On February 16, 2014, Sri Lanka opened its first prison school in the Watareka prison. According to Chandrasiri Gajadeera, minister of rehabilitation and prison reform, the school will offer classes from the 9th grade through G.C.E. Ordinary level, the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma. Students under the age of 30 who have passed
On February 14, 2014, the New York Times ran a story about a very promising initiative called the University of the People. This young online school, founded just four years ago, offers courses to disadvantaged and underserved groups, mostly for free (application costs run $0 to $50, and examination costs are $100). The University of
By Christopher Zoukis / BlogCritics.org
Book marketing in the world outside of prison is fairly straightforward. The author writes a book, ideally has the foresight to build an author platform in the process, and then uses the platform and other tools to market their book once it is published.
These other tools often consist of a snazzy website, writing commitments at relevant and visible publications, outreach to book reviewers, optimizing Amazon sales page copy, and targeted advertisements. Many, many books profile this straightforward, yet work-intensive and challenging process.
But what if the author is in prison? What if they don’t have access to a computer, the internet, email, or even a regular landline or cell phone? Now things start to get interesting. This article focuses on my experiences as an incarcerated book author and my efforts to promote my books, even from within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where I currently reside. It is presented with the hope of helping those inside prison in marketing their books, and to enlighten regular book authors of how good they really have it.
Find A Dedicated Outside Assistant
Authors outside of prison have it easy. Their first question is, “Where do I start?” This is often several steps down the road for incarcerated authors. For the incarcerated author, the first question is, “Who can help me do what needs to be done?” And this can often be a crippling issue.
Incarcerated authors understand early on that they cannot possibly market a book from prison without the expert assistance of someone outside of prison, someone who has access to a computer and the internet. Often this position can be filled by a dedicated family member or friend, or, if absolutely necessary — and if funds are available — then by paying an assistant or helper. Due to the hustle and bustle of regular life outside of prison, this latter option is often the best by far. While it is challenging, effective assistants can be found on websites like Craig’s List. It is this outside assistant that will help with most of the following tasks. Finding a good one is perhaps the most essential task in the book marketing process.
In the field of correctional education, there are numerous tools, different types of prison education programming which can be used to teach and treat our incarcerated students. These include basic literacy, high school equivalency (often in the form of GED classes), Adult Continuing Education, Adult Basic Education, vocational training, college in prison, and more. All
Are you a college professor who is in search of a worthwhile project for your students? An undergraduate or graduate student in search of an internship? Are you particularly talented at academic research, public relations, web design, or marketing? Do you want the chance to make a difference by shaping modern public policy and thought?
A former West Virginia judge is facing up to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges that he conspired to protect a county sheriff from allegations of drug-related activity. Former Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury, 57, pleaded guilty on October 2, 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
By Prison Legal News On June 27, 2013, Prison Legal News filed suit in U.S. District Court against Nevada Department of Corrections (DOC) Director James G. Cox and other defendants, seeking to enjoin unconstitutional censorship by state prison officials. The lawsuit contends that the Nevada DOC has engaged in “unlawful censorship of books, magazines and
A common pastime of prisoners is writing those outside of prison. This traditional correspondence regimen helps to alleviate the boring stretches of downtime and allows prisoners to expand their world through the extension of those they write to. As such, the value of this activity cannot be downplayed. Pen pals not only help to pass
By Dianne Frazee-Walker Every year New York City attracts thousands of people bringing in the New Year. Gathered in Times Square are crowds waiting to watch the famous ball drop at the crack of midnight. What is hidden behind the gala of toasting champagne glasses, kisses, confetti, and streamers are about 105,000 remote New York
By Prison Legal News On August 16, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter, sitting by designation, unsealed a number of court documents related to a contempt motion seeking sanctions against Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation’s largest for-profit prison company, for violating a settlement agreement in a lawsuit that alleged high levels
We have profiled every prison within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
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Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C.
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