Hello, I”m Mike, a team member here at Prison Professors. I’m here to share a compelling narrative from one of our recent videos. I’m using AI to assist me with providing insights and reflections on the criminal justice system. This video I’m recapping comes from a video meeting between Michael Santos and Justin Paperny. We hope the video and article will provide you with a new perspective.
Understanding the Criminal Justice System
It’s tough to navigate the criminal justice system. I had to go through it, and I found it both terrifying and unnerving.
At Prison Professors, we provide free guidance that people can use in a self-directed way to work toward the best possible outcomes.
In the accompanying video, Michael and Justin discuss complexities of the system, offering a unique perspective based on their lived experiences of being in prison.
Evolution of the System
Michael began his journey through the system in 1987, after his initial arrest. He remained in prison for 9,500 days, serving time in prisons of every security level. During those 26 years, he lived through many different policy changes and reforms. That experience gives him an insight and perspective from which we all can learn.
For example, in the video, he spoke about differences in sentencing systems. At the time that a judge sentenced him, our country operated an “indeterminate” sentencing system. People who faced sentencing for crimes committed on or after November 1, 1987, faced a “determinate” sentencing system, subjected to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. That change rendered the United States Parole Commission obsolete.
However, the Comprehensive Crime Control Bill of 1984, which took effect on November 1, 1987, changed the landscape. This bill made guidelines mandatory and made the US Parole Commission irrelevant to people sentenced under the new system.
Impact of the First Step Act
Michael and Justin discussed the First Step Act, passed in 2018 during President Trump’s first administration. This act opened doors for individuals to advocate for themselves and work toward earlier release dates through program participation. The First Step Act opens more opportunities for people who self-advocate and work toward preparing for success upon release.
Personal Growth and Perspective
Michael’s journey shows how anyone can use time in crisis to prepare for success. While incarcerated, he read extensively. One book, The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, inspired him. Douglass’s story of overcoming obstacles and working to abolish slavery motivated Michael to work toward changing the prison system.
Power of Education and Advocacy
Education and advocacy are at the heart of Prison Professors’ mission. Michael believes that by creating daily content that people can use to prepare for success, and collecting data on their progress, he can more effectively argue for reforms. We can create a ripple effect that leads to meaningful change. Our team focuses on getting results rather than process. The goal is to build safer communities, with lower recidivism rates, and more opportunities for all. We shouldn’t dwell on the “process” of putting people in confinement.
Facing Resistance and Overcoming Obstacles
Michael understands that changing the system requires patience, persistence, and a focus on the end goal. His experiences have given him a thick skin and a deep sense of purpose.
Our Commitment to You
At Prison Professors, we are committed to providing free resources and earning trust from all members of our community. By publishing daily, we offer transparency, integrity, and strive to show the power of education. As Michael says in all our videos:
- We will never lie,
- We will never ask you to do anything we haven’t done ourselves, and
- We will never charge you for the information we provide.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. We promise to keep bringing the best in resources, using the latest technology available. Together, we can work towards a more just and equitable criminal justice system. Stay tuned for more insights and updates from Prison Professors.
