A Simple Truth About Federal Prison You Can’t Ignore

Most people want to make the most of their time in federal prison, but the truth about federal prison is too many people struggle to take the first step. They spend their days walking the track, stuck in the same conversation: “I got a raw deal. It was the judge’s fault. My lawyer failed me.” I understand where that frustration comes from. Some of you shouldn’t be here. Some of you never intended for your actions to lead to this. Many of you feel betrayed by the system—by plea agreements you didn’t fully understand, sentences that seem unfair, or lawyers who didn’t meet your expectations.

You are not alone…

But none of that changes that you have an obligation to prepare. The first step is facing the reality that you are in federal prison. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

When I surrendered to federal prison, I was filled with excuses. I told myself I didn’t belong there (wasn’t that a famous line from Shawshank). I replayed every bad decision, rationalized my actions, and convinced myself that others were more to blame than I was. That mindset kept me stuck. Instead of using the early months productively, I wasted it on resentment and self-pity. I’ve seen countless others do the same—walking the track, talking about how unfair life is, blaming the government, their lawyers, or their co-defendants. Blaming, I know from experience, is just easier.

The truth is, the system isn’t always fair. Judges don’t always get it right. Lawyers make mistakes. Sometimes, plea agreements don’t reflect the full story. Those things are real, but dwelling on them doesn’t help you. What does help is focusing on what you can control.

That acceptance isn’t about giving up or admitting defeat. It’s about acknowledging the facts and deciding what you’re going to do about them. You can keep walking that track, stuck in blame and frustration, or you can start making decisions that will improve your life. For me it started when I realized how my choices were leading me to more pain after prison. That was my wake up call. With Michael’s help, I wrote that first blog and never looked back.

I got on track when I started making small, deliberate actions. Write a letter to your family. Not just an update, but something meaningful—express your vision, your plans to make amends, and your plans moving forward. Do not make it harder for them or complain.

Start preparing properly now. Read books then write a book report. Add that report to your release plan. Ask yourself what skills you can build during your time here and how they might serve you after prison.

It’s also important to think about how you spend your time. Are you surrounding yourself with people who push you to be better, or are you falling into the trap of negativity and gossip? The environment inside is tough, but you have some control over what you allow into your space. You must pay attention to the people you surround yourself with.

When I began preparing properly, everything changed for me. I stopped blaming others and started taking responsibility for my life. That didn’t mean I had all the answers, but I knew I had to start somewhere. Over time, those small steps added up (think Tortoise and the Hare I describe in Lessons From Prison). I built a record showing how I would overcome bad decisions I made.

If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, know that you’re not alone.. The difference is in how you choose to respond. Will you keep walking the track, complaining about the past? Or will you start taking the steps—however small—that will lead you to a better life after your release from federal prison.

The choice is yours.

Justin Paperny

Read Our New York Times Article

And Lessons From Prison, Free!

Expert Strategies for Excelling in Government Investigations

This is a staging environment