Discipline and Control in Federal Prison: The Fly Wins | Chapter 4
After a fall, discipline and control look identical, until one breaks you again. Oct 26, 2025 “Dad, sit down. Stop working. You’re […]
No Discounts on Dignity | Chapter 3
The Transparency Offense “Remove it or we’ll delete you.” That was J Date support, the Jewish online dating site. My offense this […]
Walking Cliche | Chapter 2
May 25, 2009 “Throw it away. This suit is not fixable.” That’s what the woman at the cleaners told me when I […]
Silence Isn’t a Strategy, It’s a Sentence | Chapter 1
October 2008, Cheesecake, Root Beer, and a Terrible Idea “Bud, are you serious? You’re telling me you want to stay in prison […]
After the Fall
I’m so thankful you are here, reading this, giving me your most important asset: your time. I’ll do my best to prove […]
Andrew Adler and The Choice To Build
Too many people collapse after sentencing. They count every unfair detail: the plea they felt forced into, the probation report that went […]
Why Creating Assets Before Sentencing Can Influence Judges, Probation Officers, and the BOP
“What the hell do you mean, create assets that don’t exist? My lawyer has no clue either.” I received this message on […]
Preparing for Federal Prison Release: The U-Shaped Curve and the 1,000 Minute Rule
Why Do Your 1,000 Minutes Decide Whether You Climb Out of the U—or Stay Stuck at the Bottom? On April 28, 2008, […]
Lessons from Matthew Bowyer’s Sentencing
I’ve been to more than 1,500 sentencing hearings since 2009, and I still get nervous at every one. Friday was no different. […]
Dignity In Prison: The Men I Admired
A New Morning Habit I’ve been testing myself to start each morning differently. For years, my habit was automatic: get up, head […]
Why Crediting Mentors Makes You Stronger in a Federal Case
Earlier this week on Ian Bick’s Locked In Podcast in Danbury, CT, I said something I avoided for years: “I am not a prison […]
I Was A Hypocrite in Federal Prison
Around 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, there was mail call in federal prison. I walked from my cubicle to the front of […]