Leading from Within: What I would do as The Second Look Network Director

Written by Benjamin Case

The reason our prison systems are so strong is because they have realized the power of their strongest resource—incarcerated men and women. 

My wife told me that the Second Look Network was hiring a new director. I couldn’t help but to start thinking of the possibilities of them hiring a prisoner for the position. So I decided to write what my plan would be if I was given the position.

My Mission as Director

As the Director of the Second Look Network, my mission would be clear: to create pathways to freedom for men and women who once had no hope of release. Success in this role will be measured by individuals gaining their freedom who were not expected to and by their ability to thrive upon reentry. Unlike many in this space, I am not advocating from a distance. I am fighting for my own life and freedom while working to build opportunities for others. This personal stake fuels my determination to dismantle barriers to second-look sentencing and create real, lasting change.

Overcoming Barriers of Incarceration

One of the greatest perceived obstacles to leading this network from prison is the assumption that it cannot be done. However, history and experience prove otherwise. There are numerous ways to lead effectively, organize, and communicate from within prison walls, and I plan to use every tool available:

• Legal & Pastoral Visits: I will schedule regular attorney visits to work on both my personal legal case and Network initiatives, ensuring regular face-to-face collaboration. I will also schedule pastoral visits to regularly to speak with church leaders involved in prison ministry.

• Technology & Communication: By leveraging state-issued tablets, phone calls, and text messaging systems, I can maintain daily contact with outside coordinators. I would assign someone to be in constant contact with me so that communication is firmly established. In some cases, educational departments or chaplains within prisons have allowed access to Zoom calls and computer resources in the past, which could further enhance communication.

• Documentation & Strategic Planning: All initiatives and legal strategies will be documented to ensure continuity and expansion, even if unexpected barriers arise or if I am unable to perform my duties for any period of time.

• Preventive Legal Protections: A team will be in place to take immediate legal action against any retaliatory measures, ensuring that advocacy efforts are not silenced. This would apply to me and all other inside liaisons. 

Proven Leadership from Prison

Many historical and contemporary figures have successfully led initiatives from behind bars, demonstrating that leadership is not confined to freedom.

• Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison while leading the anti-apartheid movement, ultimately becoming South Africa’s first Black president.

• Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail, a foundational text of the Civil Rights Movement.

• George Jackson inspired political consciousness within the U.S. prison system, influencing future generations of activists.

• Ear Hustle Podcast was created by incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison, breaking barriers in media.

• Maine State Prison Debate Team defeated MIT in a historic debate, proving the intellectual capacity of incarcerated individuals.

• San Quentin News and many other prison-run publications provide incarcerated voices a platform to challenge the criminal justice system.

• Jailhouse Lawyers across the country continue to secure legal victories, proving that knowledge of the law is power.

These examples show that prison walls cannot contain leadership, innovation, or the fight for justice. 

New Initiatives

In my first 90 days, I would launch several key initiatives to strengthen the Second Look Network’s impact:

1. Inside Leadership Program – Identify a leader from each state who is currently incarcerated to serve as a Network liaison. These individuals will provide firsthand insight into local legal barriers and reform opportunities. They will be the key players in revolutionizing this network. Men and women in prison are innovative, creative, and driven.

2. Networking Workshops – building relationships with lawyers, victim advocates, prison officials and district attorneys to develop second-look sentencing strategies rooted in collaboration rather than pure opposition.

3. Strategic Media Partnerships – Establish connections with universities, journalists, and media outlets to amplify the stories of men and women who have successfully reintegrated into society after long sentences.

4. Financial Independence for the Network – Secure funding that prioritizes self-sufficiency through business and investment initiatives, reducing reliance on government grants.

5. Prison Reform from the Inside Out – Advocate for rehabilitative programming that starts at the beginning of incarceration, rather than waiting until release is imminent. Each state should have independent oversight bodies ensuring prisoners and their families have access to justice.

By implementing these initiatives, the Second Look Network will not just advocate for change—it will actively create it. Through strategic leadership, collaboration, and persistence, we will turn second chances into new beginnings.

This position may seem out of reach for a man serving a life sentence in the original state of resistance. Martin Luther King Jr moved into the most resistant state to fight the fight where the most impact existed. By his example, I would lead from the cradle of mass incarceration and the tough on crime stronghold. If we are truly looking for revolutionary results, we have to be willing to take revolutionary actions.

If nothing else, I had a great time imagining the possibilities this would open for a man sitting in my position. I hope that one day the advocacy community will start to employ their most valuable resource—incarcerated men and women. It is my thought that  change will come slowly until we have men and women in prison leading the conversations and the charge from within. There is no more motivating force than the desire for freedom and the value of true purpose. The reason our prison systems are so strong is because they have realized the power of their strongest resource—incarcerated men and women. 

Author Bio

In 2006, at 23, Benjamin Case faced 27 charges, including murder and armed robbery. To avoid the death penalty, he pleaded guilty to four life sentences plus 80 years. Initially, his first decade behind bars continued his criminogenic behavior. However, in 2016, a profound transformation, attributed to God, prompted him to reconsider his life’s purpose. He pursued higher education, earning an associate’s degree from Columbia International University. Inspired by Convict Criminology, he dedicated himself to advocacy, publishing multiple articles (https://www.southeastprisonadvocate.com/blog), four books (available on Amazon), and engaging in advocacy initiatives within prisons. He is currently working on his 5th book, a devotional for prisoners, and he co-instructs a class called Leadership It’s Not About You. His mission is to empower prisoners with knowledge and strive towards freedom.