Release Plans: Carlos Gutierrez

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Release Plan

Carlos A. Gutierrez III

Today’s Date:  11/1/2024—Surrender Date:   4/25/2024

Pre-Trial Defendant (Federal & State) —Release Date:  To be determined

Possible Sentence:  120-360 months

Contact Information:  PO Box 518, Georgetown, CO  80444

Email:  carlos.a.gutierrez0901@gmail.com

This log is a summation of material studied and participated in while incarcerated.  It is an attempt to show that even when living in a restrictive environment, I have continued to work on accessing and internalizing knowledge.  I have also worked diligently to improve my personal self and develop both coping mechanisms and empathy for others who are incarcerated. 

Attached to this Log are the transcripts from Clear Creek County Jail Programs, the Edovo Online Learning Center, and the JBBS psychological services program. 

Mental and Psychological Improvement:

  • Since my arrival at the Clear Creek County Jail, I have attended bimonthly one-on-one therapy sessions.  
  • In July 2024, I began Group Therapy which is held every Friday afternoon. 
  • JBBS has approved a peer-led group that it to be held weekly.  I personally advocated for this important and necessary group. 

Educational Growth: 

  • Currently, I am the first Clear Creek County pre-trial inmate to actively seek a post-secondary degree.  I am pursuing this through Adams State University via a correspondence course. 

Improvement through Reading:   

I have read the following books as part of my self-improvement:

  1. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts   by Dr. Gabor Mate
  2. Prison!  My 8344th Day  by Michael Santos
  3. Friends, Lovers, The Big Terrible Thing  by Matthew Perry
  4. Caste:  The Origins of Our Discontent  by Isabel Wilkerson
  5. The Warmth of Other Suns  by Isabel Wilkerson
  6. The Gifts of Imperfection:  Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to be and Embrace Who You Are  by Brene Brown, PhD
  7. The Book of Forgiving:  The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World  by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu
  8. The Autistic Brain:  Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed  by Temple Grandin
  9. Attached:  The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find and Keep Love   by Amire Livine, M.D. and Rachel S.F. Heller, M.A.
  10. The Alchemist  by Paulo Coelho

Course Participation During Imprisonment

Date/YearSource of Class/CourseCourse Title and Course DescriptionCredits or Participation Hours
20197 Habits of Highly Effective People  (10 week course)Certificate received
2020Trinidad State CollegeHuman Services Level 1 Certificate Program18 College credits
2020Parents On a Mission   (16 hour course) Certificate received
2020Pueblo Community CollegeComputer Information Systems  (Achieving a proficiency in Microsoft Office) 12 College credits
2020Pueblo Community CollegeCustomer Service Academy—Business courses related to Marketing/Economics 9 College credits
2024-presentClear Creek County Jail ProgramsWorld History—Survey CourseThe class is a general introduction to World History.  The class begins with the Paleolithic Period and progresses to the Modern Era.  This is an ongoing class, so students join at different times.  
The class includes reading a historical text, completing an interactive notebook, writing about various topics covered in the course, and participating in class discussions.  Regular discussions include the effect history has had on current events.  Class consists of one hour of instruction with approximately three hours of homework per class.   		45 hours of participation on ongoing
2024-presentClear Creek County Jail ProgramsJournaling:  In this class, students are expected to reflect on a daily topic and then write about that topic as it pertains to them.  Poems and short stories are included in the curriculum, and students can write their own poems, song lyrics, and short stories about a given topic or a topic of their choosing.  
Students meet with the instructor for approximately one hour once a week and are asked to spend at least 20 minutes per day writing.  This means designating at least 2.6 hours per week to the class.  
65 hours of participation and ongoing
2024-presentClear Creek County Jail ProgramsVocabulary Development:  Structured lessons to help build reading and writing vocabulary through understanding the origins of English and the impact that Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon and French have had on English.  25 hours of participation and ongoing
2024-presentAdams State University—currently enrolledEnglish 101 Communication Arts 13 College credits
2024-presentAdams State University—currently enrolledSociology 201:  The Sociological Imagination 3 College credits
2024-presentAdams State University—currently enrolledGeneral Education:  World History and Cultures 23 College credits
2024-presentClear Creek County Jail ProgramsAlcoholics Anonymous—12 Step Recovery Program (Ongoing Step work with Sponsor)15 hours of participation and ongoing
2024-presentClear Creek County Jail ProgramsChistian Bible Study (weekly class) Read and discuss the teachings of Christ; discuss principles that relate to future success; understand the errors of a reckless past. 20 hours of participation and ongoing
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletPreparing for Success after Prison—Michael Santos:  In this course I was introduced to Michael Santos.  Hearing his story of how he emerged from a 45-year sentence through a strategy that assured his success inspired me to follow his example. 24.5 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletMichael G. Santos:  Strait-A Guide:  Through this course Mr. Santos developed while serving a long-term sentence.  I am encouraged to follow suit by developing my own personal exit plan.  By developing a values-based goal-oriented approach to my life going forward I am confident in my ability to return to the community as a valuable and contributing citizen. 14.5 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletMalcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing:  Writing is my preferred method of communication.  Malcolm pulls back the curtain to reveal his toolbox he has used to become a master of his craft.  Understanding the mechanics of what it means to be a successful writer has given me more self-confidence as I attempt to write my way to freedom. 11.25 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletRising Strong:  A Substance Use Recovery Course:  This course offered an overview of a myriad of recovery paths.  Each section highlighted a specific path: the Physical Health Path, the Path of Self-Esteem and Purpose, the Motivations to Change Paths, Community and Connection Path, the Mental Health Path, the Spirituality Path and the 12-Step Path.
I have lived (survived) 24 years as a severe drug addict.  I have struggled to maintain long-term recovery from substances and can attest to having made it through many of the worst circumstances that an addicted person can encounter.  This course introduced me to a variety of holistic, evidence-based, solution-oriented treatments and life practices.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).  Relief from the trauma and shame that is often associated with addicts is hard won, but it is possible.  As I journey through my own personal experience, I hope that I am able to have the privilege of serving as an example to someone that is suffering as I once did.  That is on of my highest callings as I commit myself to creating meaning and purpose from the countless failures of my past.  		8.5 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletMaster Mind Course:  Earning Freedom by Michael Santos.  The MasterMind is a video-based, reentry course designed to help you return to society with your dignity intact and with opportunities to thrive. The course is inspired by the personal life of Michael Santos8.25 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletThinking for the Future-CBToin a group therapy session led by two experts in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Jennifer Luther and Dr. Paula Smith. CBT is a form of mental health treatment that focuses on the relationship between…5.10 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletPrison! My 8344th Day (Text Version)or 26 years, Michael Santos was a federal prisoner. During his life as a prisoner, he recalibrated, becoming more mindful of his responsibility to live as a good citizen. He created a disciplined plan with hopes of…4.75 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletNeil deGrasse Tyson Teaches Scientific Thinking and…Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson teaches you how to find objective truths and shares his tools for communicating what you discover. This course was created utilizing videos produced by MasterClass, with…4.10 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletFoundation for Recovery A study guide for building a foundation for Recovery, based on the award-winning documentary, Kids Are Dying.1.5 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletImpact:  Families and AddictionA drug prevention course using the film “Son to Son” as its base. It focuses on several key themes and topics related to substance abuse prevention and awareness. “Son to Son” is a short film that explores…1.05 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletIn the CourtroomIn this course you will learn some basics about the courtroom part of the criminal process. The topics covered in this course are: courtroom etiquette; the role of a Public Defender, and how to represent yourself..10 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletPsychology 10127 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletHeadspace – Guided Meditation Sessions and Mindfulness Training6.5 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletOne Step Away4 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletNeil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling3 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletPMI: Path of Freedom (v2022)2.25 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletSpanish Language2.10 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletAllstar Mastermind Facilitator Pro2.12 hours
2024Edovo: Self Directed Study on TabletBlack History, Black Freedom, and Black Love Lessons from Influential Black Voices Part 10.75 hours

Self-reflection on courses I have taken and courses I hope to take in the BOP

     I am familiar with the BOP’s Needs Assessment/Risk Assessment that is used to identify the needs of inmates upon intake.  After familiarizing myself with he 12 needs categories, I anticipate participating in Education, Psychology Services, and Unit Management.  

The following is a list of programs offered in the BOP that I hope to participate in: 

  • Basic Cognitive Skills
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy
  • Criminal Thinking
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Emotional Self-Regulation
  • Illness Management and Recovery
  • Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program
  • Occupational Education Program
  • Advanced Occupational Education
  • Post-Secondary Education
  • Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
  • Seeking Safety

BOP Productive Activities:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Brain Health as You Age:  You can make a difference!  Improve memory and decision-making
  • Drug Education
  • Federal Prison Industries (FPI)—Learn Basic Training
  • House of Healing:  A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
  • Money Smart for Adults
  • Narcotics Anonymous
  • Ultra Key 6:  The Ultimate Keyboarding Tutor
  • Desired Outcomes from Participation in Specialized Programs: 
    • By choosing to enroll in a number of courses geared towards addressing my identified risks and needs, I am moving myself closer to success upon my eventual release from custody.  Education is a valuable way for me to create tangible evidence of my progress.  I believe that by earning a post-secondary education, I will open up opportunities for a higher-level of income streams upon release.  By earning a degree, I will establish myself as a responsible, character driven, disciplined citizen instead of an addict that can’t be trusted.
      • Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions, I will continue addressing the healthy strategies that I know will lead to more relief from my substance abuse history, anxiety, PTSD, and maladaptive criminal thinking patterns. 
  • I will enter the BOP with a clear plan that details my path to returning to my community successfully
  • I understand that my history is unchangeable and that what’s done is done.  The question I ask myself everyday is, “What are you going to do about it?”
  • Taking action, every single day is giving me the credibility and confidence necessary to influence all of the people that will be involved in my future. 

Jail Based Behavioral Services

     I have been a resident of the Clear Creek County Jail since May 2024.  During my initial medical screening with RN Katie, I was asked if I would be interested in participating in the Jail Based Behavioral Services (JBBS).  I wasted no time expressing interest in entering the program.  I had never seen a program of this type available to pre-trial defendants.  Within 10 days, I had completed my initial intake assessment.  Supervisor Moriah Jones assigned me to therapist Hannah Smith’s caseload. 

     Over the last six months, I have been afforded the opportunity to meet with Hannah for 1-2 hours of in-person therapy.  In our bi-monthly sessions, we have teamed up to look at the many ways 24 years of severe addiction have affected not only my life but also the lives of those that love me. 

     I have found a safe place to face the exact nature of my life’s choices.  Self-reflection is challenging to say the least, but I believe it is integral to my continued healing as well as my recovery efforts.  Shame and trauma are themes for any individual that has found themselves living with an addiction of any type whether chemical or behavioral.  Through hours of trauma focused and substance use therapy, Hannah has guided me down my path of reconciliation.  Forgiveness is an ongoing effort that requires me to view myself through a compassionate lens.  The result is that I have greater levels of motivation that propel my spirit further and further toward my goals. 

Peer Leaders Advocating Now (PLAN)

     In July 2024, JBBS began a group therapy session that has been held every Friday.  Inmates from every pod come together to discuss a variety of topics that were agreed upon by group members.  Healthy Boundaries, the neuroscience of addiction, the effects of trauma on the health of survivors, calculated ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) scores, Social Influences on Substance Use Disorder, and the Cycle of Abuse are just some of the topics discussed.  I have seen the importance of a group of peers that are willing to discuss an array of issues that are not usually discussed openly.

     So, then I got to thinking… What would happen if we (the inmates) were to start a group of our own? 

Our experiences qualify us as subject matter experts on a myriad of topics.  It isn’t often that eleven felony convictions, 24 years of addiction, two prison terms, countless brushes with death, grief, trauma, shame and a long list of failures qualify a person for anything other than ridicule and further consequences.  I think it’s time to change that.  

     I approached JBBS supervisor Moriah Jones with the idea to create a peer led group.  Knowing that nothing like this existed in any county jail I had been in, I wasn’t surprised when she informed me, she would need to approach the jail’s administration for a final approval. 

     PLAN has been approved and is now being offered to the male inmates in this jail.  The group’s focus will be on taking an honest evaluation of how each of us arrived at this place in our lives.  How have our values shaped each of our outcomes?  What adjustment strategies do we each have in place to assure success upon our release?  After identifying our faulty belief systems, what steps need to be taken to change our personal narrative?  Is there a formula for success?  If so, what is it? 

     I have asked myself each of these questions and found that although it may be difficult to take that close a look at the truth, it is beyond worth it.   I believe that meeting people where they are is important if I aspire to influence them in a meaningful way.  That’s what we’ll do every time we meet.  The decisions we each make today will directly affect the substance of our future.   

     I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Clear Creek County Administration for challenging a corrections model that wouldn’t usually allow such a program to exist.   Moriah Jones is fearless as she advocates for her clients to achieve healing, self-actualization and excellence. In all of my years that I’ve been involved with corrections, I have never seen so many opportunities available to pre-trial defendants.   Thank you!

Re-entry Accountability Plan

     Historically, my troubles begin the moment I inject a substance.  Knowing that to be true, the single solution has always been “Don’t do Drugs!”  Easier said than done!  Unfortunately, it has never been that easy for me to overcome the many ways my brain, which has been wired for addition since I was 16, has turned on itself.  The physiology of addiction is unseen by the human eye.  What isn’t hidden away are the actions taken by someone motivated by compulsion and desperation.  It has been my life’s burden to make sense of the confusion and chaos I have lived with for more than half my life. 

     Through many years of hard-earned experience, I have identified my risk factors:

  • Failing to plan for my success and desired outcomes, 
  • Not working a strong recovery plan/program. 
  • Focusing on my past regrets and failures,
  • Fail to ask for help and support when in crisis,
  • Avoiding the mistakes I make out of shame,
  • Catastrophizing once the ball is rolling in a negative direction, 
  • Allowed myself to be defined by my past mistakes and massive failures, 

    The above stated bullet points are beliefs and behaviors that have blocked my success in the past.  I have a resume of regret that could easily qualify me for more of the same type of outcomes.  The impetus of change is the belief that it’s even possible.  My life’s most impactful lessons have come at a high cost to myself, my family, and the community.  The cycle of ups and downs have taken their toll on just about everything in my life and I no longer will be allowing my life to be directed by compulsions and self-destructive thoughts and behaviors.

Here are my goals to address these behaviors: 

  • Continue working with my 12-Step sponsor,
  • Make recovery a focal point in my life—without it nothing else is possible.
    • 12-Step workbook,
    • Sponsor other addicts,
    • Develop a recovery-based support network through meetings, 
    • Submit to all of the ua/ba’s that are required of me. 
  • Living a life of transparency and authenticity:
    • Allow people in my life that are living a values-based life.
    • Ask specific people to be my mentors in recovery, education, advocacy, and business. 
    • Communicate openly with my mentors, advisors, and support staff when I am in a perilous mindset or situation.
      • This requires action being taken sooner rather than later in order to avoid mitigating a catastrophe.
    • Accountability means allowing people to confront me with the TRUTH without being defensive, obstinate, or avoidant. 
    • Foster and maintain an open line of communication with case managers, unit teams, probation and parole officers, RCC staff, and treatment providers. 
  • My faith is the tenet on which everything else is built.
    • Move through my days with the intention of being more Christ-like.
    • Ask God to be the center of my entire life and strive to be an ambassador of His Love, Grace, and Mercy. 
    • Mercy and grace brought me this far, and I believe I can show others that the same loving power is available to them. 
    • Write about it!

The accountability metrics I have implemented in my life are: 

  • I have created a profile on PrisonProfessorsTalent.com to publicly declare who I am to anyone that has influence over my future freedoms.
    • Included is my biography, journal entries that memorialize the efforts I make every day, book reports I author that share the lessons I am learning by reading self-development materials. 
    • For the very first time, I have created a Release Plan that details my preparations to return to the community as a good neighbor and upstanding citizen.  My release plan takes into consideration both my strengths and my weaknesses. 
    • Making a public declaration allows me to be held accountable by anyone that reads it. 
    • Transparency, commitment and authenticity are the goal. 
    • It will be updated as my strategies evolve, and goals are met.
  • I have a relationship with God that is a vital part of my life.
    • Studying Christ’s teachings serves as a guide in my everyday life.  Jesus is the example I hope to follow.  
  • In my one-on-one therapy, Hannah and I have treatment goals that we evaluate every six months.  During our sessions, we make efforts toward healing, empowerment, and an overall wholeness and well-being.
    • Early in our meetings I encouraged her to hold me accountable when she sees a fault or error in my thinking, perspective, or behavior.  We’ve built a trusting professional relationship. 
  • 12-Step work requires me to work closely with my sponsor to:
    • Maintain my continued abstinence from substances, 
    • Seek out opportunities to be of service to anyone who suffers from addiction, 
    • Follow the principles of the programs that have proven to be lifesaving to millions that have come before me, 
    • Continue taking an inventory of my behaviors, my character, my intentions in all that I do, and my commitment to living a life in recovery, 
    • Spread the message of hope to addicts that need it in order to save their lives!
  • Everyday I wake up and set the goals that need to be accomplished in order to move me closer to freedom.
    • Values guide my definition of success as well as the goals I set to redemption and reconciliation.
    • The strategies and tactics I implement to assure my successful return will continue to evolve over time.  Staying aware of opportunities that arise as a result of my effort, I am prepared to take any necessary role that adds to my credibility as an advocate for reform as well as a candidate for consideration of higher levels of liberty. 
    • Transforming myself from a “hopeless addict” through incremental action, I believe I will serve as living proof that mental and physical freedom is possible for anyone.
      • When a person fights their way back to life, they are qualified to guide others through the bondage of addiction and incarceration.
  • Overcoming a lifetime of failures will require me to develop a strategy that identifies and measures my clearly identified goals.
    • The best possible outcome for me is to earn my freedom. 
    • Identify the values that will serve as guidelines for the way I live my life.
      • Service, knowledge, self-discipline, faith, accountability, integrity, education, to name just a few.
    • Having identified my values and the best possible outcome, what will my path forward look like?
      • Set clear goals that will pave my way to freedom, inner peace, and long-term success and recovery. 

Goals

My goals are: 

  • Write my way to freedom!
    • Daily journaling that memorializes my journey.
    • Write my manuscript and complete it by April 2025.
      • Professor Liann Richardson from Trinidad State College has committed to using her contacts to get my manuscript edited. 
      • Self-publish on Amazon bookstore
    • Stay in communication with those that influence my ability to achieve freedom at the earliest date possible.
      • Prosecutors, Judges, Probation Officers, Federal Administrators
    • Mitigate my current legal situation by:
      • Preparing a narrative for my PSR.
      • Acquiring letters of support that follow the Prison Profession guidelines.
      • Using this release plan to show the thoughtful and careful consideration I’m taking to construct my future. 
      • Take 100% responsibility for my life’s outcomes while offering a comprehensive plan forward. 
  • Earn an undergraduate degree through the Prison Education Program (PEP)
    • I am enrolled in Adams State University as a correspondence student.
      • I am set earn 9 college credits this semester (Fall 2024)
      • I am striving to maintain a 3.75 GPA
  • Pursuing my degree adds to my credibility as a(n):
    • Advocate for reforms of our Criminal Justice System
    • A returning citizen upon my release
    • A disciplined and worthwhile person
    • Stark contrast from my misguided past
    • Author of books that tell the tale of a wondering soul.
      • Thus, opening the door for more opportunities to affect change in the lives of others
      • Income streams to aid in funding my life upon my return to the community
      • A person that has a deep desire to build self-confidence and self-discipline along with an inherent trust in himself. 

Learning has been identified as a path to freedom for me.  I will enter the BOP ready to participate in the Advanced Occupational Education and Post Secondary Education Programs. I have researched the available opportunities in the BOP and listed the specific learning paths that I anticipate utilizing in my future. (Please refer back to the Course Participation During Imprisonment list on p. 5.)

  • Add value to the community
    • Living my life in alignment with my values at all times.
      • Following rules/ expectations/ laws
      • Take accountability for my mistakes and rectify my wrongs as evidence of my contrition. 
  • Be a support to those that I encounter along the way
    • Let my consistent behavior serve as an example
    • Give insight or guidance when sought out by others
    • Mentor people that may need some extra help or encouragement
  • Create a way of living that is founded in principled approaches that leave no room to question who I am or what I seek to accomplish.
  • My writing will be used to offer hope to the most harshly affected by substance use or mental illness as well as the justice system.
    • Books
    • Articles
    • Blog (medium.com)
  • My greatest influence will hopefully be on my nieces and nephews.  By serving as a cautionary tale, I believe that they will avoid the pitfalls I’ve encountered along the way.  If at some point, their path diverts to something that isn’t worthy of them, I will be there to support them however I can.  Having found my way back from Hell, I will make it my life’s purpose to rescue as many people as I can. 

     There is nothing about any of this that promises to be easy at all, and yet I am girding myself for the challenges I am sure to face by preparing for all the possibilities. My decades of addiction and convictions were not an accident that occurred without my commitment to escaping reality at any cost.  It only stands to reason that in order to reconcile myself to my community, my family, myself and God, I will be required to work two, three, four times as hard to undo the harm that’s been done over the years.  Forgiving myself is the very first step of this lifelong journey.  Thankfully, I am well on my way to proving to be so much more than what every background check says to be true. 

Release Plan

Housing

  • In addition to a very supportive family system, I have strong ties with a number of sober living homes. 
  • Caleb Swift (980-271-0603) is the owner of Solution Recovery House at 580 Dudley St., Lakewood, CO  80214.  I have a guaranteed bed available to me upon my release.  I was a successful client prior to my surrendering to Federal custody.
  • The program fees are $900 every month and my first month will be on scholarship.  
  • Living in a recovery home will allow me to be surrounded by like-minded men that are committed to building a life that is values-based and worthwhile.  The program requires that each of the residents participate in monitored sobriety testing, Group Therapy, and weekly Peer Coaching.  In addition, I will be expected to participate in a 12 Step Meeting of my own choosing.  Sponsorship is encouraged and expected as well. 
  • When allowed by Federal supervision, I will obtain employment to meet financial obligations including restitution, rent, phone bill, and other subsistence fees. 
  • The Solution Recovery House is located in a low crime area. 

Medical/Mental Health/Dental

  • Medicaid will cover me until I am able to enroll in a comprehensive health care plan through my employer. 

Substance Abuse Counseling/Treatment

  • I am currently receiving services through Jefferson County Behavioral Services.  I meet with my therapist, Hannah Smith, twice a month for a 1 on 1 therapy session.  During our session, we address issues arising from 24 years of addiction and the behaviors and consequences that accompany it.  Forgiveness, Impulsivity, Stop Thinking, Cognitive Distortions, Accountability, and Healthier Coping Strategies are a few of the topics discussed during our sessions. 
  • I am developing a robust relapse-prevention plan that identifies alternatives to returning to substance abuse.  Healthy alternatives and healthy support systems are in place to assist me through my days. 
  • I am also an active participant in weekly group therapy with the other residents at the Clear Creek County Jail.  In our group, we identify
    • boundaries, 
    • what a healthy relationship is, 
    • learn about the neuroscience behind addiction, 
    • understand the importance of understanding core beliefs, and 
    • developing personal mission statements. 
  • I am currently meeting with my 12 Step Sponsor on a weekly basis.  He is guiding me through the 12-Step process that has proven to be a lifesaving and life-changing strategy for countless individuals that seek to overcome the perils of addiction. 
  • When I’m allowed to participate in RDAP in the BOP, I will utilize the aftercare services.  In addition, I will follow all of the recommendations of my federal probation officers. 

Education

  • I currently have 39 college credits from Pueblo Community College and Trinidad State College.  
  • In 2020, I earned my Human Services Level 1 certificate which include 18 completed credit hours.  Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Social Systems, and Crisis Intervention were a few of the classes I took at the time. 
  • I completed my GED in July 2005.
  • I am now a student at Adams State College and am enrolled in the Fall 2024 semester. 
  • Through self-advocacy efforts, I was able to open a door to pursue a post-secondary education while in the county jail. 
  • I am enrolled currently in three classes:  English and Communications 101, World History and Culture 2, and Sociological Imagination 2  (9 credits) 
  • I will be determining a degree path soon and will decide between Business, Psychology, or Sociology. 
  • I have completed Stephen Corey’s 7 Habits of Hight Effective People.
  • Computer Information Systems which includes a required understanding of Microsoft Office:  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. 
  • Pueblo Community College:  Customer Service Academy allowed to earn 9 college credits. 
  • At Clear Creek County Jail, I attend weekly journaling/vocabulary and world history classes with the jail’s program director. 
  • I believe that by opening the door for other inmates to take college courses, I have set an example for others to follow as they seek more favorable outcomes in their court cases and in life. 

Family Situation

     I am not a father of any children.  I am grateful to report that I have the support of my entire family.  My grandmother, Dolores, mother and stepfather, father and stepmother, brothers, Albert and Dante, sisters Diandra, Analiese, and Jaclyn.  Five nieces: Makailah, Aliciana, Bella, Capriana, and Evynn.  Nephews:  Aedan and Phillip.  Aunts: Eleni and Sherie.  (last names excluded to preserve privacy)

     I am beyond fortunate to have the active support of some of the very best people I could hope to encounter.  They have witnessed me struggle to make sense of the illogical actions I’ve taken while in a chemical stupor.  I have fallen short of the type of grandson, son, brother, uncle, and nephew that any of them deserved, and I acknowledge that.  The guilt I carry over all of the heartache I’ve caused is now being recycled into a strong sense of purpose and motivation to make things right in all of the ways that matter. 

     My commitment and resolve are unwavering, and they have witnessed the disciplined adjustment strategies that I’ve implemented into my life before I surrendered to Federal custody in April 2024.   This is unlike any of my previous experiences, and I am earning the trust of everybody, including myself.  Hope is being restored every single day as I document the actions I am taking towards my goal of successfully returning to the community.  My support network is vast, and I am proving that all of the years of kindness and devotion were not made in vain. 

Employment

     At the time of my arrest, I was employed by the Green Tree Inn in the Denver Tech Center.  Upon my release, I have secured employment with Dana Livings who is currently the Regional Manager for the Green Tree Brand.  Her contact information is:   (575) 770-8789.

  • I have spent years in the hospitality industry as a:
  • Front desk customer service agent.
  • Front desk manager
  • Assistant General Manager
  • Customer Service Trainer
  • I have worked for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless as Peer Support Specialist.
    • In this role, I was able to work directly with clients that were presenting with the highest acuity needs in the program.  I used my experience with substance use, the criminal justice system, and my mental health struggles to offer support to each and everyone of my clients.   I guided them through their activities of daily living while promoting higher levels of independence and autonomy. 
  • Many of my clients struggled to follow through with their obligations to the criminal justice system. I often acted as an intermediary between them and the pre-trial officer, probation department, and their legal representation. 
  • Navigating the human/social services to acquire food stamps, Medicaid, emergency funds, energy assistance is daunting to just about anyone.  As a peer support specialist, I became very familiar with the processes involved in a very complicated system.  Together we were able to assure that all of their needs were met. 
  • In addition, I used motivational interviewing to help my clients aspire to enter recovery programs or to use harm reduction strategies to stay as safe as possible.  

Financial Obligations

          As a pre-trial defendant, I am not working nor am I assigned a work detail in the jail.  I look forward to earning an income at the soonest possible time.  At that time, I don’t anticipate being dependent on my family for any subsistence fees.  It is important to me that I begin making payments to my restitution and any other court ordered fees.  I emptied my savings account to finance my Fall 2024 college classes.  I view it as an investment in myself and my future. 

Projected Monthly 

$100.00 Phone

$200.00 Food

$110.00 Bus Pass

$10.00 Medication Co-Pay

$50-200.00 Clothing

$300.00 Restitution

$900.00 Solutions Recovery Home Program Fees

Completion of Plan

     I expect this release plan to evolve just as I will, and as it does tasks will be completed.  As a check marks the identified goals as completed, I will be quick to add a new set of goals to my list.  I see all of this as a lifestyle that I’ll spend the rest of my life living.  That being said, it will never be complete. 

I have discussed my Release Plan with: 

  • Hannah Smith, Therapist
  • Eric M. (12-Step recovery sponsor)
  • Sean Carrol, Case Manager
  • Moriah Jones, Supervisor of the Jefferson County Jail-Based Services
  • Dana Living, Employer and close friend for 15 years
  • Toni L. K., mother
  • Albert G., brother
  • Jaclyn G, sister
  • Caleb Swift, Sober Living homeowner and program director
  • Alexandria Bernard, Recovery Coach
  • Dolores B., Grandmother
  • Ms. Dee, Program Director—Clear Creek County Jail

Case Manager/Counselor Information

  • Clear Creek County Jail, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, CO  80444   (Delta pod-Cell 2)
  • Case Manager Sean Carrol
  • Therapist Hannah Smith, Mountain Substance Use Clinician

Future Plans and Goals

Immediate plans/goals:

  • Maintain a substance free lifestyle/12 Step work with my sponsor
  • Attend therapy/group therapy/peer therapy
  • Set daily goals that align with my values
  • End this college semester with a 3.75 GPA
  • Document my efforts through extensive journaling
  • Write my book that I hope will help someone along the way
  • Work with my legal team to reach a favorable disposition in my case/
  • Continue to use my disciplined strategy to add value to the world around me by showing up as a service-oriented, compassionate, responsible, and effective member of society. 
  • Mentor/Guide my mentees as they set out on their own journey of trying to get it right.

Immediate plans/goals 1-5 years (Not sure how long I’ll be with BOP)

  • I’ll be in remission from substance use disorder
  • Sponsor fellow addicts in the 12-Step Program
  • I will have an undergraduate degree that opens the door for further opportunities
  • My first book will have been published and will have found an audience
  • Serve my term in BOP; return to my family and society with my dignity intact and as a law-abiding citizen
  • Create meaning out of all the troubles from my past
  • Establish a network of supporters and advocates through my writing and self-advocacy efforts
  • Generate income through my writing $$ (books, speaking, articles)
  • Service is the major function of my life, and it is evident in the way I live, who I’m surrounded by, and my behavior
  • Work on staff with Prison Professors as an advocate and consultant

Long term plans/goals 5+ years

  • During this period of my life, I will reach a 10-year recovery milestone
    • 12-Step will continue to be a foundational aspect of my life
    • I will do work with a sponsor as well as be a sponsor
  • I will have an additional bachelor’s degree (Business/Sociology)
    • Will be working towards a master’s degree
  • Fulfill my full obligation to the BOP
    • No new offenses 
  • Through my writing I will have additional income streams
    • Additional books will follow
      • Michael Santos will write the forward to one of them
    • Regularly contribute to publications on the subject of addiction, hope, incarceration, success/personal triumph, recovery
  • Create a reputation that has allowed me to create income streams from my experience with addiction and incarceration
    • Public/Motivational Speaking
    • Author books/articles/courses
    • Consulting with defendants who are, pre-release/pre-trial/post-conviction
  • Continue my path of reconciling with society by living well and as a law-abiding, tax-paying, contributing member of the community

Conclusion and Commitment Statement

     This Release Plan is my very first attempt at authoring a document of this type.  In forty-one years of living, I have never taken such an active role in planning my own success.  Although I have fallen short of my goals in the past, likely because I didn’t have the self-confidence to envision a better life for myself, I am 100% committed to the path laid out in the previous pages. 

     I apologize if it’s a little lengthy, but I believe it’s necessary to be detailed and specific.  This release is a reflection of the goals and values I’ve identified over the last six months.  As time passes and my circumstances evolve, I will be revising this plan. 

     I believe that transparency and authenticity are vital to achieving success as I’ve defined it.  I welcome any input that will help me along the way.  Nothing about this is easy and yet I believe that everything about it is a worthwhile endeavor.

“Where there is Life, there is Hope!”

Thank you, 

Carlos A. Gutierrez, III

Clear Creek County Jail 

Inmate # 391960

P.O. Box 518

Georgetown, CO  80444

Contact at:  carlos.a.gutierrez0901@gmail.com

Completed on 11/6/2024

Contact

Prison Professors Charitable Corporation
32565 Golden Lantern, Suite B1026 Dana Point, CA 92629 United States info@prisonprofessors.org

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