From Prison Promises to Public Proof: What I Did on My First Halfway House Pass
On June 3, 2009, I stepped out of a halfway house in Los Angeles wearing a suit five sizes too big. It […]
How One Defendant Avoided Charges—And Why I Didn’t
On April 28, 2005, two FBI agents knocked on my door in Studio City. I wasn’t ready. I thought I could wing […]
Why Most People Waste Their Sentence—and What Montaigne Would Tell Them to Do Instead
I watched it happen over and over at Taft Federal Prison Camp: people arrived anxious, made a few calls home, got their […]
7 Components of a Credible Release Plan
This one-page guide helps you prepare a persuasive release plan aligned with the May 28, 2025 BOP directive. Your file—not the policy—determines […]
The BOP Memo on Home Confinement: Why the File—Not the Policy—Determines Who Goes Home
This webinar reflects the insight we’ve shared in dozens of posts, webinars, and training calls—including five recent blogs on the subject. All […]
Why the BOP Should Close Camps and Expand Home Confinement
I’ve lost count of how many people have told me they earned their time credits, stayed out of trouble, completed their programs, […]
Why the BOP Memo Reflects a Shift Michael Santos Saw Coming 10 Years Ago
The new directive, signed by Director William Marshall III, instructs case managers to prioritize home confinement for individuals who qualify under the […]
Why You Might Still Be in Federal Prison—Even After the BOP Memo
After the First Step Act passed in 2018, most people assumed they’d serve less time. The bill said time credits could be […]
One Week In: When I Realized Prison Was Not Temporary
The Call That Changed NothingSeven days after I surrendered, I picked up the phone and called my sister-in-law, Sunny. I told her […]
Study Yourself First: Why Montaigne Belongs in Federal Prison Camp
In the first blog in this series, I shared why Montaigne’s advice—“Don’t worry about death”—helped me understand something most people don’t realize […]
Why Most People Will Miss the Home Confinement Window—Even if They Qualify
Tracii Hutsona didn’t assume credits would be enough. When she was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison—more than her guideline range—she […]