Grow Support
What are the best possible outcomes in your situation?
People facing the criminal justice system can take ownership of their story, build support, and influence better outcomes through intentional preparation. Families and loved ones can help in ways that actually make a difference.
At Prison Professors, we create lessons, courses, and examples to show that self-advocacy begins with clarity, documentation, and consistent effort. Those principles guided me through decades in prison, and they continue to guide the work we do today.
Incidentally, if you want a deeper explanation of this philosophy, I encourage you to listen to the audiobook version of The Straight-A Guide, which explains how to think strategically and live as if you are the CEO of your own life. (Audible does not authorize free audiobooks, which is why this title carries a modest $6 cost.)
Pathway to Self-Advocacy
People often ask how to get help when facing the complications of imprisonment.
Families reach out because they care. They want to protect their loved ones. They want someone to listen. I understand that instinct. I felt it myself when I was inside, and I see it every day in the community we serve.
We invested to build our platform, Prison Professors, to help people self-advocate. At various stages, every person going into the system needs support. To get that support, and to build larger coalitions, each individual should work to create a lasting record. The record will give others a reason to listen and get involved.
The Role of Profiles
That’s where Profiles come in.
A profile is a living record of who you are becoming. It captures how you think, how you respond to challenges, and how you use time. It includes your reflections, your learning, your setbacks, and—most importantly—your effort.
Think of your profile as if you’d think of a resume, curriculum vitae, or a portfolio you build that highlights reasons why people should believe in you.
By documenting a journey honestly and consistently, a person can begin to tell a new story. It should advance the person’s self-advocacy, because the story shows more than what the PSR, or allegation reflects. The story doesn’t deny the past, but shows growth and reconciliation.
A well-developed story can inspire others. It can attract allies. And over time, it can build a coalition of support.
Turning Challenges into Proof
When challenges arise, we encourage people to write about them. Describe what happened. Write about each step you took to respond. Each person wants to build a record that may advance opportunities for better outcomes. To get success in the months and years ahead, we should prepare today.
By fully developing a profile over time, each individual will have a lasting record. The person can use that record to overcome obstacles or to open new opportunities, as I did. Those records also help Prison Professors advocate for reforms that will open more opportunities for people to earn freedom through merit. We can highlight the people who rise to the top of our leaderboards.
When I meet with leaders and decision-makers, I share those patterns. I show what preparation looks like when people are given structure and responsibility. That evidence strengthens our advocacy for:
expanded incentives,
greater access to opportunity,
and pathways that reward merit.
Families and Advocacy
The most powerful way to support a loved one is not by asking someone else to intervene, but by encouraging documentation, reflection, and consistency. Ask your loved one:
What are you learning?
What are you writing?
How are you preparing for what comes next?
Those questions reinforce ownership and momentum. By encouraging loved ones to build and develop a profile, family members are playing an essential role in opening more support. That support can become a valuable asset, leading to better outcomes.
Profiles are not magic solutions. They require effort. We offer free courses that show exactly how to build and strengthen a profile. I encourage everyone—inside and outside—to use them. If we want better outcomes, we must take responsibility for how we prepare and how we present our effort.