Straight-A Guide Video

santosadmin — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:39:06 +0000

Video of new commercial for Straight-A Guide Reentry Program.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Halfway House Complications

santosadmin — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:44:55 +0000

My experience in the San Francisco halfway house began when authorities released me from federal prison on August 13, 2012. Upon my arrival, I provided my assigned case manager with details about the steps I had taken during the 25 years that I served to prepare for a law-abiding life upon release. Prior to my release from prison, I told him, I had been successful in coordinating a job with Golden State Lumber. I had sufficient financial resources in the bank to carry me through my first year of liberty and I was prepared to comply with all halfway house rules as I worked to readjust to society. My case manager agreed to help in every way possible, and I agreed to keep him fully in the loop with regard to all progress that I made.

As a consequence of the many publications I released during my imprisonment, I had a substantial support network that awaited my release. Through my work I strove to document my journey through prison for the purpose of helping others understand how to navigate lengthy terms in confinement and return to society as law-abiding, contributing citizens. Publishers had released more than 50,000 copies of books I wrote and university professors used those books to educate students on America’s commitment to mass incarceration. I received an offer to begin lecturing at San Francisco State University in August of 2013.

Golden State Lumber is a large, privately held company. Together with its numerous subsidiaries, the company employs more than 500 people. My responsibilities at the company are to build a career based on all of the lessons that I learned during the quarter century that I served in prison. The founder of the company is sponsoring me to build products and services that we can bring to market that will teach other offenders how to return to society as law-abiding citizens. He is my direct report. When he is not available, the founder assigned the CEO and the president of Golden State Lumber to supervise me. I receive a regular paycheck for the services I provide and I comply with halfway house rules by promptly paying 25 percent of my gross wages to the BOP. Also, I keep my case manager fully in the loop with regard to all of my activities.

On February 12, 2013 the BOP and my case manager authorized me to transition from the halfway house to home confinement. Soon thereafter, the case manager who had been supervising me for the first seven months since my release transitioned to a different job. His transition led to my being assigned to a series of other case managers. Since each of those case managers was new to my situation, they seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of activity I had generated during my first seven months of liberty. The San Francisco Chronicle published a front-page story on my journey. I gave lectures at UC Berkeley, Stanford Law School, the University of San Francisco Law School. Media representatives have repeatedly requested to speak with me.

The new case managers do not understand why the leadership of a company with several hundred million dollars in revenue would authorize me to work on a business development plan designed to help more offenders prepare for law-abiding lives upon release. They object to my working alongside the founder at his personal residence. They seem perplexed that he assessed my performance by my work product rather than by the number of hours I spent sitting in one location.

The new case managers object to the liberty that my initial case manager had extended, and they each require that I comply with new rules. I comply. They want details of my accountability. I comply, providing them with details.

I asked my new case managers whether I’m authorized to leave my office for lunch and whether I need to provide notification before I take my lunch. I was told that I could take lunch, and that as long as the lunch did not last for longer than one hour, I would not need to provide notification.

In 83 days, on August 12, I conclude my obligation to the BOP and I’ll finish with the rules and requirements of the halfway house. Although I will comply with all rules and regulations imposed upon me, I understand that further complications may arise before I conclude my term. These challenges are a part of the journey, and since my work keeps me in the spotlight, the challenges will continue.

Matt Cate at Stanford

santosadmin — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:44:39 +0000

Looking forward to learning from Matt Cate, former director of California prison system when he speaks at Stanford Law School.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Best use of Home Confinement

santosadmin — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:23:36 +0000

Confined to my house on Sundays, but video shows that I’m not wasting time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Stanford Lecture

santosadmin — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:41:08 +0000

Video following presentation I made at Stanford Law School on May 7 to speak about the 9,135 days that I served in prison.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why Did Red Return to Prison?

santosadmin — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:12:23 +0000

Preparing self-directed program to help people in prison prepare for success upon release. I call it my Straight-A Guide and I’m preparing it now.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Prisoners Coming Home

santosadmin — Sun, 05 May 2013 21:42:48 +0000

Professor Joan Petersilia at Stanford Law School tells us more than 750,000 prisoners will be released every year. I’m creating a business to help those people emerge as law-abiding citizens.

Click here to view the embedded video.