Rutgers Professor Frank Askin to Guest on Prison Nation Radio (PNR)

Rutgers Professor Frank Askin to Guest on Prison Nation Radio (PNR) Live Broadcast/Forum - Saturday January 5, 2008 at Willingboro Public Library

Prison Nation Radio (PNR): Prof. Frank Askin, Director of the Constitutional Litigation Clinic at Rutgers Law School/Newark will be the guest on Prison Nation Radio (PNR) - Hosted by Michael B. Jackson’s on Saturday January 5, 2008 @ 10:30AM. The Topic of the program is ”Voting Power & The Prison Nation: Using What We Have To Get What We Want (& Need)”. This is the second in a series of scheduled live PNR broadcast/community forums from the Willingboro Public Library (220 Willingboro Blvd, Willingboro, NJ 08046) on Saturday January 5, 2008 at 10:30 AM. The Public is invited. The program can also be accessed on the Internet at www.Jointfx.com.

Professor Askin has been a member of the National Board of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1969 and has been one of the ACLU's four general counsels since 1976. His memoir, Defending Rights: A Life in Law and Politics was published in 1997 by Humanities Press. He is listed in Woodward & White's Best Lawyers in America.

“It is now well documented that, as a consequence of racial profiling, members of racial minority groups have been investigated, arrested, prosecuted and convicted in New Jersey in numbers totally disproportionate to their propensity to commit crimes.” said Professor Askin. “The consequence is that members of the African American and Latino communities are denied an equal opportunity to influence the electoral and political process.”

Professor Askin is also one of the lead attorneys in a petition filed the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which claims that felon disenfranchisement is a violation of universal Human Rights principles, The American Civil Liberties Union and the Rutgers Law School Constitutional Litigation Clinic filed petition urges the Inter American Commission to rule that denying New Jersey citizens on parole and probation the right to vote violates universal human rights principles. The petition was filed after the New Jersey Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Those who cannot attend can call in, email or join the live chat room during the broadcast. Letters can be sent to mail: PMB 104, Postnet, 621 Beverly-Rancocas Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046. The program call in phone number is 1-347-215-8904. Registration and participation is free. There is room for only 50 people at the Library and Pre-Registration is required. For more information and to register go to www.Jointfx.com or email PNR@jointfx.com (put “Register” in the subject box) or register at the Willingboro Public Library’s

PNR is looking for people interested in producing, contributing and hosting and co-hosting programs. For more information email PNR@jointfx.com or call 609-877-8071

Still Married to a Career Criminal (for now)

Dear Michael B,
Yes, I am still married to a career criminal I am in the process of filing my papers. I feel like such a fool because I really believe that he would change. Yet after doing two bids with him he still came out and within eight months he was back in. I don't feel like the typical jail wife etc. I am a nurse and my husband is really a very sweet and loving person who has a drug problem. I have tried everything to keep him out this last time, but the crack "was calling him". I don't nor never have used any drugs and I can't understand how you can give up everything special to you for a high. I have moved on with my life yet I miss him so much. I can't ever go back to that type of life, jails visits etc. It’s so beneath me, I feel that I deserve someone who can meet me half way and we can build. Not someone who destroys everything that I build. I pray that the lord can help him and others like him. Its so sad to see a good person wasting away in those jails like animals, but it worse to see those young ladies wasting there lives away with them. I know that the men in prisons are someone children, but I feel that they learn some very bad behaviors in there. They use people; and brain washes the weak. If any one could learn from my experience that would really make my pain worth something. I have seen so many things, I have seen so many come out and out of 10 couples only 1 of those couple are still a couple and he just came home 2 months ago after 18 years, so that to early to tell. I would elaborate, but I would be wasting my time because unfortunately the young girls who need to hear my story, either won't listen or can't see it because they have learn the hard way like we did. Thanks for letting me express my feelings. MT

Dear MT,
Yes, you do deserve better. Most women deserve better than they are getting from their man. you speak the words of many prisonwives that I hear from. Many of them just have not verbalized it to their man or done anything about it as you have. I wish you and your husband the best of luck. Mb

Forty-year old FIP Having Problems Coping

Dear Michael B,
I am 40 years old and recently been released from prison after serving 27 months. I am running into roadblocks and don't know where to turn. I'm specifically having housing and employment issues. I'm currently living with family who does not welcome my stay. I'm working full time for a company that is seasonal, so I expect to be laid off come September. I am trying to restore my drivers license, while trying to pay the massive court imposed fines and restitution owed. I will soon be homeless and am afraid to ask for assistance through state parole, for fear they will lock me back up, or stick me in a shelter. I've applied through social services, but am not considered eligible because I have a full time job. I don't know any resources available, if any, and would appreciate any information forwarded. Thank you for your time.

Dear B,
You have at least 2 months before the end of the summer season to keep looking for another job and/or assistance.
You need to sit down and write out a "plan of action" for yourself. Layout where you are and what you must do to get where you want to be.
You also must talk to the Parole Officer about your situation. they might surprise you and try to assist you. People, usually, do not get locked up for parole violations simply because they are going through hard times. Your Parole Officer must be aware already that your job is seasonal and will end with the summer. The expectation of parole is that you be able to show that you are doing your best to get another job.
If you are unable to pay the fines you must tell the Parole Officer and work out a payment plan that works for you. (Remember that after you are out and doing well you may be able to petition the courts to suspend or lessen your fines.). If you don't have a job the Parole Officer probably does not expect you to be able to make payments on fines.
The problem - meaning violations - comes in when you do not communicate with the Parole Officer and stop payments and stop reporting and stop doing all the things you know that you are supposed to be doing. Communicating with the Parole Officer is the most important part of your plan because, it is going to be to little too late for excuses once the Parole Officer puts a warrant out on you. Fear of being locked up by the Parole Officer is not an accepted excuse for violating parole.
You say that you are "currently staying with a family who does not welcome you stay". That may be true, however, for whatever reason you are still there right now with a roof over your head and a place to think and plan. You best do what you need to do to make these folks feel better about you being there. At least for a little longer until you can get yourself a room or apartment.
If you are having difficulty, that is pretty much how it is going to be for formerly incarcerated people, such as yourself. You'll have to work that much harder. Whatever time you have free from your current job and other responsibilities should be spent searching for what you need. If you do not have a computer to go online to search for a job and resources in your area, go to your nearest public library and use the computers there for free.
If you do not want to go to a shelter or become jobless than you will have to make sure that it does not happen. Make the right decisions and do not panic It is not going to be easy but you can do it. Just never give up and think positive. See yourself with a newer better job and your own place in 2 months, instead of seeing your self jobless, homeless and on your way back to the joint. Good luck. Do Good! Mb
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PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2007
New Jersey Prison Community focused Talk Radio Station – Prison Nation Radio (PNR) – to Go Live Online Saturday, December 8, 2007 (Willingboro, NJ) - November 29, 2007 – Prison Nation Radio (PNR), a New Jersey based Talk Radio Station, will go online Saturday, December 8, 2007, from the Willingboro Public Library. The live two-hour program plans to broadcast Saturdays, from 10a.m. to –noon, with a focus on Criminal Justice System issues and their affects on New Jersey’s inner city communities. The first program’s topics will include Recidivism in New Jersey and Governor Corzine’s Prisoner Reentry Plan. The Public is invited. Online access is at www.Jointfx.com.
“Historically,formerly incarcerated people have rarely been included, with any significant degree, in the conversations on what is best for formerly incarcerated people,”says Michael B. Jackson, creator and Host of PNR. “This is one example of how PNR plans to serve.”
Jackson,who was formerly incarcerated, is encouraging other formerly incarcerated people, family members, friends and the general community to participate by sharing stories, comments and information. Those who cannot attend can call in,email or join the live chat room during the broadcast. The currently incarcerated who wants to participate can do so by sending their comments via U.S. Mail. As many letters as possible will be read during the broadcast and all will be posted on the PNR website www.Jointfx.com. Letters should be mailed to: PMB 104, Postnet, 621 Beverly-Rancocas Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046.The program call in phone number is 1-347-215-8904.
Prison Nation Radio plans to perform a public service by giving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and the prison-affected community a point of view.The weekly talk formatted broadcast will include guest interviews, news information updates and attention to issues important to the PNR audience.
Michael B. Jackson is the Publisher and Author of three books; "How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry," "How to Love &Inspire Your Man After Prison," and "Como Cumplir Con Tus Obligaciones Al Salir De La Prision: Guia practica para una vida mejor."
“No one wants these programs to work more than the people, but there are a lot of concerns,” explained Jackson. “Many of the men and women have past experiences with well-intended programs that were not successful, for whatever reason.Formerly incarcerated people have many complex issues to deal with when they get out of prison. Many people will receive many dollars to address these issues,but not everyone who says they can do so really can. In the end, the only ones who get jammed up are the people looking for help.”
Registration and participation is free. The first 50 people to pre-register and attend the live broadcast at Willingboro Public Library will receive a free autographed copy of Jackson’s book, "How to Love & Inspire Your Man After Prison."There is room for only 50 people at the Library and Pre-Registration is required. The first 100 to register and log in to the broadcast online will also receive a free book. For more information and to register go to www.Jointfx.com or email pnr@jointfx.com(put “Register” in the subject box).

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For more information Contact: Michael B. Jackson @ pnr@jointfx.com or call 609-877-8071

She Needs to Vent

Dear MBJ,
I'm writing because I need to vent and in hopes you can shed some light on my situation. I have been involved with my child's father for almost 18 years. I stood by him when he was sentenced to 7 years back in 2000. I did all the prison stuff a girlfriend would do. We talked, I visited etc. We made plans of being together once he was released. Well during one of our conversations, he mentioned that he intended to use marijuana when he was released. I told him that he could not smoke weed at home and he became angry. At that point 'our' place became my place and from then on he was so negative. My last conversation with him he asked me if I didn't hear from him would I try to find him. I told him no. Then he asked me why and I told because I felt he wouldn't want me to and why would I have to try and find him if we are together? To make a long story short he lied about his release date, got released sooner than what he said and I have not seen or heard from him since. The question I've been asking myself is did he simply use me to help make him comfortable while he did his time, or did my objecting to his wanting to use drugs make him change his mind? He has a history of substance abuse (crack) and always moves up to his drug of choice eventually. This is what I was trying to avoid/did not want about my child/his child. Also, when he was first incarcerated, there was another women in the picture, but to my knowledge she no longer was that's why I'm not sure. Also what is the recidivism rate for parolee's with substance abuse problems. I'm just angry that I fell for his BS. As for yourself it's wonderful to know that a person can change if they want to and put forth the effort to do so. Need to Vent.

Dear Need-to-Vent,
I doubt whether your telling him that he could not smoke weed in the house caused him to change his mind about his relationship with you. You have been together for 18 years and have a child together, you do the whole “girlfriend thing” while he was in prison, yet he lies to you about his release date and doesn't tell you where he is. The most people on parole with drug problems go back to prison sooner or later. Don't worry, you'll be getting a “collect call from a correctional facility” from him, probably sooner than later. You may have went for his BS while he was inside and it may hurts for a while, but you probably find out that him not coming to your home will save you a lot of future grief and BS. Good luck. mbj

P.S., I’m happy to hear that my book “How to Love & Inspire Your Man After Prison”, was helpful to you.

What to Do When Stopped By the Police

A pamphlet by the National Black Police Association of how to behave when confronted by the police.

After watching a young woman getting Tazed by the police for refusing to get off her cell phone and get out of the car, after being stopped for a minor traffic violationI could not help thinking about myself .
Back in the day I would sometimes lie awake in my cell at night and entertain fantasies of playing games with the police'. Nothing illegal. I just wanted to aggravate the hell out of them. Like, when I got legit I would buy myself a brand new fancy car, pull up along side a police car at a light and act like I was really nervous and suspicious. I figured a young black man in an expensive car was enough grounds for suspicious as far as the cops are concerned, but the nervous act would clinch it. What I wanted was for the police to pull me over thinking it was a stolen car. Then just when they thought they had a bust, I would whip out the registration with my name on it. I'd give the cop a cocky little sneer in the corner of my lips, as if to say, "nah nah nah nah nah nah!". In my fantasy, the cop would feel foolish and get into his cruiser and drive away in shame. That was my fantasy. I thought that would be amusing. I could not think of anything else to do but, mess with the cops. I was going to purposely draw police attention toward myself to prove that I was legit.
I learned firsthand what they were talking about shortly after being paroled. I was driving home from work one night at 10 p.m. when I was pulled over by a policeman in a small town outside Trenton, NJ, called Ewing. I was certain that I was not speeding and I was unaware why I was being stopped. It occurred to me that this may be what I had fantasized about, during some of my more unproductive idle moment in the joint. Getting stopped by the police when my stuff was correct. The officer walked up to the car with his body kind of crouched, his hand positioned on his gun that was halfway out of the holster, carefully peeking into the car like at any moment he expected an ambush from inside my car.
I wanted to lean out the window and yell, "BOO!". But I didn't. When he finally crept up to my window, he peeked inside and shined his flash light all in my face first and then around the inside the car. The officer relaxed a little when he saw that there was no one else in the car. He asked me for my license, registration and insurance card. I was tired and a bit annoyed by this time, so I admit that there was a little edge to my tone when I asked, "could you tell me why I was pulled over?"

"Your license, registration and insurance card, sir".

Damn, he just blew my question off altogether. That was it, Now, I was pissed off.

"What the hell you fucking with me for tonight? What, you ain't got anything better to do? I have a right to know why I am being stopped. If I did something wrong, let me know. If not then push the fuck off, cause you ain't got no bust here . . . "

That is what I said in my mind. To the cop, I said nothing and just handed him my papers. It was also about then that a feeling washed over me that this was no fun at all. I began to think about all the things that could go wrong out there that night. If he calls my license in and it comes back that I am on parole, the next thing you know I will be a suspect in something. I sat there on the side of this semi desolate road for over 30 minutes with the high beams and spotlights of the police car behind me illuminating the inside of my care like a fish aquarium. I was very thankful when he finally gave me my ticket for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, and I was on my way home again.

When dealing with the police, it is best to be intelligent about the situation. Most of the time the police are going to come out on top if things turn into a confrontation. Just keep cool because it is not worth the hassle. I recently read a pamphlet called "What to Do When Stopped by the Police". The pamphlet was put out by B.O.L.E.S. (Black Officers Law Enforcement Society), of Trenton, NJ and the National Black Police Association in Washington, DC.

1. WHAT TO DO WHEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE

The basic materials in this manual were prepared by the police and Community Enterprise Project PACE. The National Black Police Association, an umbrella organization representing over 30,000 dedicated Black police officers nationally, stands for unity, justice and peace. The NBPA exists to help prod law enforcement agencies to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of Blacks, other minorities, women, and poor people. We hope that this pamphlet will be helpful. We urge, however, that you do not rely on it as a legal advisor. But we hope the information presented here will keep you from having to go to jail.
It Could Happen To You. What is your name? Where do you live? Have you got any identification?
These are very simple questions. They can be answered very easily by almost everyone. But when a police officer asks these questions, it can cause a lot of problems both for the officer and for YOU. Most times there is a reason why he is asking you such questions although it may seem to you that there isn't. He may be investigation a complaint phoned in to the police by someone in the neighborhood. He may have been informed by police radio that there has just been an armed robbery. For one reason or another you may be the one who he suspects. You may have knowledge that will help him in his investigation. Or, he may think that you are having trouble. Sometimes he may be going about getting his answers in the wrong way by not respecting YOUR RIGHTS. Sometimes you may overreact to his questions and create an even more serious situation.
We will attempt to explain what rights you have, what things you should remember and what you can expect when a police officer starts asking you a lot of questions . . . it could save you from answering a lot more unnecessarily.

• If You Are Stopped By The Police In Your Car
• If You Are Stopped By The Police On The Streets
• If The Police Knock At Your Door

Remember

2. IF YOU ARE STOPPED BY THE POLICE IN YOUR CAR

If you are driving a vehicle the officer can ask you to pull over at any time. You will probably be asked to produce your driver's license and registration of the vehicle. This you must do if he asks for them. The best thing to do is pull over and sit tight. If you are stopped at night, turn on your dome light and show him that nothing is wrong. It is best to do nothing that would give him reason to search further. Having your lights on and your hand on the steering wheel will usually put their minds at ease. Then, when he asks you for your id, you can go about getting it.
Chances are that he is about to write you a ticket for a traffic violation. Of course, you may start to explain at this point but that is as far as you should take it. Be careful about how you protest. He may start checking your whole car out for Vehicle Code Violations. It is unfortunate but true. A simple traffic violation can end up costing you a fortune in other violations. If you think that he gave you a bum ticket, then take your protest to Traffic Court.

3. IF YOU ARE STOPPED BY THE POLICE ON THE STREET

Most of the problems that you may have with the police can be avoided at the time they first stop and question you. Remember they think that they have reason (probable cause) to stop you and ask you so questions. At this point you should stop and get yourself together. Whether or not you are arrested may just depend on how much of you have gotten yourself together by the time you have to answer who you are.

There are many factors that a police officer will take into consideration when he is observing you and thinks that you are up to no good. Every situation is different and he will usually consider the following factors:

• when you are running and a crime has just been reported in the area.
• if you are hanging around people who are under police investigation for one thing or another.
• you are near an area where a crime has just been reported.
• you are somewhere he thinks people have no reason to be at that time of day or night.
• you are acting in a way that appears to him to be very suspicious, and you act even more suspiciously when he sees that you have spotted him.
• he thinks that you have stolen property in your possession.
• he stops you on the street on in you car and you refuse to answer simple questions, give false or evasive answers or make contradicting statements.
• some one has pointed you out to him.
• when you tell him that police are pigs or start badmouthing him . . . You may be saying the wrong things at the wrong time.

While all these things are taken into consideration by the officer in determining whether he should stop you or ask you more questions.

HE (the Police Officer) MUST RESPECT YOUR RIGHTS NOT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE MINUTE THE QUESTIONS SOUND LIKE YOU ARE BEING ACCUSED OF ANYTHING.

4. IF THE POLICE COME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR

If the police knock at you door and ask to come I to your home you do not have to let them in unless they have a warrant that has been signed by a judge. If they have a warrant, ask for a copy of it first. If it is an arrest warrant make sure you look at the name on the warrant to make sure they have the right person. If it is a search warrant make sure it is for your specific address and note to see what is listed on the warrant to be searched for in your home.
If the police do not have a warrant you may but do not have to let them in unless they insist on coming in. Perhaps you can settle this matter at the door. If they do insist over you objections then be careful to:
First, ask for a police badge.
Second, ask them what there purpose is for coming into your home.
Third, let them in only if they insist upon coming in.
Fourth, if you object then tell them that you do not consent to any search of your home.
Fifth, remember the badge number, what they looked like and the time of day. Write it all down.

Whenever the police take any of your property they are required to give you a written receipt for it. If the police don't offer you one then don't hesitate to ask them for it. They are not required to give you a receipt for property intended to book as evidence such as stolen goods, guns, etc.
The police may also search without a warrant whenever they have arrested a person. They may search his person and the area around near where the arrest was made. If made in the home that means where the arrest was made.
They may also search after consent has been given. So if you object make sure you make it clear that you do not consent to any kind of search. They may also search when there is an emergency (for example, someone screaming for help inside your home), or they are chasing you or someone else into your home.
The police may also search without a warrant whenever they have arrested a person. They may search his person and the area around near where the arrest was made. If made in the home that means where the arrest was made.
They may also search after consent has been given. So if you object make sure you make it clear that you do not consent to any kind of search. They may also search when there is an emergency (for example, someone screaming for help inside your home), or they are chasing you or someone else into your home.

5. REMEMBER

• IF THE POLICE STOP YOU THEY THINK THEY HAVE A REASON TO DO SO.
• IT IS BEST TO BE CALM AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
• IN MANY SITUATIONS YOU CAN TALK YOUR WAY INTO JAIL JUST AS WELL AS YOU CAN TALK YOU WAY OUT OF JAIL.
• BY YELLING OR THREATENING A POLICE OFFICE, THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS GET YOURSELF ARRESTED . . . AND WHO NEEDS THAT.

Well, there you have it. That is what the Black police officers say we should do when we are confronted by the police. You know the cops don't hate anything worse than a smartass Black man who knows his rights. All I can say is, with the police may not help all the time, but it can't hurt. I say carry a mini video cam with you everywhere. Good luck.

The Failure of Prisons in America

The following essay was recently written by a man currently serving time in New Jersey State Prison and printed in the NJ Community and Corrections Working Summit Newsletter on 9/28/07. The authors name was not printed

There is a debate raging in America about prisons and prisoners. The government has declared a "war” on drugs. They have mandated "truth in sentencing" and promulgated various other means to eliminate parole.
The No Early Release Act, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and other laws are designed to mandate 85% of more of a sentence to be served before release. With both major political parties afraid to appear soft on crime, with the national debt and state economies faltering, a very real question is: "What will be sacrificed to pay for prisoners?"
The four most commonly accepted reasons for prisons are: deterrence, incapacitation, retribution and correction. But as they exist today, prisons only address one of these: incapacitation. Without effective programs to help the prisoner, to address the reasons for their incarceration, and attempt to correct them, what happens when the person is released? More than two-thirds of prisoners re-offend within three years.
This country was built on common sense, hard work and innovation. Helping others when needed, as well as giving others a second chance; recognizing when problems exist and working to correct them have always been quintessential American values. As our country has progressed and evolved economically, the niches filled by the migrant worker, the harvest hand and the small operator have been eliminated by big business. Tolerance has been replaced by harsh conformity. Many crimes that were tolerated years ago as "harmless pranks" or "wild oats" by society are now being prosecuted and violators sent to prison. Prisons have been transformed into the newest big business, instead of Society's
last resort.
Prisons have never, to a measurable degree, deterred people from crime. With few exceptions, from the conception of the modern prison, circa 1790, prison populations have steadily grown. Since the first American prison, it has been a professed goal to reform prisoners through labor. This sentiment was legally codified as early as 1808. Both the Auburn and Philadelphia prison models were based upon prison labor. Prisons were, and are, so expensive to operate that any financial offset prisoners could provide is necessary. Until 1929, the industrial work farm more than paid for itself when Congress passed two laws: the Hawes-Cooper Act in 1929, and the Ashurst-Sumners Act in 1935, which, along with the Great Depression, killed the industrial prison.
With the demise of the work farm, education now came to the forefront of prison reform. Initial programs taught various blue collar skills such as carpentry, masonry, auto mechanics, landscaping and other skills needed to get a job upon release. As time progressed, more sophisticated classes were introduced, such as drafting, offset printing, high school classes, and college courses. In the 1970s and 80s, sociologists were able to conclusively demonstrate that education had a definite impact on lowering the prison population. However, many of the college programs depended upon grants. The most popular was the federal Pell Grant, which was discontinued in the early 1990s because the need for college assistance grew in society and prisoners were seen to be expendable. While educating prisoners is expensive, education helps pay for itself by reducing recidivism and thus prison costs.
While many may legitimately argue that society shouldn't pay for
prisoners to be educated, here are a few statistics no one can deny:
National Institute on Literary: 70% of all prisoners function at the two lowest literacy levels.
Bureau of Justice: 47% of State Prisoners have never completed high school or its equivalent. Less educated prisoners are more likely to be recidivists.
National Institute of Justice: 60% of former prisoners are not employed one year after release.
U.S. Dept. of Education: Participation in State correctional education programs lowers the likelihood of incarceration by 29%. N.J. Institute for Social Justice: 95% to 97% of those currently incarcerated in N.J. will eventually be released.
In 2002, more than 2 million people were incarcerated in Federal or State prisons, or local jails. Nearly 650,000 people are released from incarceration to communities nationwide each year.
In his 2004 State of the Union address, President Bush said: "We know from long experience that if former prisoners can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison...America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open the path ahead should lead to a better life."
There are many committees and think tanks that examine the problems of incarceration and recidivism. Recently several such groups collectively wrote and published "New Jersey Community & Corrections Working Summit: Impacting Communities of Color." This collaboration addressed many different issues and made the following recommendations:
"The participants...believe that rehabilitation services provided to
prisoners during their incarceration are not just cost effective; they
also make good public policy sense...Residents of New Jersey have failed the recognize the significant costs they absorb, and in reality, the minimal benefits they receive in turn, when the criminal justice system
does little other than function as a temporary human warehouse called
punishment. It is imperative that the residents of New Jersey be
educated as to the...benefits to instituting increased rehabilitation
efforts in our State's prisons."
A second report, "Coming Home for Good: Meeting the Challenge of Prison Reentry in New Jersey," published by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, made similar recommendations: "Even within existing budget constraints, periods of incarceration can be used far more effectively to maximize successful reentry."
On the other side of the coin, the Corrections Transition Policy Group (CTPG) generated a Final Report dated January 10, 2006, for Governor Corzine. While including some of the same members, their report was markedly different. Their report made ten recommendations. Eight made by the CTPG involve more money, more staff positions and therefore more power for prison unions. Consider this: in July of 1999, the prison population was 31,300. In January 2005 it was 26,911, a reduction of some 14%. In 1999, prisoners had access to legal libraries, reading libraries, and educational assistance seven days per week, three times per day, morning, afternoon and night (barring holidays). In 2006,
prisoners have access five days per week, twice per day, morning and afternoon (no weekends or holidays) and nighttime access has been all but eliminated a reduction of 52% (21 time periods to 10 periods). Each time the reason given for the reduction was staffing shortages. Yet today there are more guards working for the D.O.C. than there were in 1999.
A second recommendation made by the CTPG was "Focus in-prison programming on quality education, drug treatment, and work..." Since around January 2005, the school area has been closed for more than 7 of 16 months for various reasons. The repair shop work detail has been completely eliminated (50 inmate jobs removed). The State Use (Depcor) program has lost 22 job positions. The Laundry detail lost more than 10 inmate job positions. Nearly 100 jobs lost in all, in direct contradiction of the experts' recommendations.
As of January 2006, State Use industries revenues at New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) were more than $250,000 less than a year previous. This shortfall can be directly attributed to the current management. Prison Industries perform an invaluable role. In addition to supplying jobs, in Fiscal Years 2001/2002 State Use inmates paid more than $650,000 toward court ordered obligations such as fines, child support, traffic tickets, etc. It also saves the state thousands of dollars every year.
During 2005, the NJSP was locked down three separate times. No one inmate who worked for State Use Industries received any institutional infraction during these periods. Not a single one. Yet jobs were cut 25%. You cannot run a successful business when the doorman controls the business. Inmate literacy has been noted in other reports for more than six years, yet nothing has been done. These same people are still "talking".
While not all the reports are beneficial to prisoners, they are all desperately needed because they show a gradual awakening in society that incarceration alone does not work, that educational opportunity and other programs for prisoners is not being soft on crime, but instead addresses the underlying causes of crime. Instead of more reports and recommendations, what is needed now is a voice-a voice to integrate what has been projected; and propose from these ideas a concrete manifestation.
One thing I have noted time and again: there is no input from current or former prisoners. I know many inmates are poorly educated or suffering from various addictions. Others suffer from mental illness. None of us claim to be wizards, but we are more than baboons waving sticks. We do have ideas, and who knows, some may actually prove to be good ones.
Prisons in their current incarnation are dinosaurs waiting to die off.
It's ironic that education has never been more available and widespread worldwide, and yet it is being slowly but surely eliminated from the prison environment.

Doing What You Got to Do!

One icy cold day in January, a while back, I was waiting in a long line at the carwash with many other people trying to get the dirt and road salt off our rides after a recent snowstorm. The line was moving very slowly and when I finally got closer to the entrance, I could see why. There was only one black dude, about sixty, working the entrance. As well as being cold as hell that day, it was windy and with that water spraying around didn’t help. I wondered how he stayed out there all alone in the freezing weather to work at that car wash that day. The dude had to be cold and tired but went about his job like a hero. He handed each customer his or her ticket, vacuumed each car, steamed all four tires & rims, hit the hard-to-reach places with a long-handled brush, and then he hooked the tow chain under the front of the car and moved on to the next one, all the time being cordial and friendly toward each customer. I overheard a woman ask him how he could stand it out there and without breaking stride he said, “I’m just doing what I got to do, ma’am”
Just doing what I got to do. Those words stuck with me because so many times when asked why he did what he did to get locked up a guy will say, “I did what I had to do” – or words to that effect. As if selling drugs, or sticking up that store, or doing whatever he did to get busted again was his only option in life. Usually, “I did what I had to do” really means, “I did what I wanted to do”.
While sitting there in my ride with the heat turned up high and the music even higher, I thought to myself, there was a man doing what he had to do to get where he wanted to be. I even had to question whether I would be able to do what he was doing, to make a living. Would I have the guts to stand out there in freezing weather all day for the minimal pay the car wash offers? I tried to think of periods over the past twenty years when I could truly say I paid the price and overcame difficult times and circumstances in order to be successful.
My first job at the fiberglass-recycling factory in the winter of 1979 immediately came to mind. That had to be the worst job ever. Every day I would leave that factory in pain with millions of tiny sharp needle-like shards of fiberglass sticking in my clothing and skin. I would stand up on the bus ride home even though there were plenty of empty seats because sitting down would drive the needles deeper into my skin and hurt like hell. I would sit in the bathtub for hours when I got home to try and soak the glass out of my skin. It did not work.
I could hardly get up at five every morning, six days a week, to get to that factory by six-thirty, but I did it every day because I knew that it was better than being in prison. At the end of my shift, I could go home and be a free man.
In the past, I would have never stayed with a job like that, or any job, for that matter. That is probably why I has been sent back for three (3) new commitments and five (5) parole violations over a ten-year (10) span, back in the day.
The job was awful but it was different that time. I was different also. I was committed to making my jail break permanent. I was never going back to prison and I knew that I had to pay my dues. I looked at that job as just one of the tests I was going to have to pass in order to move on to better things. It was tough and I could not see myself working there for long periods of time. I kept my focus on a better future. I was fortunate enough to find a better job after a few months. It still was not where I wanted to be, but it was a more desirable and higher paying job and that was a step up and forward. I also worked over-time and part-time jobs, until I finally got to where I wanted to be.
How many men today can honestly say that they would be willing to work at the car wash, or the fiberglass factory in 30-degree weather, if that was all that was available in the beginning? Sure, most men in prison will make all kinds of promises about what they’re going to do to succeed after prison, but how many are truly prepared to do what you have to do?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (2004), two-thirds (approx. 415,000) of the 650,000 people released from prison each year will return to prison within twelve to thirty-six months of release for parole violations or new offenses. The cost of maintaining the more than two million people crowded into the prisons in this country has become too much of a financial burden, so many States are attempting to address some of the so-called “barriers” against the successful re-entry of prisoners back into society with policy changes and other programs and services.
There is a very good chance that despite their best efforts, the prison system will never be equipped to properly prepare prisoners to re-enter and succeed in society. Even with the best programs and services, public attitudes toward convicted felons cannot be legislated. Under any circumstances, it took a long time for things to get the way they are and it is not likely to change overnight, if ever.
Unfortunately, regardless of the best efforts of anyone, there will always be men who will return to prison over and over again because there will always be the so-called “barriers” that contribute to the high failure rate for people returning after release from prison. The long list of complex and systemic “barriers” includes negative public policies and opinions towards convicted-felons; a lack of programs and resources for newly incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people; mental/physical health issues; and the fact that most people released from prison are just not prepared to return to society.
Then there is that self-inflicted “barrier,” a bad attitude or wrong attitude that keeps so many people going back. The men and women who intend to keep doing what they have been doing because they do not mind doing the time. They have become what I call prisonized, and lockdown is a comfort zone for them. For some, being out of prison can be like a fish out of water. They cannot make it on the outside, or they do not believe that they can make it, so they just flop around until they are dead or wind up back in prison.
Yet, I believe the majority of those 433,000 people returning to prison every year want to be successful and not go back. They would rather be on the street working and supporting a family, instead of taking from them. More formerly incarcerated people would be successful after prison, if they knew how to do it.
Too many men create their own, or “self-inflict”, barriers and perpetuate their own ultimate downfall because of an overall lack of knowledge, preparation, and commitment.
Unfortunately, a man involved in the criminal justice system today, who is looking to change his life for the better, cannot wait for possible reforms promising programs, services, resources, and support. He has bills to pay now. Somewhere along the lines every man must be responsible for his own success and find a way to succeed.
This book is intended to inspire, motivate, encourage, and enlighten the man committed to his own success after prison; it is intended to help this individual organize and prepare himself to recognize, understand, and overcome the barriers he will experience as a formerly incarcerated person trying to make it in society.
This book represents my personal and professional experiences and observations, first from early on in my life while formerly incarcerated, and then as a professional the past twenty years working in private and government prisons and post-release corrections. I have also borrowed from the wisdom of other formerly incarcerated people who have broken the cycle and made it. I have also learned from those who have not.
Of course, reading this book will not guarantee anyone success after prison and it probably will not be the cause of mass layoffs of corrections officers across the country. There are no magic potions of advice or “shortcuts to success. Achieving success and living the so-called “straight life” – after years in the underside – it is hard work but it can be done.
Will there ever be the moment when each person coming out of prison has gone on to live a successful straight life, never returning to prison or a life of crime again? The day when all the empty prisons have been converted to warehouses, malls, or condominiums because all the bad guys have gone straight. Will there ever be the day when every man paroled or released from prison will have learned his lesson and go on to become a responsible father to his children, a dependable and supportive, companion/lover to one's women, and an overall positive member of the community, one whose mother would be proud? Would there ever be a day when everyone was actually doing what he had to do? Probably not. However, I believe more people want to do better, and I believe more people would actually do better if they were better prepared and committed to doing whatever it takes to never return to prison again. When things are at their worst, it is easy for some to give up and go negative. I challenge each man who says he wants to change to fight the urge to seek refuge in the prison and to take responsibility for one’s own successes and failures. Never… Ever… give up! Have faith in GOD and have confidence in yourself. Continue to do the right things and good things will happen for you. It is up to you to make it happen for yourself – or not.