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I have to say, I’m at a bit of a crossroads here. I’m trying to figure out what I want to do in terms of my next book project. Right now, I am finishing up the revisions to Education Behind Bars. I have to turn it in to Sunbury Press, my publisher, in the near future. Then, I’ll spend a few weeks doing the finishing touches on Practice Electra, my debut novel. All of this should be done by the end of September. This brings me to planning my next project.

Right now I feel as if I’m being pulled in several directions. On the one hand, novels are easy. They don’t require a ton of research and they flow rather well. But novels aren’t socially important documents. Don’t get me wrong, they have a purpose and can fulfill some needs, but they aren’t something life changing. These days I’m focused upon changing lives and inspiring others. I guess that I want to produce something of real meaning, not mere entertainment value.

On Wednesday, September 7, and Thursday, September 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the FCI-Petersburg Education Department held class signups for Adult Continuing Education classes. The number of individuals registered was very impressive. Over 400 students – around 20 percent of the prison population – enrolled in a class. Thirty-eight of these signed up for my class “Writing and Publishing.” Several of the classes maxed out at the allowable 40 students, 20 in the current class and 20 on the waiting list.

During my time in prison I have come across few staff members willing to go the extra mile. This is an unfortunate statement, but a true one. Too often doors are closed just because of it being a prisoner asking. Too often the prisoner is viewed as a deceiver or someone looking for trouble, trying to take advantage of even the smallest iota of compassion shown. This, in itself, is a very challenging perception and expectation to overcome.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that all prisoners are good people. This is because they aren’t. I know enough people in prison – some who are really bad people – to know that prisons serve a purpose and that I’m glad some of these people are in here. My frustration stems from when those in prison who are trying to do better are grouped with those trying to do less. This manifests itself in very unfortunate ways for those of us on the right side of the issue.

However, this post isn’t about the way prisoners are looked at or the difficulty of being guilty by association. This post is about a staff member here at FCI-Petersburg who has managed to look past my prison uniform – and those of my fellow prisoner educators (prisoners who educate) – and see me as a person, and perhaps even as a professional. As such, much progress has been accomplished.

Educational Series #4

Two programs offered here at FCI-Petersburg providing much needed skills are the Release Preparation Program (RPP) and the Parenting classes. Both of these programs focus on much needed skill-building, skills that can make all of the difference once the prisoner is released. Let’s take each in turn.

Release Preparation Program

According to the FCI-Petersburg Inmate Admission and Orientation Handbook,