I read 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch in April 2009, about a month before I was released from Taft Federal Prison. The Second Chance Act had just passed, but no one was really benefiting from it yet. There was no CARES Act. There was no First Step Act. I wasn’t getting additional halfway house time, and there was no path to an earlier release from federal prison.

By that point in my sentence, most of the work was already done. I had written Lessons from Prison, sent my release plan to my probation officer, Isiah Muro, and had been documenting how I spent my time. I wasn’t preparing because it would advance my release date. I was doing it because I wanted to ease my transition and ensure my career would be approved. I had also promised my parents I wouldn’t create more stress for them. I wanted to come ready.

Welch’s book helped me clarify how to think about each decision.

• What will this choice mean in 10 minutes?
  
• What will it set in motion over the next 10 months?
  
• How will it affect me when someone reviews it 10 years from now?

That same way of thinking applies to BOP home confinement.

A man in our community said, “I got six years. How long will I serve?”

“I have no idea,” I told him. “I could give you a fake answer, or I can tell you what I’ve seen.”

Asking how much time you’ll serve is like asking, “What can I buy in Los Angeles?” That depends—on your income, credit, and track record. What you receive from the BOP also depends—on what you’ve built, what you’ve submitted, and what others can review.

Getting a shorter sentence, more home confinement, or no halfway house doesn’t mean the work is done. It means the next phase begins.

Now you’re reporting to people who don’t know you. Someone bureaucrat will review your request to travel, take a job, or leave the house for three hours instead of two. That person will review what’s in your file. If they see inconsistencies, they will say no. If they see nothing, they will say no. If they don’t know who you are, they’ll assume you’re a risk. Wouldn’t you?

Many people get denied permissions not because they’re dangerous—but because they submitted nothing that explains their plan.

Ten Documents to Prepare Before BOP Home Confinement Begins

These are documents BOP staff, probation officers, and Residential Reentry Managers review when deciding whether to grant or deny you access to work, service, travel, or basic movement.

Each one reflects a decision you’ve made already.

1. Written Release Plan

Include:

• Full residential address
  
• Proof of housing (lease, mortgage, or utility bill)
  
• Names of the people living with you
  
• Transportation access
  
• Daily structure (work, caregiving, service)
  
• Access to therapy or medical care
  
• Contingency plan for housing or job loss
  
• Your personal narrative, kept current
  
• Documentation of progress that can be submitted or reviewed publicly
  

If this isn’t submitted, good luck.

2. Time-Blocked Weekly Schedule

List each day by the hour:

• Work hours
  
• Counseling sessions
  
• Family obligations

3. Employment or Volunteer Verification

Include:

• A letter on official letterhead
  
• Job title, hours, pay, supervisor name and phone
  
• Description of duties
  
• Date the job or volunteer role began
  

Probation officers often verify these letters by phone. If they’re not ready, your request won’t be approved.

4. Monthly Goal Sheet

Each month, write and complete three goals:

• Community service hours
  
• Restitution payments
  
• Job applications or interview attendance
  
• Support group or therapy sessions
  

Attach proof—signed logs, receipts, screenshots, attendance records.

5. Potential Travel Plans and Why

If you may request travel:

• Explain the purpose (family, caregiving, court, work)
  
• Write where, when, why, and how you’ll get there
  
• Name who you’ll stay with and provide their contact information
  
• Show how the trip connects to what you’ve already been doing
  

Most requests are denied because this information wasn’t ready.

6. Support Network Summary

List:

• 3 to 5 people you stay in regular contact with
  
• Their role in your life
  
• Type of support they offer (transport, job leads, housing)
  
• Phone number and email
  

Officers will rely on this when checking your claims. Don’t make them guess who you trust.

7. Proof of Counseling or Treatment

Include:

• Provider’s name and license
  
• Frequency of attendance
  
• Signed confirmation or log
  
• Description of topics covered (if applicable)
  

If you’re on a waiting list or have an intake appointment, include that as well.

8. Physical Health Routine

Document:

• Sleep and meal structure
  
• Daily or weekly activity
  
• Any planned appointments
  
• Medication or refill records

9. Restitution Payment Record

Submit:

• Payment log by date, method, and amount
  
• Screenshots, mailed receipts, or case dockets
  
• Statement describing how often you intend to pay
  

Most people talk about paying. The people who show they’ve started are treated differently.

10. Written Contingency Plan

Prepare a one-page overview:

• What happens if your job ends
  
• Who you contact if there’s an equipment failure
  
• What steps you’ll take if you miss curfew
  
• Who helps if there’s a medical issue
  
• How you’ll notify probation and how fast
  

They don’t expect everything to go right. They expect you to prepare for when it doesn’t.

What You Do Depends on What You Want to Build

People ask me, “Should I write a release plan while I’m inside?”

I ask back, “Have you decided what success looks like?”

We’re not going to tell you what to do in prison. Some people want to spend four hours a day on the iPhone. Others want to write, create, and build something. Some want rest. Some want a second chance to reconnect with their family. If playing pickleball four days a week is what you value, that’s your decision. We’re not here to monitor that.

But I’ve met a lot of people who only prepare if it shortens their time. If the credits don’t come, they stop preparing.

Michael Santos didn’t wait for the BOP to give him a reason to write a release plan. He served 26 years. He wasn’t getting anything off. He wrote and documented everything because it helped him build structure. Because the record mattered to him even if no one else noticed. That mindset shaped how he used his time—and how he’s been treated since.

If someone reviews your file months from now, and you’re not in the room, what do they see?

Are they looking at a stack of documents that show initiative, or are they working from a blank page?

What can you submit right now that proves you’re different than their perception of you—and shows exactly what you’ve built since the day this process started?

Justin Paperny