We at the Prison Exchange understand how important it is to give our insight to the outside communities from which we come. So it is an honor to introduce you to one of the most respected voices in the inside community, Yusuf. Yusuf has served more than 50 years and has touched many lives. He is a spiritual leader whose intelligence, morality, and humble spirit has helped countless prisoners reform themselves in preparation for their return home.
Yusuf
P.E: When you see efforts by prison activists to implement prison reform in Illinois prisons, what is the most essential thing for its success?
Yusuf: Two things readily come to mind which currently negates true prison reform, the absence of commitment and integrity. There has to be a total commitment to implement the laws that have been created for the purpose of reform. And Integrity…or sincere concerted efforts to implement the laws, policies, and practices that have been legislatively enacted for the purpose of reform. For example, and it has been on the books for years, the Illinois Constitution requires the I.D.O.C. to restore offenders to useful citizens. The absence of commitment and integrity is why it isn’t being done. You can not use the 19th century policies and practices and expect to get 21st century effectiveness.
Railroad companies knew that they had to change from steam locomotives to diesel locomotives because they knew they could not get 20th century efficiency using 19th century technology. Likewise, with I.D.O.C. they can not get 21st century effectiveness in corrections using 19th century policy and practices.
P.E.: It is surprising to hear you make a reference to something new when most would think someone who has been incarcerated as long as you have been would have instead referred to something in the past. So, give us something from the past that worked and would be essential to prison reform today.
Yusuf: The re-implementation of the Unified Code of Corrections of 1973. First off, I truly believe that this body of legislation was enacted by a body of individuals who were truly God-conscious because the Code contains elements of mercy and compassion, which are essential to true prison reform, but has since been removed. The educational opportunities have been taken out, work release privileges have been taken out, work assignments have been drastically reduced and the spirit of rehabilitation, among other things, no longer exist. Idleness has beset the current prison environment so sports and play have become the dominant theme.
P.E.: There is this perception that the world changes and prison stays the same. So is prison the same 50 years ago when you first started your bit or has it changed? If it has changed, give me an example.
Yusuf: Prison has not changed because the nature of the human being has not changed. Indeed, humans do not change. The nature of the prisoner 50 years ago was one in which the prisoner wanted to be loved, appreciated and respected. The prisoner of today wants the same thing, he wants to be loved, appreciated and respected. The administration would be more effective in restoring individuals to useful citizenship if it understood the truth about human nature. They should implement policies and practices designed to reform the prisoner by acknowledging that at the base of his conduct, he is seeking to be loved, appreciated, and respected. The administration would be more effective in restoring individuals to useful citizens if it understood the truth about human nature and would implement policies and practices designed to reform the prisoner by acknowledging that at the base of his conduct, he is seeking to be loved, appreciated, and respected.
P.E.: We think it might be difficult for people to relate to your answer, especially the part about prisoners being “appreciated.” Please elaborate on that part of the answer.
Yusuf: Thank you for the opportunity to make my answers perfectly clear. When first given, I used the word “appreciated” with words “loved” and “respected.” I was making reference to the nature of the human being in general. I have done time with inmates of all walks of life who have commited all sorts of crimes, yet their nature cries out for love, appreciation and respect. However, as with human beings in the free world, prisoners do nothing for which love, appreciation or respect is warranted. Thus, the prisoner wanting either must do something worthy, something that the community deems an asset, something that would add to the welfare, upliftment and betterment of the community. Unfortunately, the Department of Corrections offers little or nothing to create, within the inmate, ways to work towards winning the love, appreciation and respect of the community to which most will return. So, although love, appreciation and respect are cravings the human soul has, whether prisoner or not, neither will automatically be given unless earned. Yes, the prisoner is in prison because of some societal wrongdoing, nonetheless, reformation can occur. Most caterpillars do become butterflies, and when they do, the community “appreciates” their beauty, in other words, their constructive contribution to uplift the community and its betterment following their reentry.
P.E.: Part of the mission of PE is to build a bridge between the outside community and prisoner community, so this question is your “hammer and nail.” Help us make the case why this is important to both communities.
Yusuf: Good question. The answer to which lies nestled in the intent of the outside community. What is it intent when sending one of its wayward members off to prison? The one sent may be some community member’s son, husband, brother, etc. Is it the intent of the outside community to send him away forever, or just a few years? If he is expected to return and be totally restored to “useful citizenship,” or be worse than when he left? The case of Paul Crump comes to mind. He commited a capital offense and was sent to prison following his conviction. However, the condition of his confinement was such that after 39 plus years of continuous imprisonment, when he was released, he needed prescription drugs to help maintain his emotional and psychological stability. Mind you now, white people held him – and this is fact, not racism- but when he was released, he was sent to Morgan Park, a black community that was already saddled with back- breaking woes. He was, therefore, unable to be of any worth or service to its residents. Therein lies the importance of building a bridge between the two communities. Of those who leave the outside community entering prison, most will return. To me it’s a matter of utmost urgency for the outside community to take an active role in the restrictive policies and practices of the Department of Corrections by establishing oversight committees, “watchdogs” that “bark,” placing the outside community on notice whenever the department fails to uphold its obligation to “restore the prisoner to useful citizenship,” which would commensurate with the 21st century. Without this oversight, the black and brown communities in particular, will continue to suffer the return of “Paul Crumps.” There must be a hand and glove relationship between the two communities, the outside community is the glove, its size and objectives fixed. Whereas, those returning may return too small by having nothing of value to offer, needing help at every turn. In contrast, the size may be too big, causing mostly trouble and constantly being “in the way”or an unwelcome burden. However, the perfect fit is the one who returns in possession of one or two needed skills, morally tight, spiritually grounded, while being willing and able to accept responsibility. This one has managed to make himself important to the outside community despite the gross shortcomings of the department. In order to remove these departmental shortcomings so “this one” becomes “these ones,” the rule instead of the exception, the outside community has to become more actively involved with what goes on within the prison community.
P.E.: You’ve been gone a long time, as we say in prison. How have you managed to maintain your whole being: family, faith, friendships, etc?
Yusuf: Another good question, but this one with a simpler answer: Practice! Practice what you say and you believe in. For me, I believe in the religion of Al-Islam, as this religion was lived and taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) of Arabia, 1400 years ago. In prison, one has to adopt a code of principles, a standard of conduct by which to live, by which to judge the affairs of his own life, as well as the affairs of others. When others see you practicing these principles over a period of time, never wavering, respect is earned. Thereafter, one strives hard not to lose that respect. Like all things of value, earning the respect of one’s peers takes work, but it can be done!
Thank you Yusuf
We at P.E. really appreciate your contributions and look forward to you helping us bring our unique brand of “insight from the inside” to the outside community. We know your spirit and unparalleled wisdom concerning prison life and conditions is too important to be hidden from people seeking to understand what is needed when considering prison reform.
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