My Interview From Taft Federal Prison in 2009

In late 2008, professors from DePaul University began reading the daily blog I was writing from Taft Federal Prison.

In time, they reached out to see if I would answer student questions about ethics, white-collar crime, whistleblowing, and more. I agreed to answer the questions.

In February 2009, about three months before I was released from federal prison, professors from DePaul University flew to Taft Federal Prison to interview me. When I sat for this interview, Lessons From Prison was about 50% done. The manuscript was published one week before I was released on May 20, 2009.

For myriad reasons, I did not see the interviews until this week–more than eleven years after I filmed the documentary from federal prison. Parts of the video were surreal to see. But many parts were gratifying. For example, I felt more prepared to speak openly and honestly during the interview than I ever did before I faced my federal sentencing in June February 2008.

Much has changed since 2009. What has not changed is my desire to continue to speak openly and honestly about bad choices that took me from society to federal prison. And I have not changed my desire to become better and stronger than bad decisions I made so long ago, when I was 29 years old.

I hope you find value in this documentary I filmed from federal prison, on February 9, 2009.

Thank you,
Justin Paperny