On May 6th, Michael Santos led a live webinar to walk people through exactly how to use the free materials at PrisonProfessors.org. The webinar covered what you can start doing right now—whether you’ve just been charged, already sentenced, or sitting in prison wondering what happens next (our transcripts are often sent to people in prison).
This blog gives you the full picture: what we taught, what questions were asked, and why some people end up with better outcomes than others.
Don’t Wait for Someone to Tell You to Start
People stall out in this system for all kinds of reasons. They trust their lawyer will “handle everything.” They’re overwhelmed. They assume they’ll get to it when the timing is better.
Then the PSR interview shows up, or sentencing is four weeks away, and they haven’t written anything, haven’t documented anything, and have nothing to show the judge beyond a couple of letters and whatever their lawyer says in court.
That’s what this webinar was about—getting ahead of that.
Michael Santos said it best:
“No one should work harder than you for your liberty. And no one can do the work but you.”
What Happens When Your Lawyer Doesn’t Want the Narrative
Scotty joined the webinar and asked a question we’ve heard hundreds of times:
“My lawyer told me not to bother with a personal narrative. That’s not how they do things.”
Michael’s response wasn’t combative. It was direct:
“You don’t have to argue. You just say, ‘I respect your view, but I want the judge to hear directly from me.’ Then you follow through. You write it. You own it. And you hand it to the probation officer at the PSR interview.”
Scotty’s situation isn’t rare. Some lawyers don’t use personal narratives. That doesn’t mean you can’t. A well-prepared narrative helps the judge understand you as more than a case file. If you don’t write it, no one else will.
Preparing for the PSR: You Only Get One Shot
Scotty also had his PSR interview coming up—moved back due to a medical issue. That gave him extra time. The question was how to use it.
Michael gave this advice:
“Walk into that interview with a printed copy of your story. Tell the officer, ‘I know I might forget some things in the moment. I wrote this to help you understand what I’ve been doing, what I’ve learned, and who I am.’”
If you’re polite, clear, and professional, the officer may include it in your PSR. That’s the document the judge reads before sentencing. It’s what the Bureau of Prisons reads when you’re in custody. It’s what your case is built on.
You either help influence that document or you let others do it for you.
After Sentencing: How Shamir’s Judge Said One Thing—But the Outcome Was Different
Shamir was sentenced to six months. During the hearing, the judge said:
“I don’t care if he serves this from home.”
But the judgment didn’t include that condition. So now the BOP is in control.
Shamir reached out right after sentencing. He asked if there was anything he could still do.
Yes. There is.
Michael explained:
“If the BOP is going to look at your case and consider early release, they’re going to look at what you’ve done since sentencing. That includes a release plan. It includes a documented record of what you’re building.”
Shamir is now building that record through our nonprofit platform—publishing a Talent Profile and preparing for home confinement review. That work won’t guarantee anything. But doing nothing guarantees nothing changes.
Early in the Process: Paul’s Call with His Public Defender
Paul had just received his target letter. He asked a good question:
“Would it help to watch my judge in court before my own hearing?”
Michael told him that’s fine, but it’s not where the leverage is. Judges don’t need you to watch them. They need something to read.
“I’ve spoken to more than 20 federal judges. Most of them said the same thing: ‘I already know what the lawyer will say. I want to hear from the person facing sentencing. I want to know what they’ve done since getting charged.’”
That’s your lane. Not court watching. Not speculation. Work.
Paul now knows he can use this time to write his narrative, start a service project, and track what he’s doing weekly—before anyone else decides it for him.
Family Members Want to Help. Here’s How.
Joan’s son was under investigation but hadn’t been charged. She wanted to know how she could help.
Michael gave her a simple answer:
“You don’t need to understand every part of the law. You just need to learn enough to guide him. You became a nurse by studying. Same approach applies here. Read the blog. Learn the stages. Help him ask better questions.”
Rita’s son had already been inside two years. She asked if there was still a way to connect, to get his progress seen.
“Yes,” Michael said. “He can write. He can create a profile. You can help get it published. Even after sentencing, even in custody, there’s always a next step. That’s what this platform is for.”
What’s Actually on PrisonProfessors.org?
Daily Blog
Every day there’s a new post—case examples, mistakes to avoid, what’s working in the system, and how people in our community are moving forward.
Talent Profile Platform
This is where you can build a documented record of what you’re doing. You can track your work. Others can read it. And it’s built to be shared with:
- Judges
- Probation officers
- BOP staff
- Reentry partners
- Future employers
It’s free—but only useful if you actually use it.
What To Do If You Don’t Know Where to Start
Start here:
- Download the PSR prep materials.
- Write your story. Edit it. Refine it.
- Join the next live webinar.
- Begin a service project you can track.
- Build your release plan in writing.
- Create a Talent Profile if you want your work seen.
You don’t need to figure it all out today. But you do need to stop waiting.
Closing Words from Michael Santos
“People who wait lose time. People who work—not perfectly, not all at once, but every day—they get better outcomes. Not always shorter sentences. But better ones. Better PSRs. Better reviews. Better reentry. It starts now.”
If you’re wondering whether it’s too early or too late, the answer is the same:
No. It’s not.
Justin Paperny
