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From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054
The controversial New York City police commissioner and bestselling author of The Lost Son shares the story of his fall from grace and the effects of his incarceration on his views of the American justice system.
Bernard Kerik was New York City’s police commissioner during the 9/11 attacks, who became an American hero as he led the NYPD through rescue and recovery efforts of the World Trade Center. His résumé as a public servant is long and storied, and includes honors from President Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II, and the NYPD’s Medal for Valor for saving his partner in a gun battle. In 2004, Kerik was nominated by President George W. Bush to head the US Department of Homeland Security.
Now, he is a former Federal Prison Inmate known as #84888-054.
Convicted of tax fraud and false statements in 2007, Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison. Now for the first time, in this hard-hitting, raw and oftentimes politically incorrect memoir, he talks candidly about his time on the the torture of solitary confinement, the abuse of power, the mental and physical torment of being locked up in a cage, the powerlessness. With his newfound perspective, Kerik makes a plea for change and illuminates why our punishment system doesn’t always fit the crime.
In this extraordinary memoir, Kerik offers a riveting, one-of-a-kind perspective on the American penal system as he details life on the inside with the experience of an acclaimed Correction Commissioner from the outside. With astonishing candor, bravery, and insider’s intelligence, Bernard Kerik shares his fall from grace to incarceration, and turns it into an impassioned and singularly insightful rallying cry for criminal justice reform in a nation that he devoted his life to serving and protecting.
Bernard Kerik was New York City’s police commissioner during the 9/11 attacks, who became an American hero as he led the NYPD through rescue and recovery efforts of the World Trade Center. His résumé as a public servant is long and storied, and includes honors from President Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II, and the NYPD’s Medal for Valor for saving his partner in a gun battle. In 2004, Kerik was nominated by President George W. Bush to head the US Department of Homeland Security.
Now, he is a former Federal Prison Inmate known as #84888-054.
Convicted of tax fraud and false statements in 2007, Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison. Now for the first time, in this hard-hitting, raw and oftentimes politically incorrect memoir, he talks candidly about his time on the the torture of solitary confinement, the abuse of power, the mental and physical torment of being locked up in a cage, the powerlessness. With his newfound perspective, Kerik makes a plea for change and illuminates why our punishment system doesn’t always fit the crime.
In this extraordinary memoir, Kerik offers a riveting, one-of-a-kind perspective on the American penal system as he details life on the inside with the experience of an acclaimed Correction Commissioner from the outside. With astonishing candor, bravery, and insider’s intelligence, Bernard Kerik shares his fall from grace to incarceration, and turns it into an impassioned and singularly insightful rallying cry for criminal justice reform in a nation that he devoted his life to serving and protecting.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2015
46 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Bernard B. Kerik
7 books9 followersBernard Bailey Kerik was an American consultant and police officer who was the 40th Commissioner of the New York Police Department from 2000 to 2001.
Kerik joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1986. He served from 1998 to 2000 as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction and 2000–2001 as New York City Police Commissioner, during which he oversaw the police response to the September 11 attacks. Kerik conducted two extramarital affairs simultaneously, using a Battery Park City apartment that had been set aside for first responders at Ground Zero.
After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush appointed Kerik as the interior minister of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority. In 2004, Bush nominated Kerik to lead the Department of Homeland Security. However, Kerik soon withdrew his candidacy, explaining that he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a nanny. His admission sparked state and federal investigations. In 2006, Kerik pleaded guilty in Bronx Supreme Court to two unrelated misdemeanor ethics violations and was ordered to pay $221,000 in fines.
In 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to eight federal felony charges for tax fraud and making false statements. In February 2010, he was sentenced to four years in federal prison, of which he served three years. In 2020, he obtained a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump for his federal convictions for tax fraud, ethics violations, and criminal false statements. After the 2020 United States presidential election, Kerik supported Trump's false claims of voter fraud and attempted to help overturn the election results.
Kerik joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1986. He served from 1998 to 2000 as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction and 2000–2001 as New York City Police Commissioner, during which he oversaw the police response to the September 11 attacks. Kerik conducted two extramarital affairs simultaneously, using a Battery Park City apartment that had been set aside for first responders at Ground Zero.
After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush appointed Kerik as the interior minister of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority. In 2004, Bush nominated Kerik to lead the Department of Homeland Security. However, Kerik soon withdrew his candidacy, explaining that he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a nanny. His admission sparked state and federal investigations. In 2006, Kerik pleaded guilty in Bronx Supreme Court to two unrelated misdemeanor ethics violations and was ordered to pay $221,000 in fines.
In 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to eight federal felony charges for tax fraud and making false statements. In February 2010, he was sentenced to four years in federal prison, of which he served three years. In 2020, he obtained a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump for his federal convictions for tax fraud, ethics violations, and criminal false statements. After the 2020 United States presidential election, Kerik supported Trump's false claims of voter fraud and attempted to help overturn the election results.
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August 15, 2020
This is unreadable. The author, Bernard Kerik has writting this book in order to justify his wrongdoing and say that his crimes were only civil offences. He was the Police Commissioner who oversaw the 9/11 response and greatly reduced violence on Rikers' Island and had an exemplary career. His throughly dishonest, corrupt and egotistical character led him into major crime, he couldn't resist all the opportunities for private gain and pressure that his position gave him.. .
There isn't a single article, one has to read multiple ones, to see details all his crimes and misdemeanours from - bad behaviour - cheating on his wife with two different women in an apartment set aside for exhausted 9/11 aid workers, using police officers as free security for his wedding, or researchers for his books - to possible, probable, connections with organised crime, tax fraud, making false statements, employing an undocumented immigant as a nanny etc etc.
He went for a plea bargain of 2.5 years, but the judge sentenced him to 4 years, plus house arrest. He served it mostly in Cumberland prison camp where the doors did not have locks, low security and as close to 'real life' as incarceration can get. He said it was like a living death. He moans and winges at all the privileges that aren't enough, he says they are treated inhumanely. Probably they are, but was he not the architect of his own misfotune? Did he not punish people to this? Is he saying he didn't know what it was like? It was his job to know.
The first part of the book about his experience in prison was quite interesting, one part made me laugh, Anybody with exposure to the federal system, who is honest, would have to agree with me. He doesn't know the meaning of honesty.
Part of what made the book unreadable was the author's overweening pride in his many accomplishments, mostly in Arab countries (although he does omit to mention he was kicked out of his job and Saudi Arabia) and in the US. The boasting was continual. That was hard to digest.
I skimmed a bit of the second part of the book justifying his actions as non-crimes but civil offences and gave up on it. Part 3 was back in the prison and the problems prison causes for people incarcerated, after release and for their families. Life is too short, I have maybe 250 books on my shelves that I haven't read.
Good points. The writing is good. Bad points. It's hard to concentrate on a despicable man justifying how he exploited everything he could for his own benefit. He was a top public servant, but just that, in public.
There isn't a single article, one has to read multiple ones, to see details all his crimes and misdemeanours from - bad behaviour - cheating on his wife with two different women in an apartment set aside for exhausted 9/11 aid workers, using police officers as free security for his wedding, or researchers for his books - to possible, probable, connections with organised crime, tax fraud, making false statements, employing an undocumented immigant as a nanny etc etc.
He went for a plea bargain of 2.5 years, but the judge sentenced him to 4 years, plus house arrest. He served it mostly in Cumberland prison camp where the doors did not have locks, low security and as close to 'real life' as incarceration can get. He said it was like a living death. He moans and winges at all the privileges that aren't enough, he says they are treated inhumanely. Probably they are, but was he not the architect of his own misfotune? Did he not punish people to this? Is he saying he didn't know what it was like? It was his job to know.
The first part of the book about his experience in prison was quite interesting, one part made me laugh, Anybody with exposure to the federal system, who is honest, would have to agree with me. He doesn't know the meaning of honesty.
Part of what made the book unreadable was the author's overweening pride in his many accomplishments, mostly in Arab countries (although he does omit to mention he was kicked out of his job and Saudi Arabia) and in the US. The boasting was continual. That was hard to digest.
I skimmed a bit of the second part of the book justifying his actions as non-crimes but civil offences and gave up on it. Part 3 was back in the prison and the problems prison causes for people incarcerated, after release and for their families. Life is too short, I have maybe 250 books on my shelves that I haven't read.
Good points. The writing is good. Bad points. It's hard to concentrate on a despicable man justifying how he exploited everything he could for his own benefit. He was a top public servant, but just that, in public.
January 20, 2019
I really was craving more depth from his time in jail, but I loved the experiences he did write about. I also wish that his career timeline was less involved in the story (it made up most of the book.) Also, most of what he said about jail reform and why, could have been summed up in half the pages. There was a lot of overstating his thoughts.
I also found myself not connected to Mr. Kerik. Not sure why that is. Maybe because, going back to the career timeline, I felt it was all about his achievements. I also feel like he played victim and hero at the same time, which left an odd taste in my mouth. Plus, I felt bad for his wife, Hala. He made so many decisions that impacted the whole family on his own.
All in all, it was an interesting book and written well. And I do agree with everything he said about how we should reform our prison system. Honestly though, this would have been better as an hour long 20/20 episode.
I also found myself not connected to Mr. Kerik. Not sure why that is. Maybe because, going back to the career timeline, I felt it was all about his achievements. I also feel like he played victim and hero at the same time, which left an odd taste in my mouth. Plus, I felt bad for his wife, Hala. He made so many decisions that impacted the whole family on his own.
All in all, it was an interesting book and written well. And I do agree with everything he said about how we should reform our prison system. Honestly though, this would have been better as an hour long 20/20 episode.
March 7, 2019
Four hundred seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and eight dollars and twenty-one cents, ($476,708.21). No, that’s not the national debt increase per hour. Although it could be. No, it’s Bernard B. Kerik’s attorney’s bill for just one month, October 2009. As the former New York City Police Commissioner explains in this memoir, “For close to two years, I had been billed $100,000 to $150,000 and sometimes up to $200,000 per month in legal fees.” That October invoice from his lawyers was off the charts. You have to ask yourself, how does one who pleads guilty to a federal charge of failure to pay payroll tax for a family nanny pay back attorney fees of that magnitude while making 22 cents an hour in prison for three years and eleven days?
Such was Kerik’s fate between May 17, 2010 and May 28, 2013. With the assistance of his writing partner, Cullen Thomas, in this 288-page retrospective, the author chronicles Kerik’s journey from his role as New York’s commissioner of corrections and later its police force to becoming federal prison inmate #84888-054. Kerik’s riches-to-rags story is told in three parts. It begins with what life was like for someone who was once a New Jersey county jail corrections officer, later a beat cop in Times Square, still later head of New York City’s department of corrections and finally commissioner of the fifty-thousand member NYPD to suddenly find himself on the other side of the bars. Next Kerik explains the events that brought him to the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland as a convicted felon. Kerik closes with a section describing what he believes needs to be done to “create a smarter, more humane, more progressive, more fiscally sound criminal justice system” in the USA.
From both sides of the bars, in these pages, Kerik spells out some of the major issues plaguing America’s penal structure. Included in that list: “disproportionate prosecutorial power, the injustice of the plea bargain system and the politicization and selectivity of federal cases.” As a newborn prison reformer, other issues Kerik now champions include “over incarceration, a loosening of the mandatory minimum sentences and the federal sentencing guidelines, alternatives to incarceration and rehabilitative efforts in prison.”
The reader should remember Kerik as one of the decorated heroes during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America. Now as an ex-federal prisoner, he wants leaders of our nation’s criminal justice system to ask themselves several serious questions: “How much do you punish? At what cost do you punish? What are the consequences of this punishment? What are the consequences of prison?” This book is Kerik’s effort “to add (his) voice to the call for national criminal justice reform.”
“From Jailer to Jailed” contained a few surprises for me. Not the least of which was discovering that the former head of one of the largest penal colonies in the world would himself eventually end up wearing an orange jump suit behind bars. I was totally unaware the once jailer Kerik had not only been jailed for four years, given seven months of good time, but was released early on five month’s home confinement. (Kerik reveals his original sentence of forty-eight months was “fifteen months over and above the sentencing guidelines that had been agreed upon by the U.S. attorneys, (his) lawyers and the U.S. Department of Probation.”) It was also surprising to learn that Kerik is a high school dropout, married to a Syrian-born wife. I did not know Kerik was heavily involved in trying to rebuild criminal justice systems in Iraq and Jordan. I did not know he was once a security consulting business partner of New York major Rudy Giuliani. I did not know that Giuliani threw Kerik under the bus after the author turned down President George W. Bush’s nomination to become the nation’s second director of homeland security. How many of us remember that? I was totally unaware that Kerik once met with Syria’s highest ranking religious leader in a vain attempt to open a dialogue between the U.S. and Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. I did not know Kerik pioneered his Total Efficiency and Accountability Management System, (TEAMS), to bring “both order and high-quality services to the largest jail system in the country.”
Kerik writes, “We cannot continue to demean, degrade and demoralize the incarcerated.” He makes a powerful argument that “the right thing to do is to help them be better.”
Such was Kerik’s fate between May 17, 2010 and May 28, 2013. With the assistance of his writing partner, Cullen Thomas, in this 288-page retrospective, the author chronicles Kerik’s journey from his role as New York’s commissioner of corrections and later its police force to becoming federal prison inmate #84888-054. Kerik’s riches-to-rags story is told in three parts. It begins with what life was like for someone who was once a New Jersey county jail corrections officer, later a beat cop in Times Square, still later head of New York City’s department of corrections and finally commissioner of the fifty-thousand member NYPD to suddenly find himself on the other side of the bars. Next Kerik explains the events that brought him to the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland as a convicted felon. Kerik closes with a section describing what he believes needs to be done to “create a smarter, more humane, more progressive, more fiscally sound criminal justice system” in the USA.
From both sides of the bars, in these pages, Kerik spells out some of the major issues plaguing America’s penal structure. Included in that list: “disproportionate prosecutorial power, the injustice of the plea bargain system and the politicization and selectivity of federal cases.” As a newborn prison reformer, other issues Kerik now champions include “over incarceration, a loosening of the mandatory minimum sentences and the federal sentencing guidelines, alternatives to incarceration and rehabilitative efforts in prison.”
The reader should remember Kerik as one of the decorated heroes during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America. Now as an ex-federal prisoner, he wants leaders of our nation’s criminal justice system to ask themselves several serious questions: “How much do you punish? At what cost do you punish? What are the consequences of this punishment? What are the consequences of prison?” This book is Kerik’s effort “to add (his) voice to the call for national criminal justice reform.”
“From Jailer to Jailed” contained a few surprises for me. Not the least of which was discovering that the former head of one of the largest penal colonies in the world would himself eventually end up wearing an orange jump suit behind bars. I was totally unaware the once jailer Kerik had not only been jailed for four years, given seven months of good time, but was released early on five month’s home confinement. (Kerik reveals his original sentence of forty-eight months was “fifteen months over and above the sentencing guidelines that had been agreed upon by the U.S. attorneys, (his) lawyers and the U.S. Department of Probation.”) It was also surprising to learn that Kerik is a high school dropout, married to a Syrian-born wife. I did not know Kerik was heavily involved in trying to rebuild criminal justice systems in Iraq and Jordan. I did not know he was once a security consulting business partner of New York major Rudy Giuliani. I did not know that Giuliani threw Kerik under the bus after the author turned down President George W. Bush’s nomination to become the nation’s second director of homeland security. How many of us remember that? I was totally unaware that Kerik once met with Syria’s highest ranking religious leader in a vain attempt to open a dialogue between the U.S. and Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. I did not know Kerik pioneered his Total Efficiency and Accountability Management System, (TEAMS), to bring “both order and high-quality services to the largest jail system in the country.”
Kerik writes, “We cannot continue to demean, degrade and demoralize the incarcerated.” He makes a powerful argument that “the right thing to do is to help them be better.”
June 26, 2015
I've always liked this guy. A lot of people hate him. I still like him. Both in his handling of the aftermath of 9/11 and the way he handled himself during his trial, I think he's an admirable individual with excellent management and leadership skills. I think he got screwed in his trial by the prosecution and the judge. The judge gives him a larger sentence than that sought by the prosecution? What the hell for? 4 years for missing something on your tax form? Seems excessive to me.
Is it necessary to cage people for the crime of owing taxes? Wouldn't it make more sense to just fine the shit out of them and then set them free so they can earn more money that can be taxed. It's more fair, more lucrative... what's the problem?
People were out to screw this guy for political reasons, mainly his association with Rudy Giuliani. They succeeded. It was a disgusting travesty of justice. Those are just my two cents.
Great book.
Is it necessary to cage people for the crime of owing taxes? Wouldn't it make more sense to just fine the shit out of them and then set them free so they can earn more money that can be taxed. It's more fair, more lucrative... what's the problem?
People were out to screw this guy for political reasons, mainly his association with Rudy Giuliani. They succeeded. It was a disgusting travesty of justice. Those are just my two cents.
Great book.
April 12, 2015
Great book
I had always had a very high opinion and utmost respect for Mr Kerik. When he was going through the court battles I was not sure what to think anymore. The man the papers were writing about didn't seem to be the same man. I am so glad to have read this book and heard his story from him. I have to say it has reinforced my original opinion of you. I think that it is a disgrace what was done to you in the name of justice.
I had always had a very high opinion and utmost respect for Mr Kerik. When he was going through the court battles I was not sure what to think anymore. The man the papers were writing about didn't seem to be the same man. I am so glad to have read this book and heard his story from him. I have to say it has reinforced my original opinion of you. I think that it is a disgrace what was done to you in the name of justice.
October 23, 2019
Frankly, it bored me to sleep. I kept skipping huge chunks where he blew his own trumpet about all his achievements (quite rightly in other circumstances), but skimmed over why he was in jail.
Perhaps he got down to the reasons eventually - but I gave up.
A spectacular fall from grace that would have come over better with some humility.
Perhaps he got down to the reasons eventually - but I gave up.
A spectacular fall from grace that would have come over better with some humility.
April 14, 2021
Sadly we have set up a highly competitive system where education, income, incentives, promotions, professional publicity is all based on conviction rates whether the person is guilty or innocent. Our system is set up to remove all RIGHTS of the individual and only those who have large amounts of disposable income have the initial funds for self preservation.
If you are an established family with a home you will lose it, all for a basic traffic stop where the police officer's mood is to charge you with anything their latest discussion encourages. Does the town need funding you can be sure you will be stopped and charged not only for a ticket but court costs. If they have come from another call and have high levels of chemical racing you are more likely to lose your life.
Recently we have seen the political force taking the person and searching everything they have ever done and everyone they know to find anything to enprision them and ruin their lives.
Who can define that notorious fatal government and life ending word "JUSTICE". Please do tell me what you think it means.
We have taken men who can move vast amounts of various products through a created city wide network and thrown them in jail for making a living. All because someone wants to tell you what you can put into your body. So now we have the highest prison population in the WORLD. All under the name of LAW when we have NO ONE who can list ALL the laws... think for yourself to name a few and what will happen to your life then think what has happened to large populations of men filled with testosterone and thrown them into a prison and encourage them to be aggressive to one another thus creating hardened criminals then releasing them into a civil population when we still have South America that needs to have roads .... Go South Young Man!
We now have half the government as some form of Police entity, we have DHS with 22 Government Agencies all designed to take your freedom and right to the pursuit of happiness, all with a badge and gun to take your liberty your life. How can anyone say we are not a country in a POLICE STATE.
Do you know any laws.... I say NO you do NOT. We a huge problem and it seems those we have elected are using that problem to do bad which is leading to worse. I say we need a monument in every city with the basic laws listed and what the outcome should someone break the agreed upon laws. Something like the 10 commandments... where everyone can go read and teach their kids so we all understand the system and can operate safely within it. If one house teaches to kill the white devil and another to forgive what will happen in society? How can we have hundreds of law books designed to find loop holes for the wealthy but those who are illiterate, handicap or speak other languages are not considered. We can immediately tally them as a promotion to the next higher pay check, more of THEIR kids in college with new cars, vacations... trinkets.
Imagine you have a transexual friend who would like to go out dancing and you take him/her and someone from an opposing political ideology is there and accuses you of assaulting them YOU end up being arrested after you are attacked from the loud mouth aggressive lesbian who does not think you should be in her type of bar. You are in shock how can this be it must be a joke right, no stop its a huge error. She brings all her friends in to claim they were at the bar and seen you a non drinker drunk kissing your husband and yet you are a discreet/closeted gay woman who does not drink and in fact complained because the cost of the designer water was more expensive than the alcohol and showed the judge receipts but it doesn't matter because she came with 20+ friends and you a law abiding friend who does not tell your sexual preferences, a socially supporting 100% disabled military officer goes to jail. Yes a first time offender never in trouble because you do not show remorse for something you did NOT do go to jail for weeks as your very expensive attorney sleeps. Did anyone claim to actually see you hit her; no, but because of her political connections to the Secretary of State you end up in jail surrounded by other "criminals" what can you do but quietly resign your job as not to Bring shame on the position. Move because a probation officer will be there to check on your life and your neighbors and their kids whom you mentor will see. Stop your doctorate because now you are so emotionally damaged you can no longer support the USA System you have been brought up to believe in and support; volunteering to give your life for. All the conversations you have had about your country are now an embarrassment as you have naively fallen into a system designed to hurt you its main supporter. All this under the name of equality.
Are you thinking you should say you are not married and are gay, that you support transexuals, that you have a high paying political job which supports the less fortunate, that you have a doctorate level education, that you do volunteer work at local shelters, fund raisers for the community on and on you could go but really should you have to substantiate anything against the ideals of freedom and .....JUSTICE? NO!
The whole concept of this country is founded on the equality of creation and that equality being extended to everyONE, absolutely everyone regardless of anything at all and your freedoms shall NOT be infringed without due process. So that leads us to question what is due process in a system set up for those with money, those with connections, those who have friends, those with political power. So I say to you our system is too far from the original intent and I say to you the words you already know that when "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation", "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness… it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security" (Jefferson, my favorite). We have ruined thousands of families by removing the fathers, we have allowed the jailing of people in "Witch Hunts", all fun and games throwing those stones until it is you and your family, your friends your lives ruined forever all under the name of JUSTICE so again I say NO!
We must eliminate the word JUSTICE. We must eliminate the current system. We must eliminate the power of police to pull you over, to approach you with a gun, to stop you from your daily activities, to enter your home. They are NOT GOD, NOT your Creator, NOT your KING or SAVIOR, NOT your Authority they are NOTHING so that power must be removed. Who do they WORK FOR?
It ALL MUST STOP. People should NOT feel that they have to BURN down their towns their forefathers works so hard to build just to get attention on a problem for surely that is NOT a solution so what is the solution? Think about it, really think about it and tell me your ideas. When you read this book you see his wake up call and if you really pay attention you hear the politics the power hungry the psychos who think they are other humans GODS. Can you change anyone minds by yelling, hitting, hurting, assaulting think what changes peoples minds?
So I will say as I always do to Read, Think, READ more and talk about your ideas with others because we need solutions NOW. I told President Trump to release all the prisoners NOW, yes ALL of them. The aggressive send south to build the railroads others hirer for vaccination security, decontamination etc you cannot take a man who is housed and fed and put them on the streets with no job potential ability to feed themselves but to empty the prisons of our men and women NOW.
Anyway this is so much longer as I am now on a rant...
If you are an established family with a home you will lose it, all for a basic traffic stop where the police officer's mood is to charge you with anything their latest discussion encourages. Does the town need funding you can be sure you will be stopped and charged not only for a ticket but court costs. If they have come from another call and have high levels of chemical racing you are more likely to lose your life.
Recently we have seen the political force taking the person and searching everything they have ever done and everyone they know to find anything to enprision them and ruin their lives.
Who can define that notorious fatal government and life ending word "JUSTICE". Please do tell me what you think it means.
We have taken men who can move vast amounts of various products through a created city wide network and thrown them in jail for making a living. All because someone wants to tell you what you can put into your body. So now we have the highest prison population in the WORLD. All under the name of LAW when we have NO ONE who can list ALL the laws... think for yourself to name a few and what will happen to your life then think what has happened to large populations of men filled with testosterone and thrown them into a prison and encourage them to be aggressive to one another thus creating hardened criminals then releasing them into a civil population when we still have South America that needs to have roads .... Go South Young Man!
We now have half the government as some form of Police entity, we have DHS with 22 Government Agencies all designed to take your freedom and right to the pursuit of happiness, all with a badge and gun to take your liberty your life. How can anyone say we are not a country in a POLICE STATE.
Do you know any laws.... I say NO you do NOT. We a huge problem and it seems those we have elected are using that problem to do bad which is leading to worse. I say we need a monument in every city with the basic laws listed and what the outcome should someone break the agreed upon laws. Something like the 10 commandments... where everyone can go read and teach their kids so we all understand the system and can operate safely within it. If one house teaches to kill the white devil and another to forgive what will happen in society? How can we have hundreds of law books designed to find loop holes for the wealthy but those who are illiterate, handicap or speak other languages are not considered. We can immediately tally them as a promotion to the next higher pay check, more of THEIR kids in college with new cars, vacations... trinkets.
Imagine you have a transexual friend who would like to go out dancing and you take him/her and someone from an opposing political ideology is there and accuses you of assaulting them YOU end up being arrested after you are attacked from the loud mouth aggressive lesbian who does not think you should be in her type of bar. You are in shock how can this be it must be a joke right, no stop its a huge error. She brings all her friends in to claim they were at the bar and seen you a non drinker drunk kissing your husband and yet you are a discreet/closeted gay woman who does not drink and in fact complained because the cost of the designer water was more expensive than the alcohol and showed the judge receipts but it doesn't matter because she came with 20+ friends and you a law abiding friend who does not tell your sexual preferences, a socially supporting 100% disabled military officer goes to jail. Yes a first time offender never in trouble because you do not show remorse for something you did NOT do go to jail for weeks as your very expensive attorney sleeps. Did anyone claim to actually see you hit her; no, but because of her political connections to the Secretary of State you end up in jail surrounded by other "criminals" what can you do but quietly resign your job as not to Bring shame on the position. Move because a probation officer will be there to check on your life and your neighbors and their kids whom you mentor will see. Stop your doctorate because now you are so emotionally damaged you can no longer support the USA System you have been brought up to believe in and support; volunteering to give your life for. All the conversations you have had about your country are now an embarrassment as you have naively fallen into a system designed to hurt you its main supporter. All this under the name of equality.
Are you thinking you should say you are not married and are gay, that you support transexuals, that you have a high paying political job which supports the less fortunate, that you have a doctorate level education, that you do volunteer work at local shelters, fund raisers for the community on and on you could go but really should you have to substantiate anything against the ideals of freedom and .....JUSTICE? NO!
The whole concept of this country is founded on the equality of creation and that equality being extended to everyONE, absolutely everyone regardless of anything at all and your freedoms shall NOT be infringed without due process. So that leads us to question what is due process in a system set up for those with money, those with connections, those who have friends, those with political power. So I say to you our system is too far from the original intent and I say to you the words you already know that when "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation", "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness… it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security" (Jefferson, my favorite). We have ruined thousands of families by removing the fathers, we have allowed the jailing of people in "Witch Hunts", all fun and games throwing those stones until it is you and your family, your friends your lives ruined forever all under the name of JUSTICE so again I say NO!
We must eliminate the word JUSTICE. We must eliminate the current system. We must eliminate the power of police to pull you over, to approach you with a gun, to stop you from your daily activities, to enter your home. They are NOT GOD, NOT your Creator, NOT your KING or SAVIOR, NOT your Authority they are NOTHING so that power must be removed. Who do they WORK FOR?
It ALL MUST STOP. People should NOT feel that they have to BURN down their towns their forefathers works so hard to build just to get attention on a problem for surely that is NOT a solution so what is the solution? Think about it, really think about it and tell me your ideas. When you read this book you see his wake up call and if you really pay attention you hear the politics the power hungry the psychos who think they are other humans GODS. Can you change anyone minds by yelling, hitting, hurting, assaulting think what changes peoples minds?
So I will say as I always do to Read, Think, READ more and talk about your ideas with others because we need solutions NOW. I told President Trump to release all the prisoners NOW, yes ALL of them. The aggressive send south to build the railroads others hirer for vaccination security, decontamination etc you cannot take a man who is housed and fed and put them on the streets with no job potential ability to feed themselves but to empty the prisons of our men and women NOW.
Anyway this is so much longer as I am now on a rant...
September 24, 2015
I read this book hoping to find some insight from a man who was willing to tell his story from literally both sides of the fence. I was thoroughly disappointed to say the least. Bernie Kerik is fast to point out to readers the good deeds he was a part of but slow to take ownership of his own misdeeds. I have worked in law enforcement for over 17 years and one thing that the author has in common with the many people I have seen be incarcerated over the years is the lack of accountability from an individual stand point. The jails and prisons in the U.S. are full of innocent people many of whom feel they don't belong there or wish they would have had an opportunity to do better. The truth is prison is an institution that is very hard to become a member of passively. Mr. Kerik made some critical errors in his life 16 (indictments) of which cost him his livelihood. No one was more privy to the consequences of actions then that of a corrections officer. Mr. Kerik took short-cuts and advantage wherever he could and it cost him. The environment that he speaks about of the degradation and loss of humanity within the prison walls is not caused by those proud and hard working individuals willing to stand watch but rather it is the prisoners that cause the need for solitary confinement, random cell searches, or strip searches because of the dangerous potential of drugs and weapons that those same individuals who could not follow the rules of a day to day free society have found different and inventive ways to continue to break the rules and take short-cuts. Mr. Kerik if I was to ever meet you face to face I would like to tell you that I personally am glad that you had a miserable experience in prison and would hope that you some day realize that it was you who set that ball in motion.
It is laughable to me that Mr. Kerik calls himself a proponent of criminal justice reform however he only points to the wounds of incarceration and offers no such cure for the injury. I can tell you what is wrong with the criminal justice system. We are a land of free people here in America and we are given liberty to make choices. The free choices offer us the ability to choose right and wrong and act accordingly. The problem is that so few accept the responsibility of those choices and expect recourse for the inability to chose wisely.
It is laughable to me that Mr. Kerik calls himself a proponent of criminal justice reform however he only points to the wounds of incarceration and offers no such cure for the injury. I can tell you what is wrong with the criminal justice system. We are a land of free people here in America and we are given liberty to make choices. The free choices offer us the ability to choose right and wrong and act accordingly. The problem is that so few accept the responsibility of those choices and expect recourse for the inability to chose wisely.
September 2, 2018
Funny how one’s perspective changes depending on where you find yourself. Once one of the top law enforcement officers in the country, Kerik finds himself as an inmate in Federal prison.
I cannot feel sorry for him, he made his bed and now he has to lie in it. Hubris, ego, and sloppiness led him to wear he ended up.
But I do have to agree with him that he was made an example of. Thanks to his ol’ buddy Rudy Giuliani, he got a taste of what goes around comes around.
Setting aside my personal feelings about him, Kerik does an excellent job of explaining why today’s criminal justice system is broken. And provides some great thoughts on how to fix it.
I cannot feel sorry for him, he made his bed and now he has to lie in it. Hubris, ego, and sloppiness led him to wear he ended up.
But I do have to agree with him that he was made an example of. Thanks to his ol’ buddy Rudy Giuliani, he got a taste of what goes around comes around.
Setting aside my personal feelings about him, Kerik does an excellent job of explaining why today’s criminal justice system is broken. And provides some great thoughts on how to fix it.
December 10, 2022
Captured during military service overseas in World War II, Kurt Vonnegut was a guest of the National Socialist aggressors deep in enemy territory, barely surviving the fiery devastation of the city of Dresden. Naturally taking to the pen after the war, Vonnegut didn't rise to celebrity until the late sixties to mid seventies, publishing a book about every three years. Dark humor, anti-war sentiment, and social commentary being his shtick, the postmodern master released JAILBIRD in 1979, allowing the protagonist to rant about corporate America, pseudo-Communist prosecution of the McCarthy era, Watergate, as well as Dick Nixon and his posse, after being released from a minimum security prison for being a bit player in the bungled Watergate affair. Serving up the same righteous indignation with elan is Bernard Kerik, playing the part of jailbird going from JAILER TO JAILED, demonstrating how bad, inefficient, and cruel the justice system in the United States is.
Shying away from sharing his NYPD badge number, Kerik has no qualms of owning the rest: he's the former federal prisoner #84888-054, and once upon a time he ran both the NYC department of Corrections and also the NYPD as the 40th Commissioner. Warden and Commish. He was also nominated by #43 for the job of Secretary of Homeland Security. Now he's just another jailbird. And a concerned prison reformer after a front row seat and sublime taste of how really messed up the US criminal justice system is. If you've read Piper Kerman's ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, you are already ahead of the curve and quite familiar with this story and its components, like SHU, the "out", and nugatory. Like Vonnegut's protagonist, Kerik in his own right got plenty to say about prosecutorial overreach and misconduct, selective application of laws and punishments, excessive incarceration, OVER THE TOP mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines, and last but not least, pompous, arrogant, and threatening judges.
The more interesting part(s) are those where Kerik's incarcerated, stuck in a 12x8 box, hole, or cage, or whatever names inmates give a cell, lamenting about being cut off from his life, routine, and family. So much so, that he proffers that prison is like dying with your eyes open. The narrative is often interrupted, as Kerik likes to read through his resume and list his accomplishments in the aftermath of 9/11, really painting himself as the Patriot Supreme. As such, the reader is treated to a review of the atrocities of 9/11, the US response, the Patriot Act and its shortcomings, overreaches and misuse, Senate Bill No. 1615, Abu Ghraib, the ideology of hate, and Federal prison camps. Insisting that there's no such thing as "Club Fed", Kerik is sitting pretty in min-sec, hoping that love and loyalty will get him through his nigh on 4 year sentence, and like BREAKING BAD's Tio Salamanca, he believes, too that 'familia es todo'--at home and the Blue.
How is all of this possible in the United States of America, shining democracy, land of the free? One theory is blind trust in a system for as long as the system doesn't touch the average person's sphere of existence. But trust and belief in the system must be maintained at all costs. As Sergeant Barnes said in PLATOON, when the machine breaks down, we break down. Going a step further, Barnes elucidates that there's the way things ought to be and the way they are. Kerik was a cop who used to follow the letter of the law and had the book thrown at him. Problem probably is that once Kerik was inside and saw for himself how vicious and bad the US criminal justice system and the Bureau of Prisons and prisons are, no one will give him the cred, as he is now a convicted felon and no longer to be trusted in polite society. Enter #44 who issued a presidential pardon for Kerik, paving the way to complete Criminal Justice and Bureau of Prison reform in the coming years. While you hold your breath for this gargantuan systemic change, get caught up in the journey FROM JAILER TO JAILED. It's a slam dunk straight from the Slammer.
September 4, 2021
Bernard Kerik was the Commissioner of NYPD on 9/11. He partnered with Mayor Rudy Guiliani to address the tragedy. His career had already included military service, policing and management of NYC's jails. After 9/11, he worked for the King of Jordan as a consultant on Jordan's prisons. He was actively involved in anti-terrorism, too. Then, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Secretary of Homeland Security. That's when it all came tumbling down. The vetting process unearthed irregularities in his finances. He ultimately pled guilty and went to prison. In this book, Kerik is able to present his side of what happened.
Do I believe him? Yes and no. I can believe that he was made a scapegoat to benefit others career goals. I do think he was guilty of wrongdoing. I also think that the punishment did not fit the crime.
"How much do you punish? At what cost do you punish? What are the consequences of this punishment, the consequences of prison? Many in positions of power within the criminal justice system haven't thought enough about these questions."
I agree 100% with Kerik on the state of our criminal justice system. I am hopeful that now Kerik will channel his energy and knowledge to bringing about change.
Do I believe him? Yes and no. I can believe that he was made a scapegoat to benefit others career goals. I do think he was guilty of wrongdoing. I also think that the punishment did not fit the crime.
"How much do you punish? At what cost do you punish? What are the consequences of this punishment, the consequences of prison? Many in positions of power within the criminal justice system haven't thought enough about these questions."
I agree 100% with Kerik on the state of our criminal justice system. I am hopeful that now Kerik will channel his energy and knowledge to bringing about change.
July 12, 2017
Very interesting read
Kerik's book discusses his police/corrections career briefly, his advisory position to the Prince of Jordan, the charges filed against him by the US Government, and his time in federal prison. He also provides insight to the issues surrounding criminal justice reform. It is a very interesting read that I would highly recommend. However, I gave it four stars instead of five for two reasons. 1) he does get a little long-winded at times, 2) he did have a bit of trouble keeping parts politically neutral, although he brought it back to middle ground towards the end. It's a bit of a dry read... not much emotion, but still a book full of knowledge and interesting stories.
Kerik's book discusses his police/corrections career briefly, his advisory position to the Prince of Jordan, the charges filed against him by the US Government, and his time in federal prison. He also provides insight to the issues surrounding criminal justice reform. It is a very interesting read that I would highly recommend. However, I gave it four stars instead of five for two reasons. 1) he does get a little long-winded at times, 2) he did have a bit of trouble keeping parts politically neutral, although he brought it back to middle ground towards the end. It's a bit of a dry read... not much emotion, but still a book full of knowledge and interesting stories.
November 15, 2021
The writing style is long winded. He makes his points in very roundabout ways.
Even if you account for it being written 2014, none of the reform ideas/criticisms are really anything new nor are they present in a unique way. Basically I didn’t believe it/realize it till it happened to me.
He’s also pretty brief about his own experience, it can be summed up as he didn’t really do anything wrong, he was partially targeted partially collateral damage from political/corrupt maneuvers.
Overall, the books not worth the read as either a biography or a reform commentary.
Even if you account for it being written 2014, none of the reform ideas/criticisms are really anything new nor are they present in a unique way. Basically I didn’t believe it/realize it till it happened to me.
He’s also pretty brief about his own experience, it can be summed up as he didn’t really do anything wrong, he was partially targeted partially collateral damage from political/corrupt maneuvers.
Overall, the books not worth the read as either a biography or a reform commentary.
May 26, 2019
This book is an important read no matter where you fall on the crime/punishment theory or policy perspective. Kerik points out a great number or serious flaws in our legal system (particularly federal) that should be attended to with the seriousness that they deserve. While in no way do I excuse his behavior, I do think he brings us serious questions of crime, punishment, reform, restitution, etc.
September 7, 2020
Interesting book, very insightful
I liked his insight into the prision & judicial system. I wish someone in power would add a few of his suggestions to make prision a better place & to better inmates for their release. Releasing them in a bad state of mind doesnt help our society...Mr. Kerik went thru a lot & thankfulky came put on the other side. Too many are released & have no options.
I liked his insight into the prision & judicial system. I wish someone in power would add a few of his suggestions to make prision a better place & to better inmates for their release. Releasing them in a bad state of mind doesnt help our society...Mr. Kerik went thru a lot & thankfulky came put on the other side. Too many are released & have no options.
January 5, 2020
Wow, what a stunning revelation. Bernard couldn’t have said it better. “No one should ever be wrongfully deprived of the rights to liberty and freedom without just cause.” The sad thing is innocent people are locked up because they don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer. In Bernard case he should of been giving a fine and been done. He just found himself dealing with corrupt people.
October 4, 2017
I thought this book would be interesting and I agree with several points that were brought up regarding the criminal justice system. However I couldn't move past the tone of voice in the book. The author would go back and forth from self-pitying to listing all of his accomplishments several times.
July 10, 2020
I knew Bernie back in the day and he was always a man of integrity. We all make mistakes. Forgiveness is key.
I highly recommend this book. Very educational and compelling. A very colorful life. A rollercoaster of emotions.
He takes you inside his life very vividly.
I highly recommend this book. Very educational and compelling. A very colorful life. A rollercoaster of emotions.
He takes you inside his life very vividly.
December 2, 2025
This is a really insightful book into the flaws of the criminal justice system and it jsut goes to show how such a respected an authoritative man such as kerik appointed by the president himself, can become a convicted felon for white collar crimes
August 7, 2017
how the mighty has fallen
October 6, 2017
Well done and illuminated many things that needed to be
December 14, 2018
Interesting - got a little long-winded and too much politics for my taste. Gives a sad perspective on how poorly prisoners are treated.
April 17, 2020
This book takes a while to get thru, and is to be read with a grain of salt. Interesting insight into the prison system but with a clearly biased viewpoint.
April 27, 2020
Nice to read a perspective from a former Police Commissioner and his incarceration experience.
June 23, 2020
Good insight on how broken the jail system in the United States and very relevant during our times. Not a huge fan of how patriotic the views of the author is. Relatively easy read.
July 24, 2021
Scathing commentary on the brokenness of the US penal and justice system. I’d known there were problems but this book puts a face on the numerous failures of the justice system and how it is broken.
July 4, 2022
Extremely well written account, and perfect example of a punishment not fitting the crime, motivated by politics. Highly recommend!
December 10, 2022
Reading this just seems suspect. Also, he spoke so much about 9/11 it was just strange.
October 3, 2023
Interesting follow-up to his first book.
March 14, 2017
Definitely a captivating read once you get to the why and how with his case. I didn't need to know the first part of the book about his history, but I suppose it sets the tone for his character and how he was taken advantage of through the system. Once you get his side of the story it's hard to read and still have an ounce of faith in the system.
Those in power positions would be smart to listen to him on prison reform. Let's hope we see the day it happens.
These types of books make me so angry to read how the system treats individuals for obvious political motives. It's a shame and completely unfair.
Those in power positions would be smart to listen to him on prison reform. Let's hope we see the day it happens.
These types of books make me so angry to read how the system treats individuals for obvious political motives. It's a shame and completely unfair.
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