Sneak Peek

Survive & Thrive Contents

• Introduction
• Part 1: Beginnings
• Chapter 1: Pre-trial
• Chapter 2: Entering the B.O.P.
• Chapter 3: Settling In
• Part 2: Doing Time
• Chapter 4: A Typical Day
• Chapter 5: Your Options
• Chapter 6: Eating & Shopping
• Chapter 7: Communication with the Outside
• Chapter 8: Keeping the Peace
• Chapter 9: Inside Economy
• Chapter 10: Inmate Interviews
• Part 3: Transitions
• Chapter 11: Preparing for the Streets
• Chapter 12: Halfway House: Is it worth it?
• Chapter 13: What to bring from prison
• Chapter 14: Orientation
• Chapter 15: Accountability, The Pass System, & Subsistence
• Chapter 16: Job Hunting: Dealing with your Criminal Background
• Conclusion
• Part 4: Resources
• Google Voice Activation: A Visual Step-by-Step Guide
• A Do's & Don'ts List
• Sex Offender Prison Guide
• A Sample Commissary Sheet
• Inmate Resources
• A Sample Visiting Form
• Instruction for Sending Money to Inmates
• Prison Recipes
• A Resume Template
• Recommended Reading List

Book Introduction

Five years ago, I started to panic. I was three months away from standing in front of a judge in federal court to be sentenced. I knew only a miracle could save me from seeing the inside of a federal prison, so the reason for my panic was quite clear – I was going to prison. What would happen to me behind those prison walls? Would I survive?

I'll be honest – these questions scared the hell out of me. I decided to be proactive and look online for information about what to expect, how to manage, how to survive and possible thrive while doing my time. The resources I found were scarce; I found some really expensive books online (some almost $100), many of which just regurgitated the information I could find on the B.O.P. website for free.

It wasn't until I was inside prison that I realized how important the information in this book would be to men and women about to enter the Federal Bureau of Prisons. From my own personal experience, and the experiences of many others I met inside, I feel now more than ever that this book is essential to surviving and thriving in federal prison.

"So what qualifies you to write a book like this?" you might be asking yourself. Simple; I spent five years in federal prison, and following the advice in this book, I was not only able to survive, but to make productive use of the time, so much so that it flew by! From your perspective, that might sound hard to believe; I mean five years seems like an eternity in prison where there is "nothing to do," but stick with me and I'll show you how I did it and how you can too.

What can you expect to learn from this book? I am going to teach you all the things I've learned during my five years in federal prison, many of them I wish I had known before that first day. I'm sure you have many questions in your head right now, and I'm going to answer them, plus many more you never thought to even ask. Here are some of the topics we will cover:

• Part 1 – Beginnings, we will touch on things you can do right now, before coming to prison, to prepare yourself. We'll also discuss important things you need to do that first day in, what the living conditions are like, important points about prison etiquette, and settling in.
• Part 2 – Doing Time, I will walk you through a typical day in the B.O.P. We will discuss the different options you might have available to you for spending your time constructively, as well as meals, communication, and the inside economy. Part two is the real meat of this book.
• Part 3 – Transitions, I will talk about preparing yourself to be released from prison, your halfway house options, the halfway house accountability system, and dealing with your criminal background when searching for a job.
• Part 4 – Resources, I provide you with a number of resources for all three phases of your incarceration (pre-trial, prison, and halfway house).

You are going to learn all this and more. In addition, the section on inmate interviews provides you with additional advice that these inmates thought were important to provide someone, like you, that is about to come to prison. Their answers will really open your eyes and give you a new perspective.

I wrote this book because I wanted it to be an important resource to help quell your fears, ease your anxiety, and give you the information I wish I had five years ago. I hope it is helpful.

Paperback