Intake and Classification

Life Inside Prison

A Different World

Prison is unlike any other environment in America. When you enter, the Bureau of Prisons controls nearly every aspect of your life—where you live, what you eat, who you can interact with, even what you can read. For many, it feels like the closest thing to communism in the United States, where the state decides everything.

I know this reality firsthand. I served 26 years—9,500 days—across every security level: penitentiaries, mediums, lows, and camps. While the institution controlled much of my environment, I learned that personal decisions and mindset determined whether I suffered or thrived.

Becoming CEO of Your Life

You don’t need to spend thousands on a prison consultant. What you need is a CEO mindset. Leaders taught me that success in prison begins with:

• Defining Success — Decide what the best possible outcome looks like for you.
• Creating a Plan — Map out your days, months, and years with a long-term strategy.
• Prioritizing Actions — Focus on what matters most at each stage.
• Building Tools — Develop tools, tactics, and resources that accelerate progress.

This framework helped me survive decades inside and return to society with dignity, purpose, and financial independence. You can apply the same process.

Intake and Orientation

When you first arrive at a federal prison, you’ll go through intake: surrendering your clothes and belongings, completing forms, being fingerprinted, and issued an ID card. Staff will conduct medical and psychological screenings and may perform a strip search.

For the first 30 days, you’ll be in orientation—a period of adjustment where staff explain rules, responsibilities, and programs. This is not the time to argue or push for early release. Instead, it’s a time to learn. As Stephen Covey reminds us: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

The Purple Cow Strategy

In my work, I often reference Seth Godin’s book The Purple Cow. Godin explains that if you drive past a field of ordinary cows, you won’t notice them. But a purple cow stands out.

In prison, staff sees you as just another number among hundreds or thousands of people. If you want to influence your future, you must stand out—in positive ways. Becoming a “purple cow” means:

• Developing discipline and integrity.
  
  
• Avoiding conflict and negative influences.
  
  
• Building a body of work that proves your growth.
  
  

When you demonstrate that you are different—not by being disruptive, but by being deliberate—you increase your opportunities for better housing, better jobs, and ultimately, better release outcomes.

Security Levels

The Bureau of Prisons assigns people based on custody and classification. Levels include:

• Minimum (Camps) — Few barriers, least restrictive.
• Low Security — Fenced perimeters, structured routines.
• Medium Security — Double fences, more staff oversight.
  High Security (Penitentiaries) — The most controlled and volatile environment.
• ADMAX (Supermax) — The highest security level in the country.
  
  

Each drop in custody level reduces stress and increases opportunity. But regardless of security, your personal preparation determines how you live.

Profiles: Building Your Record

One of the best ways to become a purple cow is by documenting your journey. That’s why we built the Profiles platform at PrisonProfessors.org. It allows you to memorialize your progress and build a record that shows accountability, reflection, and growth.

Use it to document your:

• Biography — Share your story beyond conviction, helping others see your humanity.
  
  
• Journals — Record daily reflections and lessons to demonstrate growth and self-awareness.
  
  
• Book Reports — Summarize your learning from books and courses, proving consistent study.
  
  
• Release Plan — Outline your strategy for housing, employment, and community reintegration.
  
  
• Testimonials — Collect statements from people you’ve influenced to validate your efforts.
  
  

This body of work becomes invaluable for mitigation at sentencing, early release opportunities, or when reentering society.

Free Resources Over Consultants

Many so-called prison consultants prey on fear, charging thousands despite limited experience and zero proof of a body of substantive work. Don’t fall into that trap. Everything you need to prepare is already free:

• Lessons at PrisonProfessors.org — Hundreds of guides and strategies.
  
  
• AI Chat Tool — Search answers drawn from the Code of Federal Regulations and our library.
  
  
• Free Webinars — Hosted at WhiteCollarAdvice.com/Nonprofit, where you can ask questions directly.
  
  

The more you learn, the better prepared you’ll be to navigate prison and return stronger.

Key Takeaways

• Prison is restrictive, but you can still thrive with the right mindset.
  
  
• Success begins with a plan: define, prioritize, and execute.
  
  
• Intake and orientation are structured periods—observe and learn.
  
  
• Stand out positively by becoming a “purple cow.”
  
  
• Document your journey with the Profiles platform to strengthen advocacy.
  
  

Self-Directed Exercise

Take 20 minutes to reflect and write your answers. Post them to your Prison Professors profile to begin building your record:

1. In what ways can you stand out as a “purple cow” in prison?
   
   
2. Which steps will you take in your first 30 days to demonstrate accountability?
   
   
3. How can your biography, journals, or book reports help others see your growth?
   
   

By documenting today, you invest in a better tomorrow.

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