When members of our community have questions about the justice system, prison adjustment, or planning for success, we listen. If the question could benefit others, we invite them to participate in an Ask-Me-Anything session. These recorded interviews give us an opportunity to explore the issue in depth—often lasting 20 minutes to an hour. After listening carefully, I provide feedback based on my experience serving 26 years in federal prison and building a career since coming home. We then create a self-directed lesson plan from the conversation, so others can learn from the same insights. Educators in prisons and jails can use these lessons to teach, inspire, and guide.
Many stakeholders will influence your pathway to liberty. To work toward the highest level of liberty, at the soonest possible time, start building a portfolio of work. Your work should advance you as a candidate for home confinement or work-release programs as soon as possible. While serving my sentence, I always believed the work I completed inside could relate to the level of success I'd build after I got out. Invest in yourself, and use these tools to memorialize the journey.