accepted responsibility and shown remorse
• Whether your release would pose any risk to the community

🛠️ How You Can Prepare

Rather than waiting passively for the government to contact these stakeholders, you can take initiative. I recommend the following strategy:

1. Write to each person who may be contacted—the judge, the prosecutor, the probation officer, and (where appropriate) the victim.

2. Acknowledge your past and express remorse.

• Explain what you've done to grow, change, and contribute to society since your conviction.

4. Ask for their support. If they cannot support the petition, ask that they at least choose not to oppose it.

✉️ Sample Letter to the Sentencing Judge

Here’s an example of how someone like Seth might write to the judge who sentenced him. This same template could be adapted and sent to the prosecutor or probation officer.

Dear Judge [Last Name],

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing with deep humility and a sincere sense of personal responsibility. In [Year], you sentenced me in the case of United States v. [Your Name]. I fully acknowledge the seriousness of the offense and the harm that my conduct caused. I accept your judgment without dispute, and I’ve carried that responsibility with me every day since.

Since serving my sentence, I have worked diligently to rebuild my life in a way that reflects growth, accountability, and service to others. While incarcerated, I [briefly describe major efforts—education, programming, teaching others, etc.]. Since my release, I have continued that work by [describe post-release efforts—employment, volunteering, family, business, advocacy].

I have recently filed a petition for executive clemency, not because I wish to erase my past, but because I hope to show that people can change—and that redemption is possible. I am asking for your support in this effort. If you are unable to support my petition, I respectfully request that you choose not to oppose it.

Regardless of your position, I thank you for your time, your service, and for the opportunity to express my gratitude for the fairness and dignity with which you handled my case.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Reg. No. [BOP Number or leave blank if no longer in custody]
[Mailing Address or contact info if appropriate]

🧠 Reflection Prompt

• Who are the key people connected to your case—judge, prosecutor, probation officer, victim?
• What would you want them to know about who you are today?
• How can you begin preparing now to earn their support—or at least their neutrality?

Write it down. These letters may become some of the most important steps in your clemency journey.

🌐 Build Your Profile. Build Your Record. Build Your Future.

If you’re serious about preparing for executive clemency—or any form of early release or successful reentry—then let me offer one more essential strategy:

Build your personal profile on Prison Professors Talent.

This is a free service, supported by our nonprofit, the Prison Professors Charitable Corporation. We created it specifically for people in jails and prisons who want to document their growth, memorialize their efforts, and show stakeholders exactly why they’re worthy of mercy, trust, and opportunity.

I always say:

No one should work harder for your liberty than you.

But you can’t just say you’ve changed—you’ve got to show the work.

🧱 What Is a Prison Professors Talent Profile?

It’s your personal portfolio of progress. You can use it to:

• Write and publish book reports
• Log your daily journal entries
• Describe your release plan
• Add your biography
• Post your goals and action steps
• Share your course completions
• Upload your letters of support
• Tell your story—your way

Every time you add something to your profile, the system awards you points—a way to measure your ongoing effort. The points you earn help you to build evidence in a format that’s timestamped, public, and verifiable.

📈 What’s the Leaderboard?

The leaderboard tracks engagement and progress across our entire community. It ranks the people who are putting in the work—reading, writing, reflecting, learning, and leading.

Why does that matter?

Because when we advocate for clemency reform, we want to offer the Pardon Czar and other stakeholders a tool they can trust. We’ve got to build what does not exist, and your story should become a part of the message. Anyone can look at the leaderboard on our website and see who is preparing for success, and who is a worthy candidate for relief. We use those points to advocate for change. Strive to put your name on the top of the leaderboard.

We’re building and funding the system, and if you want us to advocate for you, become a part of it by developing your profile, earning points, and getting to the top of the leaderboard.

👥 What’s a Tribe?

When you build your profile, you can also become an ambassador of the message.

You can encourage others to start their own journey. When someone creates a profile because of your influence, they become part of your tribe. You earn more points, and the system tracks that outreach in a downline structure—which means your leadership multiplies.

Every time someone in your tribe adds a book report or journal entry, it builds points for the individual, and also for you because you started the tribe. This effort contributes to the larger mission: a grassroots effort to prepare more people for success.

This is what we want the prison system to produce—not warehousing, but opportunities to earn freedom through self-driven change.

💬 Support Through Testimonials and Newsletters

Once you build your profile, you can invite others to leave testimonials. Friends, mentors, volunteers, community leaders—anyone who knows your story and wants to support you can submit a testimonial that appears right on your profile.

Better yet, they can subscribe to your personal newsletter. Every time you add a new entry—like a journal update, book report, or new project—they’ll get an automatic email notification. That keeps your supporters connected and informed.

And if you’re working toward clemency, those ongoing updates show real-time accountability.

✍️ Final Reflection Prompt

• What could your profile say about you six months from now?
• Who could you invite to write a testimonial?
• Who could you bring into your tribe and encourage to start their own journey?

Start building today. Keep building tomorrow. Build a profile that advances you as a candidate for leniency, mercy, or support.

📣 Final Word

I want to thank Seth for his courage and commitment. He made mistakes. He owned them. And now he’s building something bigger than himself. He’s volunteering with our nonprofit, helping us advance the concept of earning freedom. You can do the same.

If you’re reading this in solitary confinement, in a prison cell, or in a county jail waiting for sentencing, you can start thinking today about clemency—or any other pathway to freedom—not as something that happens in the future, but as something you earn every single day.

You are the CEO of your life. And like any great CEO, you build your success with vision, discipline, and strategy. Use PrisonProfessors.org as a resource, or guidance, on steps you can take to earn freedom through merit.

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