While striving to learn more about America’s criminal justice system, I discovered the work of Professor Marilyn McShane, a distinguished scholar affiliated with various universities. I read that she worked at the University of Houston, so I wrote her a letter introducing myself and sharing my aspirations to contribute to improving the system’s outcomes. She responded generously by sending several of her publications.
At the time, the United States was expanding its prison system at an unprecedented rate while simultaneously reducing funding for educational programs. Professor McShane emerged as a critical voice in this era, which motivated me to reach out to her. Her collaboration with other criminologists produced Criminological Theory: Selected Classic Readings, a book that offered profound insights into the policies and practices shaping the prison environments where I had been living for years. I wrote to her to share how these policies hindered efforts to prepare incarcerated individuals for success upon release. Our correspondence grew from those exchanges.
Beyond her research and teaching, Professor McShane served as an editor for several influential academic publishers, including Greenwood Praeger. In that capacity, she extended an incredible opportunity by offering me a contract to write a second book, which I titled Profiles from Prison. I hoped this book would contribute to the ongoing call for reform and provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and potential solutions within the system. For me, it represented another step in my effort to prepare for success, even though my release was still years away.
Professor McShane’s mentorship and support reinforced my belief in the power of education and the importance of contributing to meaningful change. Her influence, like that of other mentors, helped me stay focused on the long-term goals of learning, contributing, and building a better future.
Self-Directed Learning Question:
- “What opportunities can you create to share your perspective or contribute to meaningful discussions about issues you care about?”
