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Paul Jordan |
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Paul Jordan
Age: 41
Paroling to: Shasta County
Why did you join the T.R.U.S.T.?
To put to use some of the knowledge and skills I obtained through college in a constructive way.
What does being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow mean to you?
It means participating in an organized manner towards improving the lives of people affected by incarceration.
Since coming to prison, what have you accomplished?
I’ve been extremely fortunate. Prison can be an extremely fertile environment for personal growth. It can also be toxic. I have earned a college degree. I’ve achieved a HVAC vocational certification. I have learned to manage myself in ways where I am less likely react. I used to be an easy person to mess with, but now I can think!
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love playing sports. I’m a borderline fanatic when it comes to exercise. I do yoga often. I love to read and write. Maintaining healthy relationships is very important.
What programs are you involved with other than the T.R.U.S.T.?
I.M.P.A.C.T. (Incarcerated Men Putting Away Childish Things), which is an inmate mentoring group. I tutor for “Project Reach.” I work with S.Q.U.I.R.E.S. (kids). I am currently taking chemistry and statistics through Patten University and I run with the 1000 Mile Running Club.
What kind of work do you do with the “inside” and/or “outside” communities?
I think in general terms I try to get people to believe that they are capable of doing it the right way, whether it is a juvenile through S.Q.U.I.R.E.S., a guy working on his G.E.D., or a T.R.U.S.T. workshop participant. There are no short cuts in getting it right.
How do you live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system? How do you promote the ideals of the T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops?
I hope I am able to live up to it. None of us is perfect and I am certainly far from it. As a whole I remain aware of what I promote. I believe in what the T.R.U.S.T. stands for. I think by attempting to be healthy and righteous I promote T.R.U.S.T. ideals through my actions.
What do you want to do after you parole?
Go fishing; play golf; do yoga everyday; eat healthy food! Seriously, I want to continue my education and get involved in prisoner re-entry.
What are your long-term goals?
Get out of prison. Earn a graduate degree. Establish community re-entry facilities that are managed by ex-cons, reunite with my son. Continue living as well as I currently am.
Personal message to the outside community:
Contrary to public opinion, incarcerated people are not, for the most part, evil. Many people come to prison because they have serious issues (e.g. addiction, anger, emotional). It is irresponsible to just lock someone away who has victimized society and not compel that person to deal with his/her issues. The current prison system is totally apathetic, in correcting prisoner’s behavior. What’s worse is that prison culture corrupts people even further—the administration knows this—yet fails to do anything. That is why the T.R.U.S.T. came into being. We are unwilling to just allow men to flush their lives away without trying to help. This motivation is compounded by the reality that most incarcerated people have children and that almost all will be getting out.
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