I received a question from a member of our community about life after prison.
The question had several parts. Can a person get a mortgage after prison? Can a person build credit? Can a person start a career with a criminal record?
Those are good questions. They are also practical questions. Anyone going through the system should be thinking about housing, credit, income, employment, and long-term stability. Families should be thinking about those questions, too.
But I want to begin with a different question:
What are you doing today to make yourself more valuable tomorrow?
That question matters because life after prison does not begin on the day a person walks out of the gate. Life after prison begins with the decisions a person makes while going through the journey. Every day gives us an opportunity to build. Every day gives us an opportunity to develop skills. Every day gives us an opportunity to create a record that shows we are preparing for a law-abiding, contributing life.
I know that path because I had to walk it.
When authorities arrested me in 1987, I was 23 years old. I had never had a serious career. I had made bad decisions. Those decisions led to a lengthy sentence. I served 9,500 days in federal prison. During those years, I had to think deeply about what life would look like when I returned to society.
I did not expect employers to line up to hire me.
I did not expect lenders to say, “Michael, we would love to finance your home.”
I did not expect people to forget that I had served decades in prison.
Instead, I expected resistance. I expected skepticism. I expected people to judge me by the worst decision I had ever made. Those expectations did not discourage me. They helped me prepare.
If I was going to succeed after prison, I had to start building while I was still inside.
Preparing for a World That Keeps Changing
People in prison do not always have a full understanding of how quickly society changes.
When I began serving my sentence, the tools people use today did not exist. There was no internet as we know it. There were no smartphones. There was no LinkedIn. There were no digital platforms that allowed people to work from anywhere. There were no simple tools for publishing, creating, learning, building audiences, or developing income streams.
Today, technology is always improving. It is always growing. People who prepare can use those tools to build careers, businesses, relationships, and opportunities that previous generations could not imagine.
But preparation must begin before release.
A person may not have access to the internet while inside. A person may not be able to open a laptop, build a website, or create a digital business while in a prison cell. Still, that person can develop the skills that make those tools useful later.
A person can learn to write.
A person can learn to communicate.
A person can learn basic financial literacy.
A person can read books about business, leadership, technology, sales, investing, or personal development.
A person can journal.
A person can build a release plan.
A person can collect testimonials.
A person can document growth.
A person can create a body of work that shows the world: I am more than my conviction. I am preparing to contribute.
That is the work.
Why I Considered Myself Unemployable
When I looked at my future from inside prison, I considered myself unemployable.
That was not self-pity. It was a realistic assessment.
I had gone to prison at 23. I would not return to society until I was much older. I did not have a traditional résumé. I did not have decades of work experience. I did not have professional credentials that would make an employer overlook a criminal record easily.
I understood that I would face collateral consequences.
Employers might not want to take a chance on me. Banks might not want to lend to me. Landlords might not want to rent to me. Community members might not know how to judge me. Some people might only see my conviction.
Once I understood those realities, I had a choice.
I could complain about how hard life would be.
Or I could begin preparing.
Complaining would not help me build credit. Complaining would not help me buy a home. Complaining would not help me create income. Complaining would not help me persuade anyone to believe in me.
Preparation could.
That mindset changed everything.
Rather than asking, “Who will give me a job?” I began asking, “What can I build that will make me valuable?”
Rather than asking, “Who will give me a second chance?” I began asking, “How can I earn trust?”
Rather than asking, “Will society forgive me?” I began asking, “What record can I create that shows I am working to reconcile with society?”
Those questions gave me direction.
The Three-Part Strategy That Guided Me
Early in my sentence, I developed a strategy. I did not know whether the strategy would work, but I believed it would put me in a better position.
The strategy had three parts.
First, I would educate myself.
Second, I would contribute to society in meaningful and measurable ways.
Third, I would build a strong support network.
Those three priorities shaped the way I served my sentence. They also shaped the opportunities that opened for me after release.
Education Opens Opportunities
I started with education because I believed learning would make me more useful.
Education does not only mean earning a degree. A degree can help, but education is bigger than a credential. Education means developing the ability to think, communicate, solve problems, understand people, and create value.
A person in prison may not control the sentence. A person may not control the housing unit. A person may not control the policies, the staff, the lockdowns, or the environment.
But a person can control the decision to learn.
Every book can become a teacher. Every journal entry can become a tool. Every course can become a step toward a better future. Every conversation with a serious person can become an opportunity to grow.
When people ask about careers after prison, I encourage them to think about the skills that society values.
Can you write clearly?
Can you speak professionally?
Can you solve problems?
Can you work with others?
Can you understand technology?
Can you manage money?
Can you show discipline?
Can you show that you are reliable?
Can you show that you can learn without someone forcing you?
Those skills matter in every career. They also matter in business. They matter to employers, lenders, partners, investors, customers, and community members.
The more a person learns, the more options that person can create.
Contribution Creates Meaning and Credibility
Education was the first part of my strategy. Contribution was the second.
I wanted to find ways to contribute to society while I was still in prison. That may sound difficult, but it is possible.
A person can write.
A person can mentor.
A person can help others learn.
A person can create lesson plans.
A person can document what he or she is learning.
A person can build resources that may help someone else avoid the same mistakes.
Contribution gave my life meaning while I served the sentence. It also became a conversation starter after I returned to society.
When people looked at my past, they could see the conviction. But I wanted them to see more. I wanted them to see the work I had done to grow. I wanted them to see the books I had read, the courses I had completed, the writing I had produced, the people I had helped, and the disciplined adjustment strategy I had followed.
That record mattered.
It helped me show that I was not waiting for time to pass. I was using time to prepare.
People going through prison should think the same way. Do not wait until the last six months to begin thinking about reentry. Do not wait until release to begin thinking about employment. Do not wait until a case manager, probation officer, employer, or lender asks what you have done to prepare.
Start now.
Build a record now.
Create evidence now.
Support Networks Should Be Built on Value
The third part of my strategy was building a support network.
Some people think a support network means finding people who like them. That is not enough.
A stronger support network comes from people who can see value in what you are building. They may support you because they believe in your work. They may support you because they see your discipline. They may support you because your growth connects with something that matters to them.
While I was in prison, I wanted people in society to know the person I was becoming. I wrote letters. I built relationships. I asked questions. I listened. I looked for ways to contribute.
That support network became an asset.
Support helped me transition. Support helped me find opportunities. Support helped me build businesses. Support helped me purchase a home. Support helped me continue building after release.
But support did not come by accident.
I had to earn it.
Anyone going through prison can begin building support. The process starts with transparency. It starts with accountability. It starts with showing people what you are doing to prepare.
That is one reason we encourage members of our community to use the Profiles Platform. A profile can help a person memorialize the journey. It can show growth over time. It can help family members, mentors, employers, and community members see the work.
If you want support later, begin building trust today.
The Consequences of Prison Decisions
A person’s adjustment inside influences opportunities outside.
That is a hard truth, but it is a truth.
If a person spends years focusing on the wrong things, there will be consequences. If a person focuses on controlling the television room, arguing over where people sit, joining cliques, or limiting relationships only to people from one background, that person may lose valuable time.
Every environment has distractions. Prison has many distractions. Some people adjust to the culture of confinement and forget that they are still preparing for society.
But the marketplace does not reward a person for knowing how to navigate prison politics. Employers, lenders, and business partners want to know whether a person can solve problems, communicate, follow through, and create value.
That is why I encourage people to think differently from the start.
Do not ask only, “What job will be waiting for me?”
Ask, “What am I doing today to become the kind of person an employer would want to hire?”
Do not ask only, “Will a lender give me a mortgage?”
Ask, “What record am I building that will make a lender, seller, partner, or investor believe in me?”
Do not ask only, “Can I build credit?”
Ask, “What financial habits am I developing now so I can manage credit responsibly later?”
Those questions lead to better decisions.
Building Income Streams After Prison
When I came home, I knew I had to create income.
I wanted to build businesses. I wanted to create opportunities. I wanted to use the lessons I had learned during 26 years in prison to bring value to other people.
That required preparation.
Income does not come only from having a job. A job can be important, and many people will need employment after release. But income can also come from skills, services, products, writing, speaking, teaching, consulting, technology, sales, or entrepreneurship.
The more skills a person develops, the more income opportunities that person can pursue.
A person who learns to communicate well can write résumés, letters, proposals, business plans, release plans, and sales messages.
A person who learns technology can build digital skills that employers need.
A person who studies finance can learn how credit, budgeting, saving, investing, and lending work.
A person who studies leadership can become more valuable in any organization.
A person who documents the journey can build credibility that opens doors.
The key is to prepare before the opportunity appears.
I encourage people to think about income in layers.
The first layer may be survival income. That means getting a job, paying bills, and stabilizing life.
The second layer may be skill-based income. That means using specific skills to create more value.
The third layer may be business or investment income. That means building assets that can produce opportunities over time.
Not everyone will follow the same path. But everyone can begin preparing.
The Importance of a Financial Runway
While I was in prison, I set a goal. I wanted to come home with enough money in the bank to live for a full year, whether I had a job or not.
That goal mattered because I understood the danger of desperation.
If a person comes home with no money, no plan, and no support, that person may feel trapped. The first job may become another kind of prison because the person cannot afford to leave, cannot afford to grow, and cannot afford to make strategic decisions.
Money gives a person options.
I am not saying everyone will be able to save a full year of living expenses before release. Many people face difficult financial circumstances. Families may struggle. Prison wages may be low. Opportunities may be limited.
Still, the principle matters.
Plan early.
Save what you can.
Learn how money works.
Avoid unnecessary debt.
Think about housing before release.
Think about transportation.
Think about food.
Think about clothing.
Think about identification documents.
Think about credit.
Think about the cost of supervision, restitution, child support, or other obligations.
A release plan should include financial planning. Without financial planning, reentry becomes much harder.
Mortgages, Credit, and Character
Can a person get a mortgage after prison?
Yes, but the path may not be easy. It may not follow the traditional route. A person may need to build credit, income, savings, relationships, and a record of responsibility.
When I came home, I bought my first house within four days. I did not use a traditional mortgage. I bought that house on the strength of character, preparation, and relationships I had built while serving my sentence.
That did not happen by accident.
It happened because I had built a record. I had built trust. I had built relationships with people who could see that I was serious about living as a law-abiding, contributing citizen.
That lesson applies to credit, mortgages, and business opportunities.
Lenders evaluate risk. Employers evaluate risk. Landlords evaluate risk. Business partners evaluate risk.
A criminal conviction may make them see more risk.
Your job is to build a record that helps them see responsibility, discipline, preparation, and value.
That record may include:
A biography that shows personal responsibility.
A release plan that shows clear thinking.
A journal that shows daily discipline.
Book reports that show learning.
Certificates that show completion of courses.
Testimonials that show support.
Work history or volunteer contributions that show reliability.
A budget that shows financial planning.
A plan for income that shows realism.
The more evidence you build, the stronger your case becomes.
Take Ownership of Your Narrative
If you do not tell your story, other people will tell it for you.
They may use court records. They may use press releases. They may use old articles. They may use the worst day of your life to define the rest of your life.
That is why I encourage people to take ownership of their narrative.
Tell the truth.
Do not minimize the past.
Do not blame others.
Do not make excuses.
Explain what happened. Explain what you learned. Explain what you are doing to make amends. Explain how you are preparing for a better future.
That kind of story can become an asset.
A biography is not only a personal history. It is a strategy. It helps people understand who you are becoming. It gives stakeholders a different lens through which to view you.
A person preparing for life after prison should begin writing that story as early as possible.
Use the Profiles Platform to Build a Record
At Prison Professors, we encourage people to document the journey through the Profiles Platform.
The reason is simple: preparation should be visible.
If a person is working hard to change, that person should build a record of the work. A profile can help organize that record. It can include a biography, journal entries, book reports, a release plan, testimonials, and other evidence of growth.
That record may help with self-advocacy.
It may help a person prepare for employment.
It may help family members understand the progress.
It may help mentors offer better guidance.
It may help stakeholders see the person’s commitment to growth.
It may help open conversations about community confinement, supervised release, clemency, or other opportunities.
No profile guarantees an outcome. No document guarantees liberty. No release plan guarantees employment. I do not believe in happy talk.
But preparation improves a person’s prospects.
Documentation creates evidence.
Evidence gives stakeholders something to consider.
That is why we keep encouraging people to build.
A Practical Plan for Life After Prison
Anyone preparing for life after prison should begin with a clear plan.
Define success.
What kind of life do you want to build one year after release? Five years after release? Ten years after release?
Create priorities.
What must you work on first? Education? Communication? Financial literacy? Health? Family relationships? Restitution? Career skills?
Build tools, tactics, and resources.
What books will you read? What courses will you complete? What writing will you produce? What mentors will you contact? What skills will you practice?
Measure progress.
How will you know whether you are advancing? How many books did you read? How many journal entries did you write? How many letters did you send? How much money did you save? How many testimonials did you collect?
Execute daily.
A plan only matters if a person lives the plan.
That is the discipline.
Success after prison does not come from wishing. It does not come from slogans. It does not come from blaming the system. It comes from preparing, documenting, building, adjusting, and continuing to move forward.
Families Can Help
Families play an important role in this process.
If you have a loved one in prison, encourage that person to think about the future. Ask questions that lead to preparation.
What are you reading?
What are you learning?
What goals have you set?
What are you writing?
How are you documenting your growth?
What kind of work do you want to do after release?
What skills are you building now?
What support do you need?
How can we help you create a record?
Families should not do the work for the person inside. The person inside must lead. But families can encourage, organize, type, save documents, send books, help build a profile, and provide accountability.
Support works best when it reinforces responsibility.
No Happy Talk
I want to be clear.
Life after prison can be hard.
A criminal record can create barriers. Long gaps in employment can create barriers. Poor credit can create barriers. Limited technology skills can create barriers. Weak support systems can create barriers.
I do not minimize those challenges.
But I also know that people can overcome them.
I served 26 years in prison. I came home after 9,500 days. I had to learn society again. I had to learn technology. I had to build income. I had to build credit. I had to build businesses. I had to build trust.
The work did not end when I walked out of prison.
The work continued.
It still continues.
That is why I tell people: do not postpone preparation. Do not wait until release. Do not wait until the halfway house. Do not wait until the last year. Begin now.
The earlier a person starts, the more time that person has to build.
The Builder’s Mindset
I am a builder.
I was building while I served my sentence. I am still building today.
That mindset helped me through prison, and it continues to guide my life. I look at problems and ask: What can I build from this? What lesson can I learn? What tool can I create? What value can I offer? What record can I develop? What opportunity can I prepare for next?
People in prison can develop the same mindset.
A person can build knowledge.
A person can build discipline.
A person can build communication skills.
A person can build a release plan.
A person can build a support network.
A person can build a profile.
A person can build income opportunities.
A person can build credit.
A person can build a new life.
But building requires action.
No one can do it for us.
Final Word
If you are going through prison, or if you love someone who is going through prison, think about the future with honesty.
Life after prison is hard.
But it is much harder for those who do not prepare.
A person who prepares can return to society with a plan, a record, a support network, and a stronger sense of purpose. A person who prepares can create conversations that would not otherwise exist. A person who prepares can show employers, lenders, landlords, probation officers, case managers, and community members that the past is not the full story.
The work begins today.
Read.
Write.
Learn.
Document.
Build.
Contribute.
Create a plan.
Measure progress.
Use the Profiles Platform to memorialize the journey.
Show the world that you are preparing for success, not waiting for someone else to define your future.
I believe in that work because that work changed my life. I will never ask anyone to do anything I did not do. I know the path is hard. I also know that preparation can open opportunities.
The question is not only whether you can get a mortgage, build credit, or start a career after prison.
The better question is this:
What are you doing today to become a stronger candidate for the opportunities you want tomorrow?