February 2, 2026: Monday

Words and Sentences

They shape how we understand ourselves. They influence how others see us. And in the context of the criminal justice system, they can open or close doors.

That understanding is one of the reasons we built the Profiles section of the Prison Professors website.

From an advocacy perspective, we needed a way to measure progress. As people work through our courses, we want to know whether they are building records that advance their prospects for success upon release. Profiles allow us to see that work taking shape—one entry, one reflection, one decision at a time.

But the importance of profiles goes deeper than metrics.

To succeed upon release, a person with a criminal background must learn to tell a new story about his or her life. That doesn’t mean denying the past. It means refusing to let the prison system define the future. It means showing—through consistent effort—that time was used to grow, to reflect, and to prepare for higher levels of responsibility and success.

How does a person do that?

By using words.

Dashboards

That’s why our front-facing dashboard tracks how many words members of our community are writing. Words reflect thinking. They show intention. They document change.

When I see that members of our community have written more than 9.1 million words, I’m encouraged. More than 5,400 people have begun building a profile. Those numbers represent thousands of journal entries, book reports, biographies, and release plans—each one a small step toward a larger goal.

If each person wrote an average of just 1,000 words per month, our community would generate more than 5 million words every month. That volume helps us advance our arguments for more incentives.

Why?

Because words translate into outcomes. When people think intentionally about how they use time in prison, they are more likely to avoid disciplinary infractions. They are more likely to build clarity about who they want to become. They are better positioned to form coalitions of support—inside prison and after release.

Advocacy

From an advocacy standpoint, this data helps us tell a broader story. It allows us to show that preparation can be measured. That effort can be documented. And that merit-based systems are not theoretical—they are observable.

We will continue using this data to advocate for more mechanisms that allow people to earn freedom through merit. That includes access to incentives, opportunities for transition, and pathways that reward responsibility and growth.

Words and sentences give us evidence that people who participate in Prison Professors Profiles are worthy of higher levels of liberty.

We hope every member of our community will continue writing, documenting, and supporting this collective effort. Together, those words become proof—and proof drives reform.