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How not to get stuck in jail.
Apr 23rd 2009 | WASHINGTON, DC
From the Economist Print edition
Apr 23rd 2009 | WASHINGTON, DC
From the Economist Print edition
A service for some of our readers?
As the economic tide recedes, it exposes all manner of ugliness, from the gargantuan fraud of Bernard
Madoff to books-fiddling at Satyam. But what is bad news for most people means more business for
Larry Levine, the founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants, which teaches white-collar criminals how
to survive prison. Mr. Levine a former private investigator knows whereof he speaks: he spent ten
years shuttling between 11 federal prisons on charges related to narcotics, obstruction of justice and
securities fraud.
Madoff to books-fiddling at Satyam. But what is bad news for most people means more business for
Larry Levine, the founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants, which teaches white-collar criminals how
to survive prison. Mr. Levine a former private investigator knows whereof he speaks: he spent ten
years shuttling between 11 federal prisons on charges related to narcotics, obstruction of justice and
securities fraud.
He remains under supervised parole, which
means he must conduct all of his business by
telephone (passing time in the company of
other convicted felons is a parole violation,
and would result in his returning to jail). He
calls himself a jailhouse litigator (“jailhouse
lawyer”, he explains, “sounds cheap”)
Long stretches in his prisons’ law libraries left
him more familiar with the Byzantine rules of
America’s federal prison system than most
wardens.
He first made something of that knowledge
towards the end of his sentence, in 2005,
when he sued the Federal Bureau of Prisons
on behalf of about 100 terrified white-collar
prisoners who were transferred en masse
from a minimum-security prison (the type
derisively called “Club Fed”) to a low-security
prison where they shared space with gang
members and other violent criminals.
means he must conduct all of his business by
telephone (passing time in the company of
other convicted felons is a parole violation,
and would result in his returning to jail). He
calls himself a jailhouse litigator (“jailhouse
lawyer”, he explains, “sounds cheap”)
Long stretches in his prisons’ law libraries left
him more familiar with the Byzantine rules of
America’s federal prison system than most
wardens.
He first made something of that knowledge
towards the end of his sentence, in 2005,
when he sued the Federal Bureau of Prisons
on behalf of about 100 terrified white-collar
prisoners who were transferred en masse
from a minimum-security prison (the type
derisively called “Club Fed”) to a low-security
prison where they shared space with gang
members and other violent criminals.
Hundreds of terrified fraudsters later, Mr Levine’s business is thriving. Starting at $999 per consultation,
he advises criminals on all aspects of prison life. How can you advance your release date? Many
prisoners suddenly discover, post-conviction, that they had a drinking problem (participating in rehab
shaves time off sentences). Where should you look for friends? Do not cross racial lines—many federal
prisons are so segregated that they have “black” telephones and “white” telephones—and do not make
friends with a “rat”, or known informant. What about prison etiquette? Do not sit on another inmate’s
bunk without being invited to do so, do not change the television channel when someone else is
watching and do not jump in line. Show respect to everyone (Mr Levine cautions that reaching across
someone’s tray at the dining hall is a good way to get yourself “stuck”, or stabbed).
he advises criminals on all aspects of prison life. How can you advance your release date? Many
prisoners suddenly discover, post-conviction, that they had a drinking problem (participating in rehab
shaves time off sentences). Where should you look for friends? Do not cross racial lines—many federal
prisons are so segregated that they have “black” telephones and “white” telephones—and do not make
friends with a “rat”, or known informant. What about prison etiquette? Do not sit on another inmate’s
bunk without being invited to do so, do not change the television channel when someone else is
watching and do not jump in line. Show respect to everyone (Mr Levine cautions that reaching across
someone’s tray at the dining hall is a good way to get yourself “stuck”, or stabbed).
Still, even Mr. Levine can't help everyone. He is pessimistic about Mr. Madoff's chances of leaving prison
alive. Thieves rank low in prison hierarchy, and he reckons that other inmates whose families have been
hurt by the downturn will blame Mr Madoff. “You rob a bank, that’s cool,” he explains. “Someone
defrauded an insurance company, and he’s cool. The worst thing you can be in prison is a thief who
steals from people, and Bernie stole from people.”
alive. Thieves rank low in prison hierarchy, and he reckons that other inmates whose families have been
hurt by the downturn will blame Mr Madoff. “You rob a bank, that’s cool,” he explains. “Someone
defrauded an insurance company, and he’s cool. The worst thing you can be in prison is a thief who
steals from people, and Bernie stole from people.”
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