Six months after my sentence I’ve been transitioned to Low Intensity Supervised Release! My sentence includes 3 years’ probation and just six months after completing my prison sentence, my probation officer recommended me for a lower level of supervision, and it was approved!! With this comes fewer restrictions. I can travel outside of my district without permission and travel for a few days (in the U.S.) without needing to get permission. I also do my monthly check-in online instead of in-person home visits with my PO! Truthfully, I didn’t mind them because I had nothing to hide.
I consider myself lucky because I had a great probation officer. She was supportive and treated me with kindness and respect. I always treated her the same. With this change, I’ve been assigned a new probation officer and look forward to this next phase of proving I’m worthy of more freedom.
I’m sharing this news on my Prison Professors Talent profile for two reasons. One, anyone who’s been through this process knows all the negatives that comes with it. In many ways, significant punishment occurs long before the day of sentencing. For many defendants it’s a long road filled with years of absolute uncertainty and some relief comes on the day of sentencing. At least then there’s an end date. With all the challenges that come with this process it’s important to celebrate the victories! Celebrate getting one day closer; celebrate more freedom and moving on with life.
The other reason I’m sharing this is to give people hope and reinforce the tremendous value in preparing to achieve the outcome you want. Prior to stepping foot into prison, I’d already created a plan that included my goals while inside and my goals in the months and years that would follow my release. In fact, I surrendered with my personal Release Plan in hand. Not only was it an accountability tool for me, but I also wanted to show the stakeholders and decision makers in my case how serious I was about making amends and ensuring I’d never be a criminal defendant again. I wanted them to see that I wasn’t the person they may have thought I was when relying solely on the government’s portrayal of me.
On several occasions I’ve had the opportunity to provide encouragement to others who are heading to prison. One of my biggest pieces of advice is to strive to be the “A-student” with inside. It’s been a while (decades) but I still remember the A-students in high school. They were the responsible ones, following the rules, always completing their homework and showing up on time. They didn’t get tangled up in drama and avoided temptations common in that environment. They earned the respect of their teachers and school leaders, and it mattered!! The same holds true for prison.
So — if you’re heading to prison, walk in with a documented plan! Stand out! (In a good way of course.) Earn your way back to freedom at the soonest time possible.
Be well my friends,
Melinda
