People Going To Prison For Drug-Related Crimes Doesn’t Make The Country Safer.
Update 10/04/25: I have to admit; this article is more relevant now than ever. Americans want to believe that sending people to prison for drug-related crimes are the best option for keeping the streets clean. However, sending people to prison for drug-related crimes doesn’t make the country safer. According to a report from the Pew…
The End Of Solitary Confinement in California?
Update 10/04/25: I think they might have brought this back. I’ll have to check. This week I read on SF Bay Review that California State and local prison have been forced to limit their use of solitary confinement units, or SHU. This is thanks to a settlement reached in the Ashker vs Brown federal class…
Cleaning my room helped improve my writing
Update 10/04/25: I’ll find out cleaning my room on a daily schedule helps with managing my asthma. And I mean dusting, vacuuming, and changing the sheets. As a writer, I am always looking for two things: a way to improve my writing and a way to produce more blog posts. During my search I’ve learned…
Being Negative at Work Will Drain My Energy
Update 10/04/25: This helped with my mental health so much. I also think it helped attract good people in my life. As I get older, I realize the importance of working at jobs I like and enjoy. I’ve learned that being negative at work will drain my energy. I’ve also noticed that working jobs where…
The Natural Ergonomic 4000 by Microsoft Review
Update 10/04/25: This keyboard was very helpful. I don’t use it anymore. I changed my positioning on the desk instead. For a while, I was having wrist and shoulder problems while typing. It felt as if I was squeezing my shoulders and my chest just to type on a traditional keyboard. The problems were so…
The Minimum Wage In Sacramento Needs To Be $15 an hour
Update 10/04/25: This was a fun time working with SacACT. I do miss these days. As many people know, I’ve been working minimum wage jobs for most of my life. I’ve also been working with Sacramento ACT, along with other organizations, in the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. In order…
Economic Dignity and employment and housing opportunities for the formerly incarcerated at the LiveFree Community Forum at South Sacramento Christian Center
Update 10/04/25: A rare moment where I gave a speak. I wish I had books done at this time. On May 19, 2015, I had the honor to speak at the Live Free Public Forum which was put on by Sacramento ACT at the South Sacramento Christian Center. This community forum was created to get…
I Just Want To See You Smile, Sara
Pictures, torn and shredded, scattered the broken derby covered floor as Sara, favoring her bloodied, broken hand, sat near a hole in the wall. He walked in her best friend since childhood. She loved him because, as a friend, his there, so she’ll let him stay. But she hates him because he’s a man, so she won’t…
You Don’t Act Black
Update 10/04/25: Ten years later, I’m still getting the same issues. I shrug it off now. It’s bad enough that African Americans are stereotyped negatively by the media and other ethnicities. We shouldn’t have to deal with negative stereotypes within our community too, however, sadly we do. For some reason, our mannerisms are supposed to…
After 22 Years, River City Brewing Company Pushed Out For Sacramento Kings Arena
Update 10/04/25: My opinion is not changed. Not one bit. At all. If you’ve never lived in a small town then you probably won’t understand the outrage I’m currently feeling. Small towns are known for their close knit, neighborly communities. They take care of each other and have a genuine kindness about them. Their unique…
How I broke out of my current writing slump.
Update 10/04/25: This works. I need to make it a routine. But this all works. Have you ever committed to doing something you loved, but once you’ve done it for a while you’re uninterested? Although you still have a heart to pursue your passions, you may find yourself in a slump when it comes to…
He Pleads Guilty To Taking The Life Of His Cellmate. When He Said Why, Chills Ran Down My Spine
Update 10/04/25: I get it. Some people see him as a hero. I frequently read, watch and listen to things that pertain to inmates, former felons and jails. I recently watched a video about a man pleading guilty to killing his cellmate. The man’s name is Steven Sandison. He was assigned a new cellmate, and…
Inmates Try To Make Quick Money To Overcome Financial Challenges
Update 10/04/25: It’s so tempting. It really is. But we have to be careful and not get the wrong money. The majority of inmates in a prison camp are non-violent offenders that just needed money and sought it out illegally. Many wanted to take care of their families the best they could, and others just…
My Work Ethic Made Someone Quit While I Was At Herlong Prison Camp
Update 10/04/25: This is a story that didn’t make it inside Subprime Felon. And I still get a kick out of it. You can tell a person’s characteristics by the way they work. It doesn’t matter if they are in prison or outside of prison, their work ethic shouts volumes about them. If someone doesn’t…
Why I Don’t Want To Be A Victim Of The Prison System
Update 10/04/25: I don’t want to be a victim of the prison system because I don’t want that mindset. Prison stories are often filled with memories of inmates being victimized by the staff, the overall system or even other inmates. It’s hard to protect yourself from this type of harassment while you are under someone…
Does Being Single Really Suck?
Update 10/14/25: And it still sucks. I’m not ready to date yet unfortunately. But yeah, these opinions haven’t changed. I was reading an article from the Standard Media website called “How Being Single Painfully Sucks.” While I agree that being single sucks, I also believe that it’s not as bad as people make it out…
Fasting in Prison Camp
Update 10/14/25: Fasting is amazing for my personal life after prison. I would fast for a day, maybe 16 hours or so. They say fasting has benefits for the mind, spirit, and body. Many people have to fast for medical procedures and some do it for religious reasons. I did it fit none of those…
Self Discipline in 10 days
While in prison camp, I struggled with procrastination and low motivation until an inmate handed me a book called Self Discipline in 10 days books by Theodore Bryant. This book is one of the best things I took away from my prison camp experience. This book helped me not to be so emotional or allow…
My New Year
Update 10/14/25: Love to do these yearly reviews on my life. I’ll be doing this again soon. It’s the start of a new year, at least it is for me. I’m glad another year has passed by, but instead of making some half-brained resolution that I’ll never really set my mind to accomplishing, I’ll just…
What I Changes I Would Like To Make At Herlong Prison Camp and The Oakland Halfway House
Update 10/14/25: I still agree with these suggestions to change Herlong. However, I doubt these ideas would ever happen. I’ve been thinking about what would make prison camp more productive for the inmates. I thought carefully about all of my experiences when I was in prison at Herlong Prison Camp and when I stay at…
Ceiling. From my Herlong Prison Camp Journal
Update 10/14/25: I’m still glad I went to Sacramento first. I got to regroup and re-root myself. Prison isn’t a place of positive enlightenment. It’s full of strict rules and regulations, required forms and paperwork, and negative attitudes from staff and inmates. However, I wanted a positive experience. I was determined to make my stay…
Volunteering at Health Care Enrollment in with the Sacramento Urban League Young Professionals
Serving your community is great way to give back and impact your local area. I’m always looking to help out when I can and volunteering is such a rewarding experience. This past March, I was able to volunteer to help families with insurance policies. The event was hosted by Greater Sacramento Urban League and various…
UNICOR Was Down At Herlong Camp
Update 10/14/25: I had a hard time convincing people that I don’t see how this prison made money from our labor. I didn’t dismiss it. I just couldn’t see it based on my experience. Inmates are required to get jobs while in prison. They are paid various and competitive wages just as if they are…
The Pay Scale at Federal Prison Camp–Herlong
Update 10/14/25: These pay rates still amaze me. When I explain this to people, they start to understand why former inmates have difficulty managing their money after prison. One of the most important details when looking for a job is the amount of money being offered for the position. As inmates, one of the privileges…
Watching Movies While Camping
I saw this picture on Pinterest today and I thought to myself, “What movies would I want to watch on this type of screen?” It looks like this family is enjoying some homemade movies and videos of when they were on the beach. Clearly there are more pillows than people so the kids must be…
Three Habits To Help You Be A Better Entrepreneur
When most people think about being an entrepreneur, they think about owning their own business, long hours and being their own boss. They could also think about being up late hours of the night working on finances and marketing plans/, but most people fail to realize is that being an entrepreneur means you have to…
What I’m Learning About Omega-3s and Rhodiola Extract
Update 7/31/2024: I’m still using this combination for my daily routine. However, I did take a break from it for about five years. When I was consistent, I saw great productivity. I will learn over the next ten years, that my actual trouble with these hunger pains were the result of having a sensitive or…
Every Setback Sentence Acceptance Speech
As I was browsing the internet, I came across a blog post by Tara Pringle Jefferson. Her site is called “The Young Mommy Life“. In her post she mentioned her younger sister who is in her twenties and just finished college. She has high aspirations to make a positive impact on the community and make…
The Importance of Following Your Inner Voice
Update 10/14/25: The inner voice is so important to me. It’s a guiding force. You can hear it, and you can also feel it, but how often do you ignore it? It’s the sometimes peacefully quiet, sometimes boldly obnoxious voice on the inside of you. It’s the voice that you second guess or brush off,…
OVERCOME CREATIVE WRITING BLOCKS
It seems as if writer’s think that writer’s block is some inevitable obstacle that lurks behind them until it’s ready to pounce, stopping them from doing everything they wish to do in the writing world. That’s only true if you say it’s true. I have a problem with writer’s block, but I think of it…
My Dentist Experience At Herlong Prison Camp
Update 10/16/25: I still have nightmares about this dentist visit. It was so impersonal and painful. Part of the prison care system allows inmates to receive healthcare. In order to be able to see a doctor, dentist, or any healthcare provider, a form called a cop-out was needed. Once it was filled out and approved,…
Is It Possible To Reach The Ceiling?
Update 10/14/25: I’ll update this on my pyerse.com site. I think I’ve changed my views. If you’re in the corporate world or even just the professional world, you understand ceilings. There are ceilings in talent, position, promotion and much more. Most ceilings are glass and you never see it until you hit it, but what…
Why Men Don’t Discuss Sex Openly
Update 10/14/25: I’ve kept my sex life personal. It’s no one’s business. So far, I still agree with my points back then. Today, I was reading a post from VerySmartBrothas.com which discussed why men don’t discuss their sex lives openly. Like the author, I was thinking, “All I ever hear are men talking about their…
How To Qualify For Federal Camp Or Camp Status
Update 10/16/25: People have asked me so many questions about getting into federal prison camp. It is all about how many crimes you have committed current crime and your prior crimes. If you have any violent crimes, you’re not going to camp. More below. Sentencing Guidelines to Qualify for Federal Camp Status If you’re here,…
Heterosexual Males Having Sex In Federal Prison Camp
Update 10/16/25: I didn’t see any of these relationships in prison camp. I think people just want to have these conversations because they enjoy them. But it doesn’t happen. At all. Rumor Has It Sexual desire is normally very strong in males to begin with and everyone knows the urge for sex doesn’t relinquish its…
You Were ALWAYS A Strong Person Even Before Prison Camp
Update 10/16/25: You are and have been a strong person. Prison camp is enough to break you and your family, but don’t let it. I hope this post will further encourage you to believe in yourself. While I was in camp, I learned that if you became a strong person because of being in prison…
Relaxing and How I Hoped To Apply Relaxing When I Got Home From Prison Camp
Update 10/14/25: This is still my goal. I don’t need to work so hard. I’ll get my work and goals done. If I don’t break or relax, I might not get anything done. My goal in prison was to find various methods to help me stay positive. I knew it was going to be difficult,…
How I Used Herlong Prison Camp For Self-Development
Update 10/16/25: This post is about how one of the ways I used prison camp to my advantage. I hope this encourages you to do the same. I found this journal entry in my prison camp journal at home. I wrote it because I was working on some self-development ideas about getting over procrastination and…
What Are The Showers Like At Herlong Prison Camp?
Update 10/16/25: We had semi-private showers. It wasn’t that bad actually. No other people were in the shower with me–ever! One of the most famous saying for anyone going to prison is, ‘Don’t drop the soap’. Most people think that the showers in jail are large community showers where CO’s and other inmates intimately watch…
Beware Of Snitches At Herlong Prison Camp
Update 10/16/25: You have to mind your own business in prison camp. All you have to do is keep your focus on getting out of camp and going home. “Snitches get stitches” is a powerful statement that implies that tattle tales or snitches deserve the consequence of being beat up various people. The outside community…
Am I Uncomfortable With The Conversation or Intimidated by The Woman
Update 10/14/25: I have to learn this lesson again. When I’m ready to date again, that is. As men and women play this game called love, each side has to go back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong with their last date. They second guess themselves and then they somehow come…
What Is Love To Me as a Black Man
Update 10/14/25: Love would be amazing. But can I love and be loved if I’m influx? Many people dream of being in love with someone. They dream of what their life will be like when they’re dating, engaged and then finally married. Society has watched movies of women who were down and out all of…
Being Positive During Difficult Times
Update 10/14/25: It’s all about thinking. Perception gets you through so much. I swear one of the most difficult things to do is get over hard times. Everyone has them and although they create character, it’s rough to get through. It’s like trying to see the forest apart from the trees. It’s difficult because it…
Never Say Racist Jokes If You’re The Only Black Man In The Room
Update 10/14/25: I don’t like doing this. It give permission for people to do the same racial jokes. At least in suburbs. I guess I should be used to being the in the minority. I should probably already know what to say and what not to say. I’ve been in this situation since I was…
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