Most people think their sentence is the final word. It’s not.
Judge Mark Bennett, who has sentenced thousands, said something in an interview that stuck with me:
“A prison record can be the difference between early release and staying in.”
I saw it firsthand. I was sentenced to 28 months, but I was out in 10—because I made sure that when the system looked at me after sentencing, there was more to see than just my charges.
Most Defendants Do Time the Wrong Way
When I got to Montgomery Federal Prison Camp, I saw two types of people:
🚫 The ones who wasted time. They played cards, watched TV for hours, and counted days.
✅ The ones who built a case for early release. They took classes, worked jobs, and followed a plan.
It was clear to me which group got better outcomes.
What I Did to Get Home Sooner
I treated my time at Montgomery Federal Prison Camp like a sabbatical to prepare for a better life after prison. I did not waste a moment.
1️⃣ I worked a prison job from Day 1 – I wasn’t above doing basic labor. I took my job seriously and made sure my case manager saw that.
2️⃣ I built a paper trail – I documented everything. I kept book reports, wrote down my goals, and made sure I had proof that I was using my time well.
3️⃣ I followed the rules – Sounds simple, but I saw guys lose good time over nonsense. I wasn’t about to risk my release date for an extra TV show.
How It Helped Me Get Out in 10 Months
Because I had a clean record at Montgomery Federal Prison Camp—and proof of how I spent my time—I positioned myself for early release programs.
The BOP isn’t looking to reward effort. They’re looking for clear, measurable reasons to cut time. I gave them that.
Judge Bennett’s right—what you do inside matters just as much as what you do before sentencing.
Want to Know How to Build Your Own Plan?
If you’re facing time, you need to start now. Waiting until you get inside is already too late.
📅 Join our next live webinar to learn exactly what to do: [Webinar link]
Don’t just wait for your sentence to end—take control of how you serve your time. Check out Tracii Hutsona to see how another person in our community did it.
Jason Greene
