LETTERS FROM MARION

October 15, 1995. Congress makes a decision changing the federal drug law, inciting simultaneous riots in over 10 federal prisons as a result of the seemingly racial motivation, causing over 39 million dollars in damage.

And no one reported it.

Joel Blaeser survived the riot at FCI Talladega, the first of over ten, only to be charged with inciting it along with 21 other convicts, all black.

An inspiring educational book that breaks many myths about the war on drugs, the american prison system and race in america. Joel's story chronicles his journey through the prison system, beginning with his trek across the globe following the Grateful Dead, then spanning the 6 federal prisons he did time in, in USP Marion, the most dangerous federal super maximum prison ever built, eventually culminating in the loss of his 2.9 million dollar lake estate and recovery from alcohol.

Incarcerated (after losing his federal jury trial) as a naive Midwesterner 23 year old, Joel is amongst and one of the morally corrupt living in lock up where the guards are as corrupt as the criminals.

A backstage pass to a otherwise off limits world, Joel's story's rich unvarnished details of life inside "the" most predaceous super maximum prison ever devised, USP Marion during the 1990's, where the entire prison population was on 22-23 hour lockdown.

Sentenced to 151 months as a first time nonviolent offender, he grew up in a university of crime; learning how to survive both in and outside of the spiritually bereft walls of prison from the likes of John gotti, Bruce Pierce, James (Doc) Holliday and many others, some of the most predaceous and sophisticated criminals of our time. The genesis of his rehabilitation was 23 hour solitary lockdown in USP Marion.

A story of loss, injustice and redemption, this autobiographical account is speckled with raw, human experience in the form of Joel's letters to loved ones from USP Marion.