Message to People in Victorville
Dear Friends:
In mid-July, I had the privilege of visiting USP Victorville and FCI II Victorville. I want to begin this message with a heartfelt thank you—to Warden Lepe, Warden Araiza-Ramirez, Ms. Bravo, and every member of the reentry team who welcomed me with such grace and professionalism. Most importantly, I want to thank each of you who took the time to attend my presentation. Your attentiveness, your presence, and your thoughtful questions reminded me why this work matters.
As I stood before you, I made a pledge: To continue providing resources that will empower you to prepare for success upon release.
That pledge begins with a workbook I’ve developed—Preparing for Success after Prison. This resource is the foundation of the 10-part course I described during the presentation. It is grounded in the same principles I learned from leaders like Nelson Mandela, Frederick Douglass, and Socrates. Their wisdom shaped my 26-year journey through federal prison and helped me succeed after release.
I share these lessons because they worked for me—and because I’ve seen how they’ve worked for others, including many who were once serving life sentences. With discipline, documentation, and a commitment to personal growth, they advocated for themselves and created new beginnings.
The workbook is self-directed and self-explanatory. It follows the same structure as the First-Step-Act–approved course with SENTRY Code (PSAP). I’ll send it to anyone who asks—free of charge—with only one request: do the work. This is my way of paying forward the guidance that sustained me, and helping others build their foundation for change. I created a special email for people at Victorville, and our team will accept all requests from: Victorville@PrisonProfessors.org
We will send workbooks / books / self-directed lessons to anyone who sends an invitation. The first workbook will explain the program and help you get started. As long as you continue doing the work, we’ll send additional books to keep you moving forward. You can also invite your family or friends to visit PrisonProfessors.org to learn more about our free resources designed to support your journey. The workbooks will guide you through the process of memorializing your progress, earning points for your effort, and building a record of your commitment to personal growth. That record can become a powerful tool to open future opportunities—inside and beyond prison.
You should know that I do not have any influence over the Bureau of Prisons. I don’t control policy, sentence credits, or transfers. What I can do—and will do—is continue advocating for reforms that reward excellence, restore hope, and focus on results. But I can’t do it alone. This movement depends on you. When more people in prison choose to prepare for success—and avoid disciplinary problems—opportunities open. The more you document your growth, the more we can show decision-makers that you’re ready for more opportunities. No one should work harder for your liberty than you. As I continue this mission, I stand by the same three promises I made during my visit:
- I will never lie to you.
- I will never ask you to do anything I didn’t do while serving my sentence.
- I will never ask anyone to pay for the work I do.
With respect,
Michael Santos
Founder, Prison Professors Charitable Corporation
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