Changing America’s Prison System: Our Mission and Methodology
For those entering America’s criminal justice system for the first time, survival is often their primary concern—and understandably so. It’s an unfamiliar and intimidating environment, leaving many focused solely on immediate challenges.
Having served decades inside, I’ve developed a broader perspective. My focus is on driving systemic change.
Recently, my partner Justin Paperny and I explored these contrasting viewpoints in a video discussion. We wanted to give our community a better understanding of how Prison Professors works to reform the system while empowering individuals within it.
We want to show others how they can help themselves and self advocate for the the best possible outcomes.
Our Shared Journey: Michael Santos & Justin Paperny
I’m Michael Santos, founder of Prison Professors. I launched this nonprofit to improve outcomes for all people who go into the criminal justice system. If I can persuade to embrace the concept of earning freedom, we can change laws and open more mechanisms for people to work toward higher levels of liberty through merit.
Joining me is my long-time friend and partner, Justin Paperny. Justin is the founder of White Collar Advice. Together, we represent two complementary approaches:
- Prison Professors: Focuses on large-scale systemic reform and policy change.
- White Collar Advice: Provides individualized, personalized guidance for navigating the criminal justice process effectively.
From Personal Survival to Purposeful Action
When Justin and I first crossed paths in prison back in 2008, he had the same type of concerns as other people who first came into the system. He hoped to return to a normal life after release, but he didn’t have a plan on how to get through the term. Nor did he have a realistic concept of the collateral consequences that accompany a criminal conviction.
Initially, Justin was confident he could seamlessly reenter the real estate profession. I questioned him, trying to prompt him to see things differently. We discussed whether his expectation aligned with reality, particularly in light of the challenges his federal fraud conviction presented.
Our discussions helped Justin realize that life after a conviction would come with significant obstacles. We refer to those obstacles as “collateral consequences.” He’d face challenges that result because of the conviction, even though those challenges wouldn’t have anything to do with the sentence. The job market may not be so welcoming or understanding of his situation.
To overcome these challenges and build a successful career after confinement, it’s essential to adopt a CEO mindset. This approach involves:
- Defining the best possible outcome.
- Crafting a clear plan to bridge the gap between current circumstances and future goals.
- Equipping yourself with the tools, strategies, and resources necessary to execute the plan.
- Establishing accountability systems to track progress.
- Making adjustments to the plan as needed.
- Committing to daily execution of the plan.
This mindset, commonly used in business, is equally effective when preparing for success after incarceration. It demands honest introspection, brutal self-assessment, and a focus beyond just completing the sentence. True success requires planning, discipline, and relentless follow-through, laying the groundwork for a brighter future.
Creating Value from Experience
Justin’s initial resistance was understandable. Embracing incarceration as part of his identity felt nearly impossible at first. Despite the conviction, he didn’t fully grasp the reality that a federal judge had sentenced him to prison. He expected others in the system to see him through the same lens as he saw himself.
Like many, he lived in denial. I continued to ask open-ended questions in the manner that I learned from Socrates. Those questions helped him to begin looking at the world from the perspective of others.
Those efforts led to a new plan, and he joined my efforts in building a body of work that would help others. We started to collaborate on writing projects. Those initial efforts led to a body of work that we would use to build a business. He launched White Collar Advice, and set a plan to reserve a portion of all revenues to support the work I intended to do in changing the system.
Systemic Change: Our Ultimate Goal
In the video interview, Justin mentioned that my mission was simply “to help people.” That wasn’t accurate, and I had to clarify.
My goal isn’t to help people. I believe that people must learn how to help themselves. My mission is to bring system change, creating pathways for people to earn freedom through merit. I want to drive reforms that inspire the pursuit of excellence.
Helping others is incidental. We need to change the system so that anyone who enters the system has a clear path to develop values and skills that will lead to success upon release.
America’s prison system, by design, strips individuals not only of their liberty but also of opportunities for personal growth. The current approach prioritizes punishment, which doesn’t get the result we want. It focuses on the process of imprisonment rather than result of lowering intergenerational cycles of recidivism and poverty.
Through Prison Professors, we want to change this system. We want voters, legislators, administrators to understand that we can do better. We need reforms that will focus on the result we want, empowering people to prepare for success so that they will live the rest of their life as law-abiding, taxpaying citizens.
Preparing for the Future
Through our combined efforts, we emphasize preparation and strategy. Justin’s individual consultations help people navigate immediate challenges, while our nonprofit advocates for reforms that affect millions. We believe that by creating mechanisms that incentivize people to pursue excellence, more people will work toward earning freedom.
Everyone on our team and in our community should understand these differences between Prison Professors and White Collar Advice. Everything that White Collar Advice sells is free on Prison Professors. We’re a non-revenue generating website, striving to help people who want to help themselves. I always make three promises:
- I’ll always be truthful.
- I’ll never ask anyone to do anything that I’m not doing.
- I’ll never charge anyone a penny for any of the information we provide through PrisonProfessors.org.
Join Our Weekly Webinars
For those who have questions on their personal case, I encourage them to participate in the interactive webinars that Justin offers. He hosts a live webinar every Monday at 1 p.m. Pacific (4 p.m. Eastern). During those webinars, people can ask questions and Justin will respond. To participate, visit WhiteCollarAdvice.com/Nonprofit.
Looking Ahead
Our ongoing video series and accompanying articles will further outline our strategies and progress toward systemic change. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into actionable steps anyone can take to contribute to a more just and effective criminal justice system.
Together, we can build a future where incarceration leads to rehabilitation, opportunity, and positive societal contribution.
