What is the most effective approach to dealing with crime and punishment? Should the criminal justice system primarily be used to punish those who violate the law by sending them to prison for lengthy terms? Or should it rather serve as a mechanism for rehabilitation? This dichotomous question […]
For the first twelve years of my incarceration I was convinced I had done everything I could to atone for my crime – then I was proven wrong. Although attaining a BS in Sociology and an MSin Psychology while becoming a certified recovery mentor have been milestones, they did not – and could not – fully rehabilitateme. My education […]
This past week came with one of the biggest shocks of my fifteen years of incarceration. My unit (‘incentive housing’ with extra privileges for those of us who have exhibited at least 18 months of clear conduct) was inspected by the administration. We had been duly warned to […]
Being in prison for now fifteen years, it’s pretty obvious that I have spent countless hours, days, and nights waiting: waiting for what will be my eventual release. On a daily basis, I’m forced – well, conditioned is more accurate – to wait for more mundane things like […]
Christmas is obviously a festive time of year, a time where many family members get together to enjoy robust meals, open presents, and share good ole’ rare quality time. This is the time of year people tend to let bygones be bygones, differences become trivial, and allow their […]
We are no doubt in a time where evil has been on the rise, public discourse has been ratcheted up, demagoguery appears to be a winning recipe for political office, and the divides among demographics in our melting pot are as pronounced as I can remember in my […]
For too many years of my life I assumed my actions affected me and only me. So what if I chose to drink away my pain? So what if I messed up, got arrested, and got sentenced to many years in prison: I’m the one doing the time, […]
Dear Twin Brother, I love you. I know you know that, but I feel it’s important to explicitly reaffirm it from time to time. Where do I begin? I don’t quite know, but there is so much in me that I want to express to you, so you’ll […]
Prison, as you can imagine, does not offer many opportunities to smile, laugh, and be joyous. But everything that transpired tonight offered just that – and more! I am on the board as secretary of the Weusi Umoja club – an African-American-based club at the prison in which […]
Any woman in a relationship with a man in prison can attest to the fact that there will, unfortunately, be many in their families and inner-circle of friends who don’t approve of their relationships. Many who are critical of these relationships, however, are not coming from a place […]
With over 2 million citizens of this country locked in cages, one can’t help but feel as though our lives are dispensable. One can’t help but feel as though our society deems us not worthy of correction that would send us back to our communities as assets rather […]
I cannot tell you how many times I have witnessed or have heard about men in this situation either meeting a woman via a pen pal website — or otherwise — and getting married months later, or developing a strong relationship with someone only to have it go […]
I was on the yard today simply enjoying the 75-degree weather. I’d taken a seat on one of the metal benches located on the inner edge of the track when a guy walked up to me, took it upon himself to sit down and start chatting. Now, I’m […]
Many have exclaimed, “Addiction is NOT a disease — it’s a choice!” A disease, they’ll say, is something that you have no control over; it suddenly afflicts you when you least expect it and wreaks havoc on your life. People don’t do anything to bring about diseases in […]
I won’t lie, I was shocked to see ABC cancel this year’s leading ratings sitcom over its star’s, Roseanne Barr, racist tweet against a former Barack Obama cabinet member. In this day and age, where money seems to rule the day, it was both courageous and refreshing to […]
The NFL has easily been America’s favorite pastime for the past couple decades. The Superbowl is by far the largest televised, profitable telecast every year, and its players offer the greatest athleticism and skillset in the sport around the world – it’s not even close. We love our […]
I grew up poor in terms of societal standards, but my heart was as content as a kids could be in knowing I was loved dearly by two parents, a twin brother, and two older sisters. Despite growing up in a rough neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, I did […]
For the first twelve years of my incarceration I was convinced I had done everything I could to atone for my crime by honoring my victims’ lives as I had promised their families during my sentencing hearing. I had earned a BS in Sociology and MS in Psychology […]
Dear Martin, I write to you from the other side — the side that awaits you if you don’t change your course of action soon. I know you are going through an extremely tough time right now as you seek independence and try to figure out your identity. […]
It’s no secret that most of us in prison (about 80% in fact) have been involved with and/or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol for many years, eventually leading us to where we are today. Many – if not virtually all – of us neglected our familial responsibilities, job […]
Martin has published two books: Palpable Irony: Losing my freedom to find my purpose and My Prison Life: A blogger’s insights from the inside. During his incarceration, he has earned a Certificate of Human Services from Louisiana State University, an AA from Indiana University, a BS in Sociology […]
Inmate Blogger 