Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Michael Santos, founder of Prison Professors, shares his deeply personal journey through 26 years in federal prison, starting from the day of his arrest in 1987. In this powerful video, he introduces the groundbreaking "Earning Freedom Playbook," a new, free resource meticulously designed to equip justice-impacted individuals and their advocates with crucial self-advocacy strategies. Discover how to navigate the complexities of the federal system, leverage new Bureau of Prisons policies, and build a proactive path toward liberty and a successful future.
What You'll Learn:
✔ Michael Santos's personal journey from arrest to 26 years in federal prison, and the lessons learned from early mistakes.
✔ An introduction to the free "Earning Freedom Playbook," a comprehensive guide to self-advocacy for federal prison.
✔ Insights into the significant June 17, 2025 U.S. Department of Justice memorandum from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, signaling innovative changes.
✔ Strategies to demonstrate worthiness for relief and position yourself for the earliest possible release.
✔ How Prison Professors' free, self-directed learning resources empower individuals at any stage of their justice journey.
✔ The importance of creating a solid plan, memorializing your progress, and building a support network to emerge with dignity.
✔ Practical steps to strengthen your reform efforts and advocate for yourself, whether pre-sentence, during incarceration, or on supervised release.
Key Topics & Timestamps:
0:00 — My Arrest & Early Bad Decisions
0:19 — Introducing the Free Earning Freedom Playbook
0:45 — The Day My Life Changed: Arrest in Kiscane, Florida
1:33 — What the Playbook Offers: A Guide to Self-Advocacy
2:08 — Understanding the New BOP Memorandum (June 2025)
2:47 — The Waste of Unnecessary Incarceration: My 26-Year Journey
3:33 — Why Self-Advocacy is More Important Than Ever
4:01 — Prison Professors' Mission: Free Resources Rooted in Lived Experience
5:10 — Preparing for the Best Possible Outcome at Every Stage
6:01 — My Three Promises: Honesty, Lived Experience, No Fees
6:38 — Building Your Own Pathways to Self-Advocacy
7:31 — The Importance of a Solid Plan for Your Time in Prison
8:41 — Join Our Community: Empowering Your Journey
Ready to take control of your future? Explore the "Earning Freedom Playbook" and other invaluable resources at Prison Professors:
* **Access Free Courses & Resources:** prisonprofessors.org/courses
* **Start Your Personal Profile:** profiles.prisonprofessors.org
* **Read Daily Lessons & Blogs:** prisonprofessors.org/blogs
* **Learn More About Our Mission:** prisonprofessors.org
#PrisonProfessors #MichaelSantos #SelfAdvocacy #FederalPrison #EarningFreedom #JusticeReform #BOP #Incarceration #Reentry #PrisonLife #CriminalJustice #SecondChances #Empowerment #FreeResources #PrisonSystem #Advocacy
*About Prison Professors:*
Prison Professors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, self-directed educational resources to individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. Founded by Michael Santos, who served 26 years in federal prison, Prison Professors empowers incarcerated people to take control of their rehabilitation and prepare for successful reentry.
🔗 Website: prisonprofessors.org
🔗 Profiles Platform: profiles.prisonprofessors.org
🔗 Sentencing Calculator: prisonprofessors.org/sentence-calculator
🔗 Federal Prison Directory: prisonprofessors.org/prisons
💡 Visit prisonprofessors.org for free courses, tools, and resources.
👍 If you found this video helpful, please *like* and *share* to support others who might benefit.
🔔 Don't forget to *subscribe* to Prison Professors for more tools, tips, and educational content.
💬 Have questions? Leave a comment below — we'd love to hear from you!
Michael Santos, founder of Prison Professors, shares his deeply personal journey through 26 years in federal prison, starting from the day of his arrest in 1987. In this powerful video, he introduces the groundbreaking "Earning Freedom Playbook," a new, free resource meticulously designed to equip justice-impacted individuals and their advocates with crucial self-advocacy strategies. Discover how to navigate the complexities of the federal system, leverage new Bureau of Prisons policies, and build a proactive path toward liberty and a successful future.
What You'll Learn:
✔ Michael Santos's personal journey from arrest to 26 years in federal prison, and the lessons learned from early mistakes.
✔ An introduction to the free "Earning Freedom Playbook," a comprehensive guide to self-advocacy for federal prison.
✔ Insights into the significant June 17, 2025 U.S. Department of Justice memorandum from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, signaling innovative changes.
✔ Strategies to demonstrate worthiness for relief and position yourself for the earliest possible release.
✔ How Prison Professors' free, self-directed learning resources empower individuals at any stage of their justice journey.
✔ The importance of creating a solid plan, memorializing your progress, and building a support network to emerge with dignity.
✔ Practical steps to strengthen your reform efforts and advocate for yourself, whether pre-sentence, during incarceration, or on supervised release.
Key Topics & Timestamps:
0:00 — My Arrest & Early Bad Decisions
0:19 — Introducing the Free Earning Freedom Playbook
0:45 — The Day My Life Changed: Arrest in Kiscane, Florida
1:33 — What the Playbook Offers: A Guide to Self-Advocacy
2:08 — Understanding the New BOP Memorandum (June 2025)
2:47 — The Waste of Unnecessary Incarceration: My 26-Year Journey
3:33 — Why Self-Advocacy is More Important Than Ever
4:01 — Prison Professors' Mission: Free Resources Rooted in Lived Experience
5:10 — Preparing for the Best Possible Outcome at Every Stage
6:01 — My Three Promises: Honesty, Lived Experience, No Fees
6:38 — Building Your Own Pathways to Self-Advocacy
7:31 — The Importance of a Solid Plan for Your Time in Prison
8:41 — Join Our Community: Empowering Your Journey
Ready to take control of your future? Explore the "Earning Freedom Playbook" and other invaluable resources at Prison Professors:
* **Access Free Courses & Resources:** prisonprofessors.org/courses
* **Start Your Personal Profile:** profiles.prisonprofessors.org
* **Read Daily Lessons & Blogs:** prisonprofessors.org/blogs
* **Learn More About Our Mission:** prisonprofessors.org
#PrisonProfessors #MichaelSantos #SelfAdvocacy #FederalPrison #EarningFreedom #JusticeReform #BOP #Incarceration #Reentry #PrisonLife #CriminalJustice #SecondChances #Empowerment #FreeResources #PrisonSystem #Advocacy
*About Prison Professors:*
Prison Professors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, self-directed educational resources to individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. Founded by Michael Santos, who served 26 years in federal prison, Prison Professors empowers incarcerated people to take control of their rehabilitation and prepare for successful reentry.
🔗 Website: prisonprofessors.org
🔗 Profiles Platform: profiles.prisonprofessors.org
🔗 Sentencing Calculator: prisonprofessors.org/sentence-calculator
🔗 Federal Prison Directory: prisonprofessors.org/prisons
💡 Visit prisonprofessors.org for free courses, tools, and resources.
👍 If you found this video helpful, please *like* and *share* to support others who might benefit.
🔔 Don't forget to *subscribe* to Prison Professors for more tools, tips, and educational content.
💬 Have questions? Leave a comment below — we'd love to hear from you!
