Previously Imprisoned Pol Offers Advice For Kruger

Instead of shelling out thousands of dollars on a prison consultant before pleading guilty, former State Senator Carl Kruger could have just talked to someone who was in his shoes a couple of years ago.

Formerly incarcerated Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith appeared on The Brooklyn Politics Show to talk about his time in prison, and he offered a piece of advice to soon-to-be-sentenced Kruger.

“My main piece of advice for him would be to just go there and be positive and finds way he can help other inmates. There’s lots of ways you can help people and burnish your reputation in there so that you have an easier time and you can continue doing good,” said Smith. “I’m sure when he first got into public service, he did it probably for the right reason and then things got mixed up a little bit.”

Smith, who is now a professor at the New School of Management and Urban Policy in New York City, also recounted his first fight that took place during a game of basketball.

“My first fight was on the basketball court and it wasn’t like a big fight. It was somebody who just got really rough with me and I probably should of backed down but I continued dribbling and sort of playing, some would say, a fancy way that kind of antagonized the person who was playing defense on me,” said Smith. “He ended up giving me a bloody lip and then someone else broke us up.”

As for what to hope for during the sentencing, Smith said to “hope you’re under 10 years because if you’re under 10 years you can go to a minimum security facility.”

Check out the interview – Smith is an entertaining speaker with insight into an experience few of us (hopefully) will share.