Information is power: ‘Google’ for the incarcerated

You never know how much miss access to information until it’s gone.

One of the hardest things for me serving time was living without the internet. I was so spoiled by being able to do a Google search on any topic and get instant answers! If you can relate, or want to know a free source for answers, then you will love this Ask Bob segment:

This great question came in from Michael, a resident at Butner Medium FCI:

Hey Bob, do you know of any groups that provide free research for inmates?

A: YES! Newsweek featured a free service for the incarcerated provided by the New York Public Library Correctional Services. They will answer, via snail mail, any incarcerated person’s research request(s) except for those asking for legal advice or personal contact. Answers from them can take 1 to 2 months, and are limited to 10 pages front and back.

In addition, for anyone incarcerated within the State of New York (State, Federal, or in local or county jails) they will send, on request, a free copy of their re-entry guide Connections, which is a GREAT guide to help re-entry! Single copies of Connections are available free of charge to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people throughout New York State, as well as to staff members of agencies and others who provide services to them. If someone has internet access they can download a full copy of Connections free at the website for the New York Public Library, Correctional Library Services. 

Here’s some extra free advice that I found to be critical for incarcerated citizens: Do not rely on “word of mouth!” We all have horror stories of gossip running through prisons about new laws to reduce sentences, new perks or even new hustles.

Most of it is about as accurate as weather forecasts done with computers broken.

Information is power, so make sure your efforts to rebuild your life are fueled with accurate information.

Ask Bob answers questions about life, successful re-entry, starting a business and entrepreneurship, and most anything that adds value, except the column does not cover legal issues, sentencing matters, or case issues.