In 1991 the FBI began an undercover operation they called Operation Court Broom, ostensibly because their goal was to sweep away corruption in the Florida judicial system. The Feds looked to bring down several judges and lawyers in the Miami Dade area on conspiracy, bribery and extortion charges. Harvey Shenberg was one of the judges arrested and convicted.
Mr. Shenberg served almost eleven years in prison, and during that time he learned how to survive, if not thrive. He abided by a rule that he established for himself, and that helped him to maintain his sanity and integrity. Released in December 2008, Mr. Shenberg started a new career as a prison consultant. Drawing from his own experience, he guides newly indicted people, mostly men, through the unknown and frightening journey from pre-trial to incarceration, with emphasis on incarceration. For those unfamiliar with the criminal justice system the advice Mr. Shenberg offers from his business, Prlson Planning, can be invaluable. Family members of those who are imprisoned are also given a crash course on what to expect,
Reentry Central heard about Harvey Shenberg and thought that our readers would be interested in an inspiring reentry story, as well as the views of a man who sat behind the benchand stood in front of it. RC Managing Editor Beatrice Codianni contacted Mr. Shenberg, and via phone conversations and emails conducted the following interview in December 2010.
What were the charges that landed you in prison?
I was convicted of RICO Conspiracy and Extortion by a Public Official (bribery).
What do you wish you knew before you went to prison?
I do not have enough time or enough space to fully answer this question. I had over 20 years experience in the criminal justice system and had visited clients and other persons in many different jails and prisons, and none of it helped prepare me for prison. I knew nothing about what actual prison life was like.
When did you decide to become a prison consultant, and why?
Upon release from prison, I went to work for The Aleph Institute, one of the largest not for profit organizations, working with inmates, their families, and military personnel. I was employed with Aleph for over two years, and found the work to be fulfilling and rewarding. Eventually, due to the economy, Aleph was forced to significantly cut back on their staff. Having relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, and since a great deal of the work involved personal contact with potential inmates and their families, we amicably decided that it was no longer a good fit. I continue to volunteer with The Aleph Institute.
I already was a “prison consultant” and had found it to be extremely rewarding. It made me feel good to help people who found themselves in a bad situation, so the next logical step was to continue providing this service on my own. Another factor in my decision was that I was able to continue making something positive out of a bad experience.
I lived through the entire process: search warrant, indictment, arrest, pre-trial, trial, sentencing, surrender, incarceration, half-way house, and supervised release: a period of nearly 20 years. I had experienced almost everything that could occur in the Criminal Justice system and wanted to put that experience to good use.
What are some of worst problems people face when entering prison?
Each individual will have their own unique issues they will ultimately face. Experience has shown me that the most significant problems a new prisoner will face are: (1) understanding that he is no longer in control of his life, other people are; (2) that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the same relationships; and (3) lack of privacy.
What was the most difficult part of your prison experience?
The loss of freedom; freedom of choice.
How do you get soon-to-be incarcerated clients prepared for what just might be the worst experience of their lives? What do they not expect?
This would take pages and hours to answer. Click here to go to website , read the information that’s there, watch the videos, and you will have a small glimpse at how we help clients prepare.
The stigma of being a convicted felon follows a formerly incarcerated person for life. How can you help your clients succeed after what is effectively a life sentence? Do you do post-release counseling?
Before I answer, I need to clarify; being a convicted felon is NOT a life sentence. You do your time, your supervised release, and it IS over. What stays with you for life is the experience you lived through and the time it took from you. We do post-release counseling, and it is provided by our group, which consists of former inmates, wives of inmates, and a psychologist with a Ph.D. Through our own experiences we show that life does go on.
You have joined the small but growing number of formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs. Do you see entrepreneurship as the solution to the inability of many ex-offenders to find jobs?
No. To start up any business requires capital and time (without income). Most former inmates, upon release, have neither. A job is usually their only choice.
You certainly do not expect to get rich from your new business, yet there is a great need for guidance from those who have been in prison and have survived. Please comment. Is your new venture a labor of love?
See my answer to #3 above. Yes, it is a labor of love and more.
Your wife stood by you during your 11 years in prison, an anomaly in many cases. What has she learned from this experience? How difficult was the whole arrest-to- release process for her? How did your children fare throughout all of this?
My wife is an amazing woman, needless to say. Of course, it was difficult to see the one you love going through something like that, but she is amazingly strong. Fortunately for her, she has a background in criminal law and had an extremely good grasp on the legal process as it unfolded and was able to share this with the entire family.
What she learned from this experience is that life goes on, the family survives, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. All three of our children are happily married, parents, and enjoying life; what else could we ask for?
Please elaborate on your number one rule, and how it helped you get through your sentence.
Check the website video for elaboration on Rule #1. I believe it is one of the most important things for anybody about to be incarcerated to help them mentally survive.
Given your experience, has your opinion on the merits of prison changed?
Merits? You, better than most, know that prison has few merits.
What are your impressions on America’s rush to incarcerate, and what do believe is the price society will pay for the mass incarceration of its citizens?
I don’t think there is a problem with people being fairly tried and sentenced to prison. My issue is with the length of sentences being imposed. Additionally, the fact that parole (or significant good conduct time) is not an option by the federal government and many states, contributes to lengthy sentences being served and the destruction of many families. It is a high price society must pay when so many young men and women must leave their families for prison. Often times women are not sufficiently able to care for the family on their own, children are raised by schools, day care, and television. All these factors and many others create a myriad of society-related issues.
What changes would you make in the criminal justice system to decrease the high percentage of recidivism?
For many years the criminal justice system’s goal was to rehabilitate rather than punish, which resulted in less recidivism than exists today. Providing vocational training to an inmate gives him the necessary tools to obtain employment, thus becoming a productive member of society. Additionally, as part of the vocational program, the prison system should provide job assistance placement.
Do you think that judges in general are aware of the significant collateral consequences of a prison sentence?
Yes. Judges have life experience, just like anybody else. They understand families, and more importantly, all of society suffers when a defendant is incarcerated. However, no one can truly understand all the collateral consequences except for those of us who “have been there and done that”.
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