Prior to the Volkswagen Bug, Frankfurter, Werner Klemperer and Beethoven, Germany bestowed upon mankind an icon of greater importance: The modern Christmas Tree.
A prop master in medieval Germany selected an evergreen fir as the centerpiece of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve, based on the Old Testament story. It was hung with apples representing the tree of good and evil and called a “Paradise Tree.” Over time, a tradition developed as the German people set up Paradise Trees in their homes on Dec. 24, which they considered a religious feast day in honor of Adam and Eve.
As the tradition grew, the Bible’s New Testament began to influence the annual celebration. First wafers, then cookies of various shapes, were also hung on the tree, symbolizing the consecrated bread of the Eucharist. Later, candles were added to represent the light to the world of Christ’s gift of salvation.
The custom of the Christmas tree came to America via German and English settlers as early as the 1600s and beautifully decorated trees became the height of fashion in the 1800s. By the 1700s, Christmas trees had become widespread in Germany’s Lutheran community and a deeply rooted tradition throughout by the 1800s.
Christmas Trees were popularized in England in the mid-1800s by Prince Albert (of German decent) and Queen Victoria. Hand-crafted, blown-glass ornaments began to appear in the 1870s, while strings of electric lights began to replace the candles in the 1890s.
CHRISTMAS TREE FUN FACT: The state of Maryland chose the melody from Germany’s “O, Tannenbaum” (the English title of the song is “O, Christmas Tree”) for the music of their state song!
Today in America during the holiday season the Christmas tree is seen everywhere. They are in homes, offices, public spaces, including your banks and town squares, to the impressive 60-foot great fir placed on the White House lawn. Christmas trees have become visual wonders for adults and children and act as centerpieces for gatherings of families and friends, under which gifts are placed as displays of love.
The modern English word “Christmas” derives from an Old English word “Cristes Maeses,” which translates as Christ’s Mass. A “mass” is a gathering of people for celebration.
A Christmas tree evergreen leaves symbolize Christ’s everlasting love. Ornaments, conjure the story of Adam and Eve and Christ’s sacrifice. The tree’s lights symbolize that Christ was the light of the world. A star on the tree’s crown reminds of the star of Bethlehem.
Some say the Christmas tree has pagan origins. Others point out that centuries have passed, and the Yule tree now symbolizes beauty and love and Christian faith.
Critics say our love won’t pay the rent. Perhaps “they” are right. But as Steve Buscemi said 16 years ago in the movie Fargo, “I didn’t come here to debate with you.”
Archives for December 2012
Buddhist Practitioners Ordained in S.Q.
Eleven inmates and two free persons have been ordained as Buddhist lay practitioners in San Quentin.
The San Quentin Buddhadharma Sangha conducted the ordination ceremony, which also included vows for the newly minted adherents to become Bodhisattvas.
A Bodhisattva is one who aspires for supreme enlightenment and to follow the way of the Buddha for themselves and all beings.
Zen Priest “Seido” Lee deBarros blessed the main altar, which held two icons: One showed Buddha sitting; the other depicted Manjushri holding an upright sword, symbolically used to cut through ignorance.
Priest “Jiryu” Mark Rutschman-Byler was followed by the 11 inmates and two women preparing to be ordained.
On a second small precept altar, a pine needle whisk was dipped in water and sprinkled on the soon-to-be initiated. The act symbolized clarity, cleanliness and the ability to give comfort. Three bows by the initiates honored the original Buddha (Shakyamuni), Dharma (Law), and Sangha (Buddhist community).
After the ritualistic purification of minds and bodies of aspiring Buddhists, each made vows to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, known as the Three Treasures.
Each aspirant vowed to follow 16 precepts expected of a Bodhisattva, including promises to honor life, not to steal, to be sexually respectful, to not become intoxicated, not slander, and to practice loving kindness.
Seido explained that the ceremony has direct linkage to the original Buddha Shakyamuni. The priest gave each newly minted Bodhisattva a blue Wagesa (a sash), worn around the neck. Each Wagesa carried an inscription with a Dharma name given by Seido, embodying a characteristic or personality of the new Bodhisattva.
Names given are meant to inspire virtuous conduct: “Endless Effort,” “Luminous Owl,” “Nourishing Flame,” “Direct Heart,” “Sitting Mountain,” “True Devotion” and “Ancient Devotion.”
Seido extended congratulations and an admonition that the precepts are a gift to encourage a Buddhist practice to be kind, truthful, and be mindful that “Your actions reflect your practice.”
“Jun” Donna Hammamoto, now also know as “Nourishing Flame,” said she decided to partake in a ceremony in prison, rather than the free world, because prison is an especially difficult place to practice the Buddhist life, and being around Buddhist prisoners to her was especially “inspiring.”
The newly ordained are Daniel Borrero, Ronald Cooper, Marcus Crumb, Louis Daniels, Al Garner, Elizabeth Gorelick, Donna Hammamoto, Richard Lindsey, Sean Malis, Terrell Merritt, Greg Sanders, Tan Tran and Phoeun You.
Each new Bodhisattva also received a sitting Buddha icon.
After the Dec. 1 ceremony, hot herbal teas and home-made cookies were served.
Spending the Holiday Season in San Quentin
Little touches of the Christmas spirit are scattered around San Quentin. Twinkling lights and other decorations adorn the Protestant Chapel, Education Department classrooms, the library, visiting room and administration offices.
The Protestant Chapel hung two wreaths on the front door. Inside the chapel, a three-foot Christmas tree was erected. Tinsel can also be seen throughout the chapel. On Dec. 8 the chapel held its annual volunteers banquet.
According to Arnulfo Garcia, a prisoner who attended the banquet, many smiles adorned the faces of those that attended. “I was very appreciative for the volunteers who contributed to feed 350 prisoners and guest,” he said. “Christians have been celebrating the birth of Christ since his birth and every year they tell the real meaning of Christmas. Christ brought us out of darkness and into the light, giving all those who believe in eternal life with God. So Christians come together to celebrate Jesus as our savior.”
Outside Sponsors gearing up to give Veterans a hand for the Christmas toy program
A small artificial Christmas tree with twinkling stars greets staff, volunteers and prisoners in the Education Building foyer. Other Christmas decorations are sprinkled throughout the building. According one staff member, “The inmates at San Quentin are active in the celebration of Christmas. They scavenge for bits and pieces that can be used to make Christmas decorations. The wreaths were made by twisting paper bags together and tying them with twine.”
Christmas literally means “Christ’s Mass.” The oldest known use of the term dates back to 1038. It is sometimes abbreviated “Xmas,” which is taken from the initial letter chi (X) in Greek, according to the on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Throughout the world, gift-giving and a special meal is traditionally an important part of Christmas Eve and Christmas. Giving gifts dates back to the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, an ancient festival that took place in late December and may have influenced Christmas customs. It is associated with St. Nicholas and gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that were given to the baby Jesus by the Biblical Magi.
For San Quentin prisoners, Christmas is celebrated in various ways. M. Quezada has been incarcerated since he was 16 years old, has a “Christmas Eve” spread, which consists of beef burritos, Pepsi soda and brownies or some other chocolate sweets. He also telephones his parents and siblings to wish them a Merry Christmas.
Jorge Heredia, who has been incarcerated for the last 15 years said, “My Christmases were too good on the street. I don’t celebrate it because it hurts not being able to celebrate the way I used to celebrate it with my family. Starting in October, I don’t write or call them until around the end of January. I don’t want them to think about me when they are supposed to be celebrating.”
For the last six years, prisoner Quinton Walker has been celebrating Christmas in the morning by saying a prayer and listening to Christmas music. He then drinks a cup of coffee. “I only put cream and sugar in my coffee at Christmas,” he says. Walker calls his mother and talks to her and other family members who gather at her home. He says,” calling home lifts my spirit.” At noon, Walker and four other people gather and play Monopoly. Before the 4 p.m. lockdown, around 3 o’clock they share a meal of seafood burritos. “Three of us don’t eat meat,” Walker says. “At night, I light a small battery operated candle and watch Christmas movies.”
Fallen War Heroes Honored on Veterans Day
As a bell tolled, San Quentin prisoners joined with community members to honor combat and suicide victims of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Veterans Day event was organized by Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out. The group was conceived by Ron Self, a former Marine currently incarcerated at San Quentin, and offers a 36-week curriculum inspired by the GRIP (Guiding Rage into Power) and VOEG (Victim-Offender Education Group) programs.
PTSD
The program aims to address stress and post-traumatic stress disorder in all San Quentin veterans, regardless of discharge status. Outside sponsors are Director Jacques Verduin, Susan Shannon, and Vietnam veterans Brent MacKinnon and Lt. Col. Sunny Campbell, US Marine Corps, retired.
At the event, the group acknowledged the 6,700 coalition forces killed in action in both wars, 4,500 of whom were Americans.
NAMES
The combat casualties’ names were printed out on 134 pages and were distributed to inmates who wanted to honor the fallen. Many of the names were read aloud to a bell tolling, until an institutional recall cut the ceremony short. The bell honored those killed in action as well as post-combat veterans who took their own lives.
Numerous outside guests and inmates were on hand for the event. A few guest speakers, veterans from World War II and wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, spoke about the history of PTSD. The condition, once referred to as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue”, is now recognized by the American Psychological Association as a diagnosable condition. The APA also now recognizes that long-term incarceration can result in symptoms of PTSD.
The San Quentin American Indian Culture Group, many of them war veterans, built a fire at the nearby ceremonial ground. The men tending the fire roasted fry bread and chicken for participants.
More information about Veterans Healing Veterans From the Inside Out can be found on Facebook or at www. insight-out.org. Susan Shannon’s account of the event can be found at prisondharmanetwork.org.
Green Life Celebrates its First Graduation
The earthly sound of a wood flute set the mood. The Green Life environmental program held its first graduation for 18 students and nine group facilitators on Nov 16. San Quentin prisoners were awarded certificates for participation in the only such group in California’s prison system.
Jorge Heredia and JulianGlenn “Luke” Padgett, graduate/facilitators, emceed the ceremony, speaking on the significance of The Green Life program and its impact on the students, institution, and community.
“The Green Life program gives us a unique and important way to give back to our communities after our release,” said one graduate.
Facilitator Arnulfo T. Garcia gave a special thanks to Michael Harris (no longer in San Quentin), one of the men who was an integral leader in the formation of the program.
Students studied specifics about environmental issues affecting the planet, as well as solutions to protect it for future generations. Topics were Waste Management and Recycling, Green Building, Energy Resources, Water and Air Quality, Parks and Open Spaces, Biodiversity, Environmental Justice, and Public Policy/ Community Action.
Graduate student Fabian Vazquez was recently given a parole date. The parole board praised him for his involvement in The Green Life. “So we’re doing the environmental thing at San Quentin now?” a commissioner asked. (Your file) “indicates that you have participated in 20 hours of training in green technology.” The impact of his participation in The Green Life was recognized and factored into the board’s decision to grant parole.
The Green Life founder and director Angela Sevin said her idea was to “develop a groundbreaking eco-literacy and green job preparedness curriculum, striving to share practical pathways for meaningful lives.”
The Green Life is comprised of people united to seek solutions to environmental issues, and they call themselves, Solutionaries. Their mission statement: “A collaboration of Solutionaries from inside and outside communities that inspire and awakens our connection to the earth and each other, by contributing to individual, community, and global transformation.”
DEVELOPMENT
“The Green Life program was a long time in the making,” Sevin told the audience. “People wanted to get involved and learn.” Referencing a Van Jones quote, she said, “If we can give a second chance to a can or a soda pop bottle, why not a human being?”
The Green Life’s co-sponsor, Pandora Thomas, said after “committing” herself to the earth, she came to California and fell in love with the concept of helping men at San Quentin getting involved with environmental issues. “I’m so grateful to be part of this awesome program and those committed to it.”
Twenty-five outside environmentalists attended the ceremony and banquet that followed.
Many guests said they were amazed and appreciated, not only to the students and to sponsors, but also San Quentin’s administration for permitting an opportunity for men interested in environmental issues.
Outside guest Dedan Gills said The Green Life graduates were doing a “great service – one of the most inspirational things I’ve ever witnessed. Seeing you in prison caring about our environment from the inside out is just amazing.”
ASSISTANCE
Another guest, Jason Mark, a member of the Earth Island Institute and editor of the Earth Island Journal magazine, interviewed a number of graduates and guests. According to the Earth Island Institute’s mission statement: “We grow environmental leadership by acting as an incubator for start-up environmental projects, giving crucial assistance to groups and individuals” such as The Green Life program at San Quentin.
Outside guest Ashara Ekundayo performed a brief “libation ceremony” – a West African tradition of pouring water, “the element that sustains all life and connects everything on the planet,” explained Ekundayo. It is believed that pouring the water also represents strengthening friendships and family ties. At the conclusion of the libation ceremony, Ekundayo offered the ceremonial water to hydrate a potted tree.
ENVIRONMENTALIST
Also present was environmentalist Bill Twist, president of PACHAMAMA (.org) Alliance. He said that being part of The Green Life program is a “great experience and very worthwhile. The generosity given to me was really open. I was treated with as much grace as I have received anywhere I’ve been on earth.”
Twist told the students that it was important to him how “deeply engaged” The Green Life members are. He gave special praise to Angela and Pandora for what they have done with the program. “I’m honored to be here to share this experience with all of you,” said Twist.
The Green Life will continue its curriculum with new Solutionaries in February 2013.
Study: Innocent Often Pressured into Plea Bargains
Suspects who are falsely accused of committing crimes are often pressured into accepting plea bargains, according to a recent study.
“It is unclear how many of the more than 96 percent of defendants who are convicted through pleas of guilty each year are actually innocent of the charged offenses, but it is clear that plea bargaining has an innocence problem,” according to the unpublished study conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia School of Law and the Florida Institute of Technology.
To illustrate the issue, researchers attempted to recreate the conditions in which innocent defendants accept plea bargains.
Using college students as their subjects, the authors concluded that plea bargains are often detrimental to the cases of those who take them.
The authors asked the students to complete a set of logic questions for financial compensation. They then falsely accused the students of cheating, and told them that if they did not admit their guilt, they would be disciplined and lose their compensation. If they did admit their guilt, they would lose their compensation but would not be disciplined.
“More than half of the innocent participants were willing to falsely admit guilt in return for a perceived benefit,” according to the study. Students in the study who faced harsh sentences, irrespective of guilt or innocence, “accepted the plea offer at a rate almost 10 percent higher than the subjects facing the lenient sentencing condition,” the study said.
There was a direct relationship between the length of the sentence and the likelihood that a defendant will accept the bargain, researchers concluded
‘… it is clear that plea bargaining
has an innocence problem.’
As Ellen Podgor wrote in a 2010 article about innocence in white collar crime, “innocence is no longer the key determinant … Our legal system places the risk of going to trial, and in some cases even being charged with a crime, so high, that innocence and guilt no longer become the real consideration.”
The study acknowledged the opposing view. Some experts believe the problem is “exaggerated,” arguing that the likelihood of a false confession in the case of a plea bargain is minimal. That argument is based on the perception that falsely accused defendants will not accept a prosecutor’s offer to plead guilty.
“Today, over 96 percent of convictions in the federal system result from pleas of guilt rather than decisions by juries,” the study said.
According to the study, plea bargaining was not always such a dominant force in the American criminal justice system. Appellate courts began seeing an increase in plea bargains around the time of the Civil War, but most were struck down as unconstitutional. However, the practice continued.
Due to mounting pressures on the legal system and over-criminalization of defendants in the early years of the 20th century, plea bargains made their way into the forefront of the criminal justice system with a “spectacular rise to power,” the study said.
In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brady v. United States that plea bargaining was an allowable form of justice. In its decision, the court said plea bargaining should only be used when evidence overwhelmingly pointed to a defendant’s guilt and the defendant may benefit from the option to bargain, according to the study.
That same year, the court said in North Carolina v. Alford it was permissible for a defendant to enter a guilty plea while maintaining his or her innocence, if it is in their best interest.
Symposium Brings Awareness to Restorative Justice
The healing power of dialogue was the theme for a symposium held recently at San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel. About 100 community members, and offenders practicing the principles of Restorative Justice, sat in roundtables discussing the harm crime does to the community.
“It’s heart-warming to see the growth of Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice is looking for ways to repair harm. The victim/offender dialogue helps do this by bringing us together to tell stories. The traditional ways of justice don’t do this,” said sponsor Jack Dyson.
Poet and emcee Jelal Huyler’s Haiku (Japanese verse) put the symposium into perspective:
Respect is simple
Look me in the eye, speak to
Me with open ears
RJ facilitators say crime is a violation of dignity and of relationships. RJ identifies the needs of stakeholders of crime, including, the victim, community and offended by promoting responsibility of all sides and prescribes cooperative dialogue to seek restoration of damage caused by the offender’s crime.
San Quentin Restorative Justice Round Table, established in 2004, says its mission is: To advocate for restorative principles, processes and goals with all stakeholders impacted by crime. To advocate for the teaching and implementation of restorative justice fundamentals within the general public and our faith based communities. To advocate for peace, empathy, compassion, and justice for all human beings.
“We’ve created a system that’s outsourced harm,” said Sonya, a sponsor. “When harm happens, it hurts everyone in the community.”
RJ principles are also applied in the local community. One sponsor, known as Ms. Jen, works with men detained in Santa Rita Jail. She said RJ sessions are held in the jail with up to 80 men attending.
Ms. Jen says the support of the community is encouraging; however, additional funding is needed.
Jelal Huyler on-line: jelal.livejournal.com
Congressional Attention Focuses on Cost of Prison Phone Calls
Two congressmen are urging the Federal Communications Commission to act quickly to curb “exorbitant” costs when prison inmates telephone relatives and friends.
“Research shows that regular contact between prisoners and family members during incarceration reduces recidivism,” says a Sept. 12 letter to the FCC from Congressmen Henry A. Waxman and Bobby L. Rush.
“Experts across the political spectrum have recommended minimizing the cost of prison phone calls as a way to support strong family relationships with inmates,” stated the letter to FCC Chairman Julious Genachowski.
RATES
Families pay higher rates for calls from prisoners and, on average, a one-hour phone call from an inmate costs as much as a month of unlimited home phone service. The high rates are discouraging and when prisoners and families lose contact, society pays the price, according to the letter.
Experts claim while state prisoners’ recidivism rate is more than 67 percent and cost exceed $58 billion annually, the greater focus should be on providing incarcerated men and women programs that will help them better re-integrate into the community after release. Reducing phone rates to encourage closer contact with family members who are incarcerated would be a positive step toward reaching this goal, the letter states.
RELIEF SOUGHT
A group of affected individual sought relief from the FCC in a request known as the Wright Petition. The petition has been before the FCC since 2003. It proposes “rates that would ensure reasonable and affordable phone services for inmates and their families without short-changing states, prisons, and telephone service providers,” according to the letter.
Early in September of this year, a report released by the Prison Policy Initiative concluded high prison phone rates harm society both economically and socially and recommends that the FCC approve the Write Petition and cap prison phone rates.
A reduction in prison phone rates would also improve prison safety and security by providing less incentive for incarcerated people to acquire contraband cell phones, the report concludes.
The Criminal Justice System in Peril from Potential Fiscal Cliff
Funding for state and local criminal justice programs are in jeopardy if Congress and the president do not come up with an agreement to reduce the federal deficit by Dec. 31, according to economists.
Congress passed the Budget Control Act in August 2011, which raised the debt ceiling and set caps on discretionary spending for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 at levels nearly $1 trillion lower than 2010. The bill also sought to motivate President Barack Obama and Congress to reach an agreement on overall federal spending and revenue generation.
Failure to agree on a comprehensive deficit reduction plan by the end of the year would raise all income tax rates and mandate across-the-board cuts on government spending, the combination of which some experts say would push the economy over the “fiscal cliff” and drive the nation into recession.
The Office of Management and Budget reports that funding of all domestic discretionary programs will be reduced in 2013. The justice assistance grant programs will be hit by an 8.2 percent reduction.
Furthermore, the law would cut discretionary spending each subsequent year until 2021. Negotiations are ongoing between congressional Republicans and the White House.
The potential federal funding cuts threaten to significantly undermine the implementation of the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act, reports the Crime Report.
One of the central parts of the JJDPA law is the Jail Removal protection, which requires states to keep children under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court, out of adult jails or lockups, according to the Crime Report.
A total of $21 million would be cut from the Juvenile Justice Programs under the federal Department of Justice, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget’s report on sequestration. Other spending that has some effect on juvenile welfare, such as state grants from the federal Administration for Children and Families, are also in line for cuts of 8.2 percent.
One California program that would be affected is the Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which assists with undocumented felons. According to the California’s Governor’s Budget Summary for 2012-13, an estimated 10.8 percent of inmates in the state prison system in 2011-12 will be undocumented persons, costing approximately $936.4 million. The state, however, looks to receive only $65.8 million in federal funding for CAAP for 2011-12 and 2012-13 — only 7 percent of the costs of dealing with the population. CAAP may be in line for further cuts if an agreement does not stay the “fiscal cliff.”
State and local criminal justice organizations were surveyed by the Vera Institute of Justice to determine the impact of budget cuts that have already taken place.
Some federally funded programs have been eliminated; others have taken deep cuts, the report finds.
More than three-quarters of the 714 organizations responding to the survey reported grant funding has decreased since 2011. Nearly half (44 percent) reported a decrease of at least one-third in funding, according to Vera. More than half reported a cutback on average of 3.4 full-time employees.
Grant funding for the 2012 fiscal year had not yet been released at the time of the survey.
Finding Redemption in Knowledge Behind Bars
While Michael Santos was waiting to be sentenced to a 45-year term for dealing drugs, he picked up a copy of Treasury of Philosophy and started learning about Socrates. He then realized the limitations of his knowledge and began taking steps in turning his life around.
Santos decided to serve his prison term with dignity and honor. He recalls telling the judge, “I have to find a way to reconcile with society.”
Santos, 48, has been in community confinement since August. Nevertheless, he’s still federal prisoner No. 16377004.
While incarcerated, Santos wrote seven books. His best-known book, Inside, was published in 2006.
CUBAN IMMIGRANTS
He is the son of Cuban immigrants, grew up in a five-bedroom house on five acres in Lake Forest Park, a Seattle suburb. His older sister, Julie, described their family, “We were a clean-cut, athletic family. Nothing about our upbringing would lead us to deal drugs.”
After graduating from high school, Santos for his father’s business and helped the company grow. He began using company funds to finance cocaine distribution. He made $100,000 in a day, but his greediness needed millions, so he moved to Miami to work directly with suppliers.
The movies “Scarface” and “Miami Vice” influenced his behavior. As an enterprising businessman/trafficker in Miami, he drove a Porsche with a diamond-faced Rolex on one arm, and a South American wife in tight designer clothes on the other.
THE DEA
Santos was 23 when the Drug Enforcement Administration caught up with him in 1987. He was charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise. His partners testified against him, and the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts.
As soon as he got to the penitentiary, his wife divorced him.
During his term Santos kept three goals stating, “One was to educate myself, one was to find a way to contribute to society, and the third was to start building a support network of law-abiding citizens who could mentor me.”
He got his bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, majoring in human resources management, got his master’s degree and was working on his doctorate when a warden put a stop to it by dropping his access to library books sent by the university.
No warden could stop him from writing, though Santos said some tried, through disciplinary actions and transfers as evidenced by being placed in 19 different federal prisons.
Santos set up an internet website.
When his 20th high school reunion rolled around, Carole Goodwin, who organized the event and had known Santos since the fifth grade, tracked him down through his website. Goodwin, a divorcee with two children, wrote a letter that led to a correspondence and then a romance. The couple got married in a prison visiting room and their honeymoon was at the vending machines.
RELOCATION
Santos new wife relocated each time there was a transfer for Santos and she helped with publishing Santos’ books. He has published more than a million words, and made between $300,000 and $400,000 in royalties and fees.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Santos stated, “The entire journey for me has been hyper-deliberate… It has all been in preparation for this period of time when I can emerge into society with opportunities to live as a contributing citizen. Nothing distracts me from what I need to do.”
HOPE
Stanford Law School Professor Joan Petersillia stated, “For people who are lacking in hope, he has become a messiah… There is a dearth of hope in prison, and Michael is trying to give it to them. Through his books, he created this movement, this kind of, ‘You can do it too.’”
“My strategy was to minimize my contact with the prison population to avoid violence,” says Santos, and it helped that he didn’t snitch against his partners in crime.
Santos went from 10 minutes a day on a prison pay phone to having an iPhone in his hands. He’d never seen one before, he hadn’t touched a steering wheel since 1987 or eaten with a metal fork or taken a shower without shower shoes.
After 9,135 days in federal custody, his wife, Carol, was waiting with a pizza from a local restaurant. “I’ll never forget the minute that we crossed over from the prison boundaries into the civilian world,” said Carol, “It was… I’m going to cry.”
The reunion with his wife was short because Santos had three hours to report to a halfway house. While in his room, he is either sleeping or exercising. He goes to bed at 8:15 in order to be up at 3 a.m., answering e-mails before he leaves to work at 6, six days a week.
If Santos follows all the rules of the halfway house, he will transition to home confinement in Petaluma, before transitioning to several years of probation. There are plans to publish more books, “Three a year,” is the quota he’s set.
H.S. REUNHION
Professor Petersilia has invited Santos to lecture her Stanford law school class and he’s been invited to lecture out of state. But he is not allowed to leave California for a year. Regrettably, he is unable to attend the 30th reunion of his high school, but he says with a laugh, “Maybe we’ll hit the 50-year reunion.”
This story is attributed to the reporting of Sam Whiting, SF Chronicle.
Santos website is www.michaelsantos.net.