Prison Pete
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
About this blog.
[Editor] I am the editor of Prison Pete’s blog.
In response to a question about Prison Pete, I will explain how this all works.
First, Pete is for real, he really is a convicted felon, he really is in a medium-security Federal prison in West Virginia right now, he really has been there for eight years or so, and he really will be there until November 2004.
After that he may really have to serve additional time in a NY State Prison, but he really is currently appealing and it really is still undecided.
Updated Dec. 17, 2004: The good news is Pete is no longer a Federal prisoner. The bad news is that he is now a New York State prisoner. His NY appeal is still pending. If this appeal is unsuccessful, he will not be a free man until 2009 at the earliest.
You can read all about this (really) in the blog archives and see more about Pete in his blog profile.
Pete and I are childhood friends and have been in regular contact for many years by phone and mail - snail mail - there is no Internet access in prison, at least not for the inmates where Pete is.
Briefly, how this whole blog thing started was several months ago Pete read an article (he reads a lot, there is not much else to do in prison) about female bloggers and he asked me if I could create a blog for him, where he would write about prison life and prison issues, and any topic that people wanted to discuss.
Well, I must admit I have a strange fascination for the sad and lonely life he leads in prison. The idea of the blog intrigued me, plus I thought that it might help him keep his sanity and help pass the time, so I agreed to do this for him.
Pete has plenty of time to write, and lots to write about, but no ability to post what he writes, so I am his man outside the wall so to speak.
In the best case he sends to me, via snail mail, typed letters which I scan and convert with OCR software, and then I post as blog entries for him.
The worst case is when he writes letters by hand, I have to retype them. I have not found OCR software that can convert even the neatest handwriting (and his handwriting is anything but neat) accurately to text.
90% accuracy is, surprisingly, not accurate at all.
As for the blog entries, all of the words on the blog are Pete’s, except for occasional explanations (like this post) or clarifications that I write, which I clearly mark with "[Editor]" and in italics. I also add all of the usually informative but sometimes whimsical hyperlinks to the blog text.
All comments or email Pete gets, I print and snail mail to him, so there is at least a two-week lag in communications between the time it takes my letters to reach him and then the time it takes him to reply and mail something back to me.
As for the obvious question of why he is in prison, he has been asked this before and he wrote a rather long-winded answer which you can read on the blog. I will not elaborate. Pete wants to remain anonymous.
I think his sentence is overly harsh, but Pete certainly does not deny his guilt and I do not condone his actions.
But the bottom line is that we are friends. He was there for me when I needed him, and now when he really needs a friend more than anything else in the world, I am there for him.
After all, that's what friends are for.
In response to a question about Prison Pete, I will explain how this all works.
First, Pete is for real, he really is a convicted felon, he really is in a medium-security Federal prison in West Virginia right now, he really has been there for eight years or so, and he really will be there until November 2004.
After that he may really have to serve additional time in a NY State Prison, but he really is currently appealing and it really is still undecided.
Updated Dec. 17, 2004: The good news is Pete is no longer a Federal prisoner. The bad news is that he is now a New York State prisoner. His NY appeal is still pending. If this appeal is unsuccessful, he will not be a free man until 2009 at the earliest.
You can read all about this (really) in the blog archives and see more about Pete in his blog profile.
Pete and I are childhood friends and have been in regular contact for many years by phone and mail - snail mail - there is no Internet access in prison, at least not for the inmates where Pete is.
Briefly, how this whole blog thing started was several months ago Pete read an article (he reads a lot, there is not much else to do in prison) about female bloggers and he asked me if I could create a blog for him, where he would write about prison life and prison issues, and any topic that people wanted to discuss.
Well, I must admit I have a strange fascination for the sad and lonely life he leads in prison. The idea of the blog intrigued me, plus I thought that it might help him keep his sanity and help pass the time, so I agreed to do this for him.
Pete has plenty of time to write, and lots to write about, but no ability to post what he writes, so I am his man outside the wall so to speak.
In the best case he sends to me, via snail mail, typed letters which I scan and convert with OCR software, and then I post as blog entries for him.
The worst case is when he writes letters by hand, I have to retype them. I have not found OCR software that can convert even the neatest handwriting (and his handwriting is anything but neat) accurately to text.
90% accuracy is, surprisingly, not accurate at all.
As for the blog entries, all of the words on the blog are Pete’s, except for occasional explanations (like this post) or clarifications that I write, which I clearly mark with "[Editor]" and in italics. I also add all of the usually informative but sometimes whimsical hyperlinks to the blog text.
All comments or email Pete gets, I print and snail mail to him, so there is at least a two-week lag in communications between the time it takes my letters to reach him and then the time it takes him to reply and mail something back to me.
As for the obvious question of why he is in prison, he has been asked this before and he wrote a rather long-winded answer which you can read on the blog. I will not elaborate. Pete wants to remain anonymous.
I think his sentence is overly harsh, but Pete certainly does not deny his guilt and I do not condone his actions.
But the bottom line is that we are friends. He was there for me when I needed him, and now when he really needs a friend more than anything else in the world, I am there for him.
After all, that's what friends are for.
Comments:
I agree that Pete's answer on what he's in prison for was very evasive and I'm sure he has his reasons for that. From the sound of it, I probably don't want to know. I'm very much like you on reading the blogs... it's kind of like it's disturbing, but at the same time you can't just not read them.
I do admire you for doing this blog for him. I have a hard time keeping up with my own blog so it's really great that you do this.
I do admire you for doing this blog for him. I have a hard time keeping up with my own blog so it's really great that you do this.
hey, i've just come across this blog on the net. It's absorbing stuff. I'm fascinated with how people live their individual lives and deal with situations and incarceration has to be one hell of a thing to get your head around. from what I've read it's tough. I don't think I'd know how to deal with it myself in a custodial situation. All the best to pete. you sound a nice guy (felon or not!) Perhaps it's best we don't know the ins and outs of why pete's inside. After all it's easy to be overly judgemental on peoples actions without really looking past the crime and at the person and their reasons.
Blogger just posted this blog on its homepage as a blog of interest. I was reading the entries, and I am intrigued by Pete's intelligence and observations on his life behind bars. People are sent to prison everyday, and society tends to forget that inmates are people too, and despite whatever crime they commited to get themselves there, they have feelings, hopes, desires, dreams, and plans for their eventual freedom (life without parole the exception here).
I'll keep reading, and wonder if I could link to this blog. I understand Pete's desire to maintain his anonymity, and this is why I am asking.
Take Care-- Tank's Grrl
I'll keep reading, and wonder if I could link to this blog. I understand Pete's desire to maintain his anonymity, and this is why I am asking.
Take Care-- Tank's Grrl
How can any one of you truly be sure that this is for real? Don't you think that this blog is overly articulate? This sounds more like a clever university journalism student's project than anything else. While I cannot rule out completely the fact that this could be genuine, please think a little before becoming a fanboy. If real, who knows how much the poster alters the scribbles from "the pen"?
No pun intended...
No pun intended...
# posted by 
: Thursday, August 19, 2004 12:05:00 PM
: Thursday, August 19, 2004 12:05:00 PM
I ran across Pete's Blog and looked around and came across your efforts to assist him in airing his words.
I certainly want to applaud you for all that you are
undertaking. The question of why Pete is incarcerated,
although I believe it is important for anyone who speaks to the world to put all things out front,is in the end a matter for him to deliberate carefully.
I spent the better part of the last nine years in the hands of the BOP. I feel no reservations in stating the conditions under which I came to find myself behind the razorwires. I was convicted on a Marijuana Conspiracy, and though I am not proud of my incarceration,
I am proud of the fact that I have attained a serious appreciation of the dysfunctional nature of the criminal justice system of the United States Of America.
The system is a time bomb, and the day will come when
prison issues will explode into who knows what.
No other nation in the world holds more individuals in detention than the United States Government.What exactly does this say about the land of the free? Could it be that law enforcement is doing a wonderful job of
warehousing criminals?
Keep on being the shoulder Pete needs to express his ideas. I too agree that Pete has writing talent.
I certainly want to applaud you for all that you are
undertaking. The question of why Pete is incarcerated,
although I believe it is important for anyone who speaks to the world to put all things out front,is in the end a matter for him to deliberate carefully.
I spent the better part of the last nine years in the hands of the BOP. I feel no reservations in stating the conditions under which I came to find myself behind the razorwires. I was convicted on a Marijuana Conspiracy, and though I am not proud of my incarceration,
I am proud of the fact that I have attained a serious appreciation of the dysfunctional nature of the criminal justice system of the United States Of America.
The system is a time bomb, and the day will come when
prison issues will explode into who knows what.
No other nation in the world holds more individuals in detention than the United States Government.What exactly does this say about the land of the free? Could it be that law enforcement is doing a wonderful job of
warehousing criminals?
Keep on being the shoulder Pete needs to express his ideas. I too agree that Pete has writing talent.
Pete may not have any talent whatsoever! "Ed" may be taking unintelligible drivel notes and forming them into these clean, clearly crafted words before us...
There may not even BE a Pete! :rolleyes: Honestly, if this blog is to have an underground fanbase, the crime "Pete" is in for will surely have to surface. Until then we cannot read with clear conscience.
There may not even BE a Pete! :rolleyes: Honestly, if this blog is to have an underground fanbase, the crime "Pete" is in for will surely have to surface. Until then we cannot read with clear conscience.
# posted by : Thursday, August 19, 2004 5:20:00 PM
: Thursday, August 19, 2004 5:20:00 PM
And then, the Almighty cleverly planted all those clues so that we would THINK we could figure out the age of the Earth based on radioactive dating. Does it really matter so much if Pete is real, really incarcerated, or not? In the case that Pete is real, he gets to create his blog, for whatever personal reasons there are that any of us create blogs, and we derive entertainment (or whatever) from reading it. In the case that Pete is not real, the otherwise author gets to write a carefully crafted blog in which he pretends be an incarcerated personage, for whatever personal reasons there are that any of us create blogs, and we derive entertainment (or whatever) from reading it.
# posted by : Thursday, August 19, 2004 7:47:00 PM
: Thursday, August 19, 2004 7:47:00 PM
Thank you, editor and thank you, Pete, for your blog. My life partner has been serving time at Eglin Federal Work Camp, and will be there until at least September of 2005. I do a blog myself (see my profile) and occasionally mention the prison system and the horrible things our inmates have to go through. I have myself taken NA meetings into the jails here in Broward County, so I'm personally familiar at least with prison facilities, but I know it's not the same as hard time.
I'd like to forward some of Pete's writings up to Mike and see what he has to say. Maybe I'll get Michael to post on my blog too!
I'd like to forward some of Pete's writings up to Mike and see what he has to say. Maybe I'll get Michael to post on my blog too!
All I can say is that this is REALLY fascinating for a first time blogger like me. Today constitutes Day 1.
There is a similar project on the website of a german prison.
As they're not allowed to access computers themselves, a group of prisoners there meets a staff "from the outside world" once a week and tells them what and how to update the site.
http://www.planet-tegel.de/portal_engl/htm/home/home1.shtml
As they're not allowed to access computers themselves, a group of prisoners there meets a staff "from the outside world" once a week and tells them what and how to update the site.
http://www.planet-tegel.de/portal_engl/htm/home/home1.shtml
# posted by : Saturday, August 21, 2004 10:53:00 AM
: Saturday, August 21, 2004 10:53:00 AM
Hi, I am new to this, and your blog is suggested by this site itself!!!
I think you have a good sense of humor, and it is remarkable that you have maintained it despite life!!!! and i really liked your style of writing... so, 2 things i would like to say:
1- if you ever publish a book - let me know, i would like to read it,i will probably keep reading your posts here as well...
2- Life happens to all of us, in various degrees, and to each 1 it is a defeating blow, but seeing your upbeat outlook, has made me sit and think about looking at my life in a fresh way - so thank you...
and, i know 1 thing, if you want something, just keep dreaming about it and working towards it, and assuredly it will be yours 1 day.
as they say, what is in your destiny is yours - but not 1 day early and not 1 day late!!!
I think you have a good sense of humor, and it is remarkable that you have maintained it despite life!!!! and i really liked your style of writing... so, 2 things i would like to say:
1- if you ever publish a book - let me know, i would like to read it,i will probably keep reading your posts here as well...
2- Life happens to all of us, in various degrees, and to each 1 it is a defeating blow, but seeing your upbeat outlook, has made me sit and think about looking at my life in a fresh way - so thank you...
and, i know 1 thing, if you want something, just keep dreaming about it and working towards it, and assuredly it will be yours 1 day.
as they say, what is in your destiny is yours - but not 1 day early and not 1 day late!!!
# posted by : Tuesday, August 24, 2004 7:02:00 PM
: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 7:02:00 PM
yeah, i agree with the what the other blogger said...i really think inorder for a person let's say to be "free" and to be forgiven is to first be honest and accept the faults that he has done. in that way, u can start on a new slate. It's not that u tell the world and proudly say that u have done something wrong. What i mean is face the fact that you have done something wrong, and humbly accept whatever consequences it follows. the most important thing is that you've learn something from it. Perhaps, you could touch people more than you've influence them now in your anonymity.
I guess these people really do concern more on the real pete[what i mean is his thoughts, ideas..well if this blog is really his..] Just like what they say, when a person is alone, the real him surfaces.
Anyway, it's still your decision;)and nevertheless, i enjoyed reading your/editor's entries. Great blog!:D
http://lostprophecy.blogdrive.com
[used my friend's account here in blogger...-pedro]
I guess these people really do concern more on the real pete[what i mean is his thoughts, ideas..well if this blog is really his..] Just like what they say, when a person is alone, the real him surfaces.
Anyway, it's still your decision;)and nevertheless, i enjoyed reading your/editor's entries. Great blog!:D
http://lostprophecy.blogdrive.com
[used my friend's account here in blogger...-pedro]
# posted by : Tuesday, August 31, 2004 8:15:00 AM
: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 8:15:00 AM
You folks keep hounding him to tell you what he did to get put away, giving all these reasons like he can't really be "free" until he admits what he did and crap like that. Get for real. You just want to know because you're curious. Just admit it. You can't stand not knowing. I'm curious too, but I think I'll skip taking the moral highroad and telling him what's "right" to do in his Blog. It's a Blog for Christ's sake, not a legal public record. If he doesn't want to state his crime here, then he doesn't have to, and I don't think you need to "should" him to death about it. I think beggin him to tell us would work better than giving him stupid, fake reasons why he "should" tell us. He'll tell us if/when he wants to. He probably doesn't want the reputation that he'll get if he tells us. You already saw someone stereotyping him - saying that it couldn't possibly be a real inmate because he writes so well. That's hogwash. I have an ex who is in prison and he writes very well. He was even published in some Christian magazine or something. Even smart, well-educated Christian people occasionally lose their freaking mind and stab someone to death. And then, of course, they give their life back to God once they are in prison, lol. I guess they really the spiritual help in there!
Heather
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Heather
