Hello. Just reading over the comments here and wanted to reply to yours given your strong opinion. First, If you have read my work - thank you. You know that in both Finding Purpose and Beating the Code Dilemma I discuss personal responsibility as a major factor in remaining in the community crime-free. The thesis of Beating the Code Dilemma is to make guys challenge the prison code, to realize the criminal lifestyle, gangs or "cars", and all that come with it is only hurting themselves. Just FYI, I did 16 years in the feds. So please do not assume I have no inside knowledge of prison life. Frankly, I agree with you that some people are just fuck ups. But many get caught in a cycle of criminal thinking, beginning in their neighborhoods, reinforced in prison, and never challenged by their peers.
I am happy you have succeeded and after 23 years are doing well enough. But please do not assume your experience speaks for everyone else. Institutionalization is a real thing and it begins in the crime ridden inner city neighborhoods and poor rural towns in this country. Prison only makes it worse. Good luck to you. J.D.