Hope at USP Hazelton

I first met Warden Misty Starr several years ago when she served at USP Florence, where I had the privilege of making presentations. Today, she is the Complex Warden at USP Hazelton. When I reached out to let her know that I would be in the Washington, D.C. area, I asked if she might allow me to make a presentation at her complex. True to form, she welcomed me warmly.

A Visit to the USP

Many of the people confined at USP Hazelton are serving lengthy sentences. Having begun my own journey in a high-security penitentiary, I understand what it feels like to live in such an environment. I also understand how essential hope is for people serving long terms. My goal was to provide that hope by showing what is possible when a person commits to living as the CEO of their life.

I told the men that while I am actively advocating for reforms to open new pathways to earn freedom, I cannot do it alone. I need their help. I asked them to do their part in lowering incident reports, reducing violence, and documenting stories of self-directed reentry plans.

Building Change Through Profiles

I encouraged them to memorialize their efforts on PrisonProfessors.org, where they could publish biographies, journal entries, book reports, and release plans. These profiles not only help individuals stay accountable to their own progress but also provide the transparency we need to strengthen our advocacy.

When people inside build their records and participate in our leaderboards, they create data. That data helps us show stakeholders that individuals in custody are striving toward excellence, making it harder to dismiss the value of incentivizing merit. Their work strengthens our argument that those who demonstrate consistent growth and preparation should earn greater opportunities—whether in lower security levels, work release, or home confinement.

A Shared Mission

I tailored my message for the USP population, but my central theme never changes:

• Define excellence.
  
  
• Document the pursuit of excellence.
  
  
• Show that preparation is a personal responsibility.
  
  

The staff at Hazelton share this same message daily. Yet, as many participants told me afterward, it often resonates more powerfully when they hear it from someone who has lived it. Because I served 26 years, returned successfully to society, and now donate my time to help the Bureau of Prisons improve outcomes, they know the path I describe is real.

Gratitude

I left USP Hazelton deeply grateful to Warden Starr, to Warden Ken Hoover, and to the entire Hazelton staff for their support. Their willingness to host these events demonstrates a commitment to building opportunities for individuals in custody to grow, prepare, and ultimately succeed upon release.

Together, we can transform the culture inside our prisons—one story, one profile, and one act of self-directed excellence at a time.

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