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The biggest mistake people make before surrendering to prison is showing up without a plan. I know, because that’s what I did.
When I got to Taft, my goals were simple: exercise and count down the months. That wasn’t a strategy. It was avoidance. I see the same mistake constantly. Too many defendants think the work stops at sentencing. They assume cooperation, silence, or a lawyer’s memo will be enough. It isn’t.
If you want to avoid that mistake, you need to prepare before you go in. That preparation starts with documenting your journey at PrisonProfessors.org. The work doesn’t stop at sentencing—it only shifts the story to your case manager and probation officer. The government has their version of who you are, and if you don’t create your own, theirs is the only one that matters. Judges, probation officers, and case managers don’t believe “happy talk.” They reward evidence built over time.
Before you surrender, establish a primary point of contact. You need someone on the outside who understands the system, who can send money, manage email, handle mail, and act as your anchor. Things break down inside. Email goes down. Visitation gets canceled. Rules shift. Without a quarterback on the outside, you’re left exposed.
Money is another area people overlook. If you owe restitution, understand how the Financial Responsibility Program works. Don’t bring thousands of dollars when you surrender. A few hundred is enough. Commissary is capped at $360 per month. Email and stamps add up quickly. If you want to make things easier on your family, commit to FRP, program, and document every step.
I also encourage people to read deliberately. Too many men brag about reading hundreds of books but can’t explain what they learned from any of them. That’s wasted time. Reading should be active: Why did I pick this book? What did I learn? How does it prepare me for release? Reading with a purpose, rather than simply as a way to pass time, was vital to my prison adjustment.
Don’t overlook the practical things either. Medications need to be reflected in your probation before you surrender, or you risk going without. You can bring a plain wedding ring, but not cash. Money has to be sent in. Mentally prepare for no iPhone, lights on at night, cold showers, and a strict routine. Some people injure themselves rushing into heavy exercise after years of inactivity. Ease into it.
Decisions inside should be weighed by risk and reward. Using an iPhone? High risk, low reward. Complaining or blaming? Low reward. Documenting growth? High reward. Blogging your journey? Risky, but if the message is right, potentially high reward. Every choice should get you closer to success, as you define it.
Finally, create a comprehensive plan before you surrender. Case managers may ignore it at first, even test whether you’ll follow through. That doesn’t matter. What matters is evidence over time. Actions persuade. Words don’t.
The biggest mistake people make is going in with nothing. If you want to avoid it, build something before you surrender. Start documenting, start planning, and share your progress with all stakeholders, including your Judge and probation officer.
Justin Paperny
