Because it seems that my theme this week is a kind of resentful reply to government entities who claim to be doing good, I should probably add a limerick to let you know how I was feeling about this whole topic while I was inside. At least that way you will know I’m somewhat consistent in my cynicism, and that doubt is not simple born of freedom.
When Congress passed and Trump signed the First Step Act, many of my fellow inmates (and their families) thought/fantasized that, basically, the prison doors would fly open and that lots of people would be released in short order. As the months wore on it became increasingly clear that this wouldn’t happen, that in fact the federal prison industry would do everything possible to delay as many reforms as possible, all in the name of community safety. While prison administrators clearly had some animus toward the spirit of the law, it seemed they also would find ways even to thwart the letter of the law. And so, in April of 2019, this bit of doggerel slipped out of me:
The First Step Act's really a joke. It doesn't help most prison folk, And pretends that reform Is really the norm. There's no substance. It's really pure smoke.