Earning Freedom with Michael Santos

Today I spoke with Jared Rudolph, Executive Director of the Prison Reentry network, a nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jared is an attorney who has been called to helping more people emerge from prison successfully. Through his research, he recognzied that more than 90 percent of the people in prison return to society. To have an impact on creating a better soceity, Jared launched an organziation to help those people overcome the challenges they meet. For most, those challenges include finding housing and finding employment.

With aspirations of helping those individuals, Jared creates programs, spreads awareness, and offers assistance to community based organizations that provide direct services. Those interested in learning more should contact Jared directly. His email address follows:

[email protected]

www.prisonerreentrynetwork.org?

Also, please visit his webest at PrisonReentryNetwork.org. You will see a series of videos that are well worth watching. The portray individuals who've been released from prison after multiple decades. 

Name

URL

Cherri Frazier

http://youtu.be/oPvRG6coq_Y

EJ House

http://youtu.be/vkUf3GCketQ

Clinton Thomas

http://youtu.be/iHRAGOCYQ4I

Michael Matlock

https://youtu.be/jd8Smvlmzok

Cynthia Jeter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtWMZElwMYU

Mianta McKnight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLEpbhGpjAQ

Brandy Giggey

http://youtu.be/CG_jMYGXmvY

Glen Holden

https://youtu.be/v2CT7fNk9RM

Tyrone Turner

https://youtu.be/iHerdUiOm9s

Engelbert Perlas

http://youtu.be/7wJXxkUIGNY

Lou Gary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6F1eWZX9Fs

Sou Thao

http://youtu.be/J0ESi6R_Gd4

Charles David Jones is a former lawyer and financial advisor. Some bad decisions in his career led to problems. In today’s podcast, he told me that he diverted more than $8 million from his clients into accounts that he controlled. When the heat got too hot, he contacted a defense attorney. Knowing that he didn’t have many options, Charles said that he decided to turn himself in. First he met with a prosecutor from the United States Attorneys Office. Then he met with lawyers from the SEC. The wheels of justice can move slowly, as nearly two years past before Charles was able to resolve his judicial problems. His judge imposed a six-year sentence. Charles contacted Justin Paperny, of Federal Prison Advice, to seek guidance. He surrenders to prison soon.

Those who want to write to Charles may reach him at the following address:

Charles David Jones

Registration Number 46990-380

Federal Prison Camp, Bastrop

1341 TX-95

Bastrop, Texas 78602

Mark Bernstein was the COO of a manufacturing company with $20 million in revenues. Unfortunately, decisions on the job led to his being indicated for money laundering and various fraud offenses. Despite his cooperation with authorities, and and a recommendation for probation, his judge imposed a six month prison term. 

Mark spoke about his ordeal of facing federal charges. He also described why working with FederalPrisonAdvice.com and participating in the reputation management course we’ve created has brought new meaning to his life. Listen to Mark talk about the value he found in working with prison consultant Justin Paperny and why he wishes that he had begun working with FederalPrisonAdvice.com much sooner in the process. 

If you’re facing time in federal prison, then contact us today to learn more about steps you can take to position yourself for the lowest possible sentence, and the best possible experience in prison.

Today I had the privilege of interviewing Kevin Snyder for the Earning Freedom podcast. Kevin’s commitment to serving others led to his building a career as a public defender. He served in that capacity for nearly a decade. In that role, Kevin defended individuals against every type of offense, from misdemeanors to serious felonies. The experience gave him a depth and breadth of knowledge that served his clients well. Recently, Kevin launched his new practice and I highly recommend him to anyone who needs a lawyer.

In our podcast, Kevin spoke about the work did with the public defender’s office in Orange County, California. He also offered insight on criminal justice reforms that can influence the lives of people who’ve been charged with a crime in the state of California. Rather than being exposed to state prison, those individuals may serve their sanctions in county jails. Other reforms may lead individuals to change the status of their convictions from felonies to misdemeanors. Those who need to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system will have exceptional guidance if they retain Kevin.

If any of our listeners have a need to speak with a criminal defense attorney, I highly recommend Kevin. Don’t only take my word for it. Listen to his wisdom on the Earning Freedom podcast. And check out the following links that validate him as an exceptional attorney: 

As a prison consultant, I’m sometimes confronted with questions about how an individual can move beyond a criminal conviction. This question comes from white-collar offenders or people who’ve been convicted of business-related crimes. They worry about what kind of life they’re going to lead after prison. They worry because search engines will always publicize their crime and those challenges may limit opportunities. They can learn something from former gang members who turned their life around.

It’s my job to teach anyone how leading a life of relevance makes all the difference. In today’s podcast, Heracio Harts helps me to convey that message.

Heracio and I sat down to talk about re-entry and what it is like for someone to have emerged from prison on multiple occasions. We discussed the challenges and limitations that are imposed by society when having to bring up prior incarceration. Heracio also talked to me about the work he is doing through Healthy Hearts Institute.

Scott Budnick is one of Hollywood’s most successful producers. His film credits include Starsky and Hutch, The Hangover Series, and other films that have cumulatively grossed billions of dollars. Yet Scott voluntarily walked away from Hollywood to pursue his real passion: Prison and Juvenile Justice Reform.

In today’s episode on Earning Freedom, Scott talks with our audience about his journey. Several years ago, Matthew Mizel, a colleague from Hollywood, invited Scott for a tour of a prison. Matthew taught a writing course inside of a California prison for juveniles. While on that visit, Scott met several young people who came from disadvantaged backgrounds. They were facing sentences that would stretch as long as 300 years. Those young people had stories to tell. Unfortunately, few people wanted to listen.

In truth, everyone who goes through the criminal justice system has a story to tell. To the extent that we can help others understand our backgrounds and the influences that led us to where we are, we advance the possibility for a better outcome. Scott began volunteering all of his Saturdays to teach writing courses to young people in Juvenile Hall. He became so passionate about reforming the system that he launched the Anti Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit organization that serves several hundred people.

As a result of Scott’s commitment, many powerful people from across the world have become aware of our nation’s problematic criminal justice system. On the Earning Freedom podcast, Scott spoke about what he learned from touring prison systems in other countries, and touring prisons across the United States. His devotion is contagious. Scott’s relentless commitment to improving the system has had enormous influence. He not only provides guidance for the formerly incarcerated to transition into society successfully, Scott and his group at the ARC have also opened meaningful programs like a housing component, an education component, and legislative reforms that influence the lives of thousands.

It pleases me to bring more awareness to the amazing work that Scott and the Anti Recidivism Coalition do to improve outcomes of our nation’s prison system. I encourage you to visit the ARC website and you will see why our nation’s commitment to mass incarceration represents one of the greatest social injustices of our time.

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For more than a dozen years, Samuel T. Morison served as a staff attorney in the Office of the United States Pardon Attorney. In this two-part series on the Earning Freedom podcast, Sam offered valuable insight. Anyone who has endured a criminal prosecution in the federal system and aspires to relief through executive clemency will want to listen. This first episode provides some historical context on how presidents have used their pardon power. In the second episode, Sam discusses his defense practice at PardonAttorney.com. He represents people who want to persuade the President to grant them some form of pardon.

Pardon Power:

As a prison consultant, I frequently hear from clients who want to learn more about what steps they can take to position themselves for the best possible outcome. Some think about early release, and certainly the pardon is an option. Those who want to position themselves for a pardon will learn a great deal by listening to the information that Sam provided.

The United States Constitution provides the president with absolute authority to forgive sentences, or even block prosecutions. Several different types of pardons exist. The president may grant a full or conditional pardon, effectively forgiving the offense as if it never happened. Or the president can issue a commutation, effectively lessening the sentence imposed by the trial judge.

Historically, when the federal prison system was much smaller, presidents took a much more active role in the pardon process. A right to appeal, probation, or parole did not exist. Presidents would routinely review sentences and consider whether continued incarceration was warranted. If it wasn’t, they could offer relief through the pardon power.

At the start of the 20th century, legislation brought new relief mechanisms. They included a right to a direct appeal, probation, and parole. As a consequence of those reforms, presidents did not feel compelled to grant as many pardons. Still, up until the time of President Carter, pardons were not so controversial. President Reagan’s administration changed that. We became much more punitive, and the pardon was granted far less frequently.

This podcast series will describe the process an individual should follow if he or she aspires to relief through some form of pardon.

See: PardonAttorney.com 

Through his practice at PardonAttorney.com, Samuel T. Morison advocates for people who want relief from federal sentences. Individuals who’ve been charged with a federal crime, and who have aspirations of restoring all of their civil liberties, will want to talk with Sam Morison. The sooner a defendant retains Sam, the sooner the defendant can learn about the pardon process and the steps that he or she may take to prepare for a successful outcome.

In the previous episode of this two-part series on the pardon process, Sam provided some historical context of pardons. Prior to the 20th century, presidents granted pardons much more frequently. Since Ronald Reagen’s administration, however, pardons have become much more controversial. 

Although individuals can file directly with the White House, there is a more established process. Petitioners should file with the United States Pardon Attorney. For longer than a dozen years, Sam was a staff attorney in the DOJ’s Pardon Attorney Office. He has invaluable insight with regard to how the process works.

In today’s Earning Freedom episode, Sam elaborates on the steps necessary to prepare for a pardon. It’s very similar to preparing for the best outcome at sentencing and through a journey in the Bureau of Prisons. As prison consultants, we help our clients understand how to reveal themselves much more completely during the presentence investigation. That document will have an enormous influence on the prison experience. It will also influence the individual’s exposure to community confinement opportunities and liberty upon release. Those who listen to today’s podcast will learn that the presentence investigation will also have an enormous influence on the clemency process.

Contact PardonAttorney today if you’d like to learn more about how Sam Morison can help you restore your liberties.

As a prison consultant, I speak with a lot of people when they’re facing challenging times. People reach out to me when someone they know has been arrested with the concern that they, too, may face arrest. Other people contact me when they’re further along. They’ve been arrested, or they’ve been charged, or they’re preparing for trial, or they’re preparing for a sentencing hearing and imprisonment.

In today’s podcast, I spoke with Angelo Pisano and learned more about his new website, Prison Survival Secrets. I sat down with Angelo as he discussed going to prison and the practices and mantras he developed throughout the process. It was good to share our experiences with each other and understand how our habits that we formed in prison has informed our work.

If an individual faces time in federal prison, serves time in prison, or is about to return to society after time in prison, then that individual should check out my conversation with Steve. In today's Earning Freedom podcast, I spoke with Steve Metheny. He has been dealing with the judicial system for the past 5 years.

Steve was vice president of a major aviation company. Decisions he made on the job resulted in inquiries from the criminal justice system. Steve and I talked about the difficulties and challenges he's faced throughout this entire process. We also discussed strategies to move beyond the negative aspects and focusing on how to emerge successfully.

Steve faces 10 years in prison. Our chat will provide useful information for those facing federal prosecution and those who want to avoid lengthy prison terms.