Richard O. Jones

Dependent-minded cons are often of the opinion that the world owes them. The usual path for the male inmate is the pursuit of a naive female who has been unsuccessful in love. However, a wise prisoner won't leave it to the prison system to improve his station in life because he or she realizes that his failure in life is the job security of the prison administration. Rehabilitation is something that must be initiated as an act of self-improvement. Some prisons have programs and some don't, but all prisons give the inmates excess to books through the prison library and they can also order books from outside public libraries at no cost. There are also several academic correspondence courses that are free that can be located through library resources and through the Salvation Army and other ministries such as Friends Outside. There are hundreds of men and women who have left prison as ordained ministers and become pastors and ministers. It all begins with a commitment of self-improvement.

Many well-known ex-convicts rose to prominence after being incarcerated. Prison is not an excuse to fail. Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela just to name two. Former White House advisor Chuck Colson founded Prison Fellowship, a national prison ministry, after he was released from prison for his involvement in Watergate. Many ex-gang members and ex-drug dealers rehabilitated themselves and became ministers, motivational speakers, and counselors and are making a positive stance in their community. Millionaire socialite Paris Hilton told Larry King, on 6/27,07, in her first televised interview after being released from a 23-day jail stay that she considered her incarceration as God's way of giving her a timeout. "I began to write," said Hilton, "I realized that this was a new beginning."

The unfortunate life that led a person to prison doesn't have to become his or her fate. Prison gives every person much needed solitude. Time to think, read, and reflect on his or her past and future. Prison affords the convict a chance to face reality, perhaps for the first time. I even wrote my first book while in prison, it was entitled, "Tips Against Crime Written from Prison," and it was published in 1993. Since then I've written and self-published many books. Many convicts have made prison their university and the cell their classroom. However, many convicts are coming out of prison destined to return because they squandered their time.

Inmates serious about improving his/her fate must start while life has given them a second chance. Self-rehabilitated inmates, committed to a crime-free lifestyle, interested in learning how to become a crime prevention advocate or public speaker promoting justice upon their release may write: Richard O. Jones - c/o A.K. Quinn AME Church - 25400 Alessandro Blvd. #105 - Moreno Valley, CA 92553

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