NEFEATTER
Th=
CRYATHAL

PENTALTTY

Ry: Lacino llamilton, #247510
Carson ~ City Correctional
P.0. ROX 5000

carson City, M1 4:811-5000
NOTE: Feuw people, if any, will possess evary trait listed
in the following pages. Neither is this s definitive list,
meraly anne of the more common ones. They are not aluays
mxhihited an rigidly es defined. The CRIMINAL MENTALITY is
a non-entity, o pathogen resulting from ianorance,
misinformation, neglect, low self-esteem, "T" aver "WF",
orofit hefore peonle oriantation. vhich mesns, lanoranc
must be renlaced with knouladge, misinformation with
corract information, neglect uith love, low self-esteem
with self uorth, "WF® over "T", and profit before peoole
with people before profit. IT. the CRIMTNAL MFNTALTTY,
mist be defeatad!

Rafore the process of transformation from nredator to
Protectar can he accomolished (uhich is ths gosl), the
FRTMINAL MENTALITY must be defeated. Fy criminal {

aenerally mean 1iving et the expense of others: Accenting
pradatory and destructive bshavior as ontions; so-celled
ends justifylng the means. fne of the most difficult

things for most peopla is to sea themselves as they
sctuslly are. No not attempt to force racognition af thes
traits. fomoulafon is the antithesis to defeating the
FRTMTNAL MENTALTTY.

Method and tact are just ms important (sometimes morm
{mnortant) then the informmtion itself. Tt ia counter-
nroductive to confront peopla fn & combative and/or
hostile menner: Like attracts 1ike. Method end tact
reflect upon work-style and lavel of commitment, tun
thinns UE must constantly work to perfect.

The people are slusys resdyl then MR attemots fall to
oroduce the desired results, it is us, not the peonle. HF
must come saain. ne thing is for eartain, they mav heve a
ways ta qo befare thev develon the qualities of Protactor,
hut they cen if WE ere uho WE say WE ere. The
resoonsibility to effectuata transformation rest with us.
VT are the vanquard, it is MR responsibility to oo to the
front and lead by example. UF ere an example of uhat MF

are bullding. So UE must be certain that WE defeat the
FATHINAL MENTALITY that [once] exist(ed) in us.

IR main responsibility s vengusrd 1s to be thet of
inspiring, influencing, fecilitating, mentorinn, end
developing THE PENPLE to be Protectors.

Think of the CRIMINAL MENTALITY @s e - sewer. when
information is funnelad through tha CRIMINAL MENTALITY,
regardless of its accuracy, its relevance, social practice
will be foul end undesireble like a sewer. That is what
the CRIMINAL MENTALITY does to information. The CRIMINAL
MENTALITY is & uastelend. WE cennot ba both pradator snd
Protector; qangster end revolutionary; thug and servant of
the people. Before change in society occurs. change must
first occur inside of us: ALL remnants of predstory
behevior MUST be rooted out.

The follouing pages uill not accomplish the tesk alome. Tt
is @ tiny part. Hopefully W can furthar develop this into
@ ferther reaching, mors comprehensive tool to- recognize
traits uhich hinder transformation from predator to
Protector.

Ra-Aullding To Mint

Lacino Hemilton.

ANATOMY OF A CRIMINAL MENTALITY:

Constant Anger: Anger is @ basic pert of the CRIMIHAL
MERTALITY. It responds engrily to enythina it interprats
83 opposing uhat it wants for itself. Ancer s for the
CRIMINAL MFNTALITY, @ major wey of controlling peonle and
situstions. Also, CRIMINAL MENTALTTY expectations are so
unrealistic thet the world can't possibly meet them.
resulting 1n constant dismpointment and anger.

Pride: The GRIMINAL MENTALITY pride is an extremely hiah
valuation of oneself. Tt is the ides that ona is better
then others, esven when this is clearly not the cate. Pride
areserves its riold self-image ss @ poverful, totally
self-determinina oersan.

Power tactice: Tha CRIMINAL MENTALITY needs control and
ower aver others. Tta qreatest pouer excitement ls doing
the forbldden end getting sway with it. ITts need for
cower, control and dominanco show in sll aress of 1ifa.
The occasiona uhen the CRIMINAL MENTALITY appears to show
an interest in a responsible activity sre generally viewed
s ooportunities to exercise pouer and control.

Concrets thinking: Tha GRIMINAL MENTALITY tends to think
in term of particular ohjectives and events, rather than
aeneral end shstract conceots. Tt has a herd time
neneralizina, seeina outalde the moment.

Und The CRIMINAL MENTALITY emphasizes its total
difference from other peonla. Tt feels itself tn be
snectal, "one of & kind."

Sexuslity: The CRIMTNAL MENTALITY has had plenty of sexunl
exneriances, hut 1ittle in the wev of senaunl
aratification of competance in performance. fonquest is
masential, and a partner in reqerded as a oostesaion. A
hictnry of sexual ehusivaness or irresponsibilitv is
Avident in almoat all cases.

Feelinga: The CRTHTWAL MENTALTTY 1ivas primarilv with a
Tramn work of thinking and bshavior. Fantions are vieusd
an wsnk--has lost touch of its imner world of feelinns.

Lying: For tha CRIMTNAL MENTALITY, lving 1s & wey of 1ife.
Lying ia incornorated into its basic meke-up end feedn
other criminal patterns. More common than nremeditated
Jwing 1s hahitusl lying, which becomes sutomatic. Thr

COTATHAL MENTALITV definea reality wdth ltes mod an
mnintatne control.
The CATMTNOL MENTALTTY amva “T rantss +n

TAfusAl tn et teannnainlv. (2t the ammn time
it baliaves thers is nothing it can't o that 1+ o
tn.) The FATMINAL MENTALTTY mava T can'er 4o semane
Accountehility for vhat 1+ doms.

The_victim stance: ihen the COTMINAL MPNTALTTY fe held
accountehla for ite irresonnaible sction, it hlames nthers
and portravs iteslf ms & victim. The world does nn% afy
1t uhat Lt thinks it is entitled to. S0 1+ vieys 1tnelf an
nonTly treated end, thus. victim.

Lack of time perspective: Fven more than wantino what it
wAnts whan It wants 1, the CRIMTNAL MENTALTTY cemands
immeciste oossession AN success. Tt muet he the heat,
have the best and have 1+ all rioh® now.

Fallure to put onesslf in snother's place: The nrTeTuA
MENTALTTY deelines to take responaihls Initintiyes hace
(m) they fail +o orovide the sxcitemant and nmuar throes
of forbldden nmctivities; (h) they rn nne nrovide o
nuatantes nf aiccesa and triumnh: And (m) mecanting
TRInONAthle taska may mwnoee Lt lack o nn
nentness.

[Romg—

Lack of trust: Althounh the CRTNTHAL MENTALTTV dnme et
Erust others, 1% demands that nthers truat 15, Thers ara
tlmes uhen Lta trust of athera Ja sincera, St thie

only rne of manu franmenta nf Lta naraanalisy. T+ dnec ant
1ant.

The TRTMINAL SCRTALTTY dnme 114+ sn

croacitien. Tt is nor will be "the heat,® nevar shat i+
Will dn 1% heat. Tt fa ciah® end others are wranno-then T
Knou snmathing ta tioht and anmenne +alle ma §+'a wamn, T

+uelly ger wan...Tf T near souehody say anything urong, T
nrally £ry to sat tnem right--then confined, it regards
itself as anre knouledqaahle than the staff and seizes
cvery Gpportunity ta’ teach othars.

fellure to meke an effort or endure adversity: "fffort"
refers to dolng things tnat ere contrary to uhat one
srofers ta do. Tn this sense the CRIMINAL MENTALITY
@xpenos little effort, though it may expend tremendous
“nergy aoing what it wants to do. It reuses to endurs the
saversity of responsiole living. The main adversity to the
CATMINAL MENTALTTY is failure to ba a big shot. Adversity
i3 anything tnat is not going ite way. The CRIMINAL
@7 TALTTY escepes from this edversity into criminal
tnouant ana ection, wnich is exciting.

Poor cecision-meking for responsible living: In important

personal declsions, thers is no sound ressoning, fact
findina or consideration of cost or options. Tha CRIMINAL
MECTALTTY 1s reluctant to ask a question about nan-
criminal activities, bscause it vieus it as @ put doun to
reveal 1ta ignorance. Tf its pretension end expectations
ara converted by the facts, it does not want to hear them.

uper optimism: Tna CITMINAL MENTALITY works in such e way
That a possibility or en assumption is an accomplished
fact: An idea 13 a reality. If someona tells it "maybe,"
1t regards it as a promise. Anything that it decides to do
is a3 good as done. The CRIMINAL MENTALITY uses "cutoff"
td eliminate fear und doubt. The result is that as it
@anrosches @ eriminal activity it reaches a state of

lute recponsible person, it is super optimistic of its

success. Once it decides, it will belleve that the change
nus already occurred.

Drugs end eleohol: Suhstence abuse is highly sssociated
uith violent and criminal benavior. The CRIMINAL MENTALITY
is likely to b2 an abuser and use is frequently involved
sitn its asiaultive benavior.

A _poor work history: The CRIMINAL MEMTALITY scorns work.
Tt Tefuses to get a job, changes johs franuently, cen't
hold @ job end experiences conflict with supervision. Tt
believes its self worth is equsl to the wege that is set
by the market and not its velues, morals and socisl
pratice

Money: The CRIMINAL MENTALITY has @ poor concept of money
management. Financial security is not important. Money is
valued only as a measure of success and to play the role
of big shot.

The CRIMINAL MENTALITY _s the product of years of
conditioning. It hes been influenced by family, friend
lovers, sociel groups, conversation, music, television,
movies, school, banks...interests which regard surviving
st the expense of others ms the way of sstisfying nueds
and wants.

This mentality explains society and people by reaction and
reaction only, uithout supposing there to be any capacity
to ect outside of external influences. The FRTMTNAL
MENTALITY has, of courss, strengthened the notion that
"competing” is sll there is; for if that is sll there is
to consider, 1f there is no possibility of e different
way, then obviously the CRIMINAL MENTALITY cennot see the
possibility of cresting instesd of rescting; and reacting
sems the logicsl mesns of subjecting society and people
to its control. If others lie, it uill lie. T others are
selfish. it will be selfish. Tf others ara cold and
callous, it uill be cold and callous. Tf others cheat. rob
and murder, it will do the same. The MRTMTWAL MENTALTTY
has no conntructive answers to questions of how life could
he lived.

The SATTNAL MENTALTTV, conditioned tn react, presesses an
unhealthy craving for outside influences. Accustomed to
hainn fad from without by a flow of criminal thouchts and
imeaes. Tt calls for these things because thev strenqthen
+he FRTMINAL MFNTALTTY--which is weak by nature.

® nentality conditioned as such will clearly show tuo
characteristica: Tt will he nredatory and suffer from the
nerd for nuantity over quality.

The predatary hehavior is the product of the sociel
nattern. canitaliam i.e., conatant competition, survival
of the firteat, dnq-eat-dog. Producing the loss of
internst in uhat ie qood for others (family, friends,
lovers, *he netahborhood, etc.); and the need for quantity
ovar nuality is, ton, a product of the social pattern.

ornductnn @ losa of interest in morala, princioles and
vnlue:

The CRIMTNAL MENTALITY is not criminal heceuss it violates
this or that lmw (though the CRIMINAL MENTALTTY certainly
respects nn lau), the CRINTHAL MENTALTTY is criminal
hocause it accepts living st the exnense of others.
Pacause its success depands on capitelizing on the
fanorance. vices and shortcoming of others.

That the CRTMINAL MENTALITY aspires to batter shous it to
he dissatinfied uith its present conditions; and in such
dissatisfaction lles the cepacity for change--from
aredator to Protector.

The goal here is to oresent @ simple but comnrehensive
view of the CRTMTNAL MENTALITY and the realization that it
is the result of social pattern, and can he defested. The
errors it induces ere so disastrous that it 1s the first
ohstacle to be cleored out the way if the tranaformation
from predator to orotector is to be accomnlished.

Uhen sver a small group of Blacks gather for some purpose
more sarious than a card party, [repression follous].
Militent Black lssdership is 1iks being on a bomb squed.
confidence in your skills snd a courage sble
that you're messing
uith dynsmits, but someone has to do it. Mne mistake and
you're gone. Sometime you're gone uhether or not you meke
mistaks.

Michael Eric Dyson

Arn Ralsed fioh, Fist flinched.

fere seems to be confusion over the meaninn 0
REVOLUTTAM TS NUTLAIFD TH AMERTEA. Some ect es if this
aives them carts hlanche to engage in oredatorv hehavior.
come strictly out for self, othara raking occasional
contributions to the strunqle. Fither wny mxtreme hatn fs
heing done. tours, davs. months, years of cracinilivy
(thet others prohably hullt) can be deatroved by one
predatorv act disouised as revolution; or envehinn
supooardly desioned to heln the neocle--in the end

Non't qet me wrona, revolution is outlawsd in America. £11
peaple sponsored initiatives desianed tn take contrnl of
MR 1ives ere outleued. However, YT have tn under=tand
what this means. Hhen Afrikens uere kidnanoed and nlaced
on ships heeded for America (as uell ss other nlaces), it
uas outlswed to jumn overboard or attemnt to take control
of the shin. fonfined to <outhern plantatinns, 1+ une
outlausd to make a Tun far fanada. Peading and uri<ing nae
nutlmsed. Nfter so-cellmd smancipation. nefne water
fountaine and other “nuhlic factlf+ies that wern Aot

cesionared colored or nanro was outlewed. Nsking for
suffraqe was outlawed. Asking for decent housing.
education and emplovment was outlaued. No you follow? ALl
attenpts to liberste NUR-selv prevent lynchings,
ssaregation. discrinination, and disfranchisement in the
'niterd States i and has been outlaued.

Thers sre a lot of people who are suare that ILS.
institutions fevor the propertied class; and sre auare
*hat the euthority and nower used to keen us unemployea,
roke and pinned in ghettos isn't lenitimate. And
riahtfully sa, they refect that authority and pover. ihen
“F don't show un on election day 1s isn't apathy, IIF know
that chaosing hetuean "the lesser of the tuo evils" means
2vil still wins. then WF run from the police it fsn't
hocause WE heve prohlems with suthority, it is because
“ornoy King, Tyesha Miller and Malice Green are the norm,
not tne exceotion. Hhen IFf drop out of school it fsn't
ause 1F are dumb, far from it. The schools aren't
teaching us the things WF need to knou to do more then
survive. Like making OUR femilies whole again; getting
crack-cocaine out the neighborhood; or how to transform
nedohborhoons into communities.

and so much more, s no excuse for
of othars. And it definitely is no
2xcuse for those who sey they ore working on behalf of THE
PLE to brutalize, rob end murder. 1 know it s -
difficult to be both righteous and hungry. To be righteous -
and homeless. To ba righteous and umemployed. 1 know that

Tast money, sometimes sleczy money can satisfy all thoss °
needs and some wants, too. Honestly, it isn't mbout being
“riahteous,” 1t is about being responsible for NiR-selves -
and UR families. Ahout being mothers and fathers, young

Ten and young women. About being hard-uorkers, frugal

industrious, creative, biuger than the condition UE are |
oorn into; and sometimes create for ourselves. It is about |
S2ing “rotectorn.

Tt is cne tning to reject 1LS. profit fefore ped
militarism and hegesony, but, minicking it accunplisnio
nothing. UF have to organize tne people around collective
econamics, solving problems via comprosise, and collective
vork and responsibility. UE must stop running from tns
police end organize neighborhoods to police the palice.
And 1if the scnools eren't tasching us, MR best anc
brightest have to toke the time to teach. Tf they refuse
to, WE must tesch (UR-selves. IIE are dropping out not
hecause UF don't want to learn but because the school:
sren't tesching us, rignt? There is no excuss for us to
know as little es UE do.

VE are not the first generation to be oenied s qualit:
- education. employment, decent housing. health core. and
sll the necessary resources to do more than just survive.
And like past generations, HE cannot sit idly by and
complain or "get mine" while you "get your's." UE, s nen.
@s uomen, as young men end women, have to protact NiIR
humanity snd project NUR humenity. There is no excuse for
vior. 1 know it is oifficult, that is what
makes it a struggle. The opportunities that exist
renurdluss of hou marginal, WF must make tha mast of thes
Ihere none exist, they must be manufectured. Perior!
Rehavior thet justifies IR imprisonment and/or death is
dishonoreble. Nruas, pornography, theft, crass materialism
based entertainment, and other ways of trying to escape
reslity may offer a modicum of financial relief, but st
what expensa--The people's expense; NUR oun familie
frionds and neighborhoods? That is not what WE are
building. Unila oppression, exploitation and degradation
are real, UE are not in the game of blaming. Fqual to any
amount of blame to go around is responsibility. And iiF
aren't in the gums of justifying predatory benavior.

ferious

A LETTER TN pATSANER ARTTVTST

wm 1% 1iatening:

Srisnner's determinatinn to spsak and act on their own
hehalf has produced the greatest strain uhere it is lesat
exnected: In mllisnce with individuals end nroups which
Zlsim t0 be workina on hehalf of prissnera; Tncludina
nroune that are makina aatns in reforming prison nolicies.
nearadurea and practices. thy the ateain?

Th

renson rest In the paternal-child character of the

ce hetusen mctiviat and prisoners--particularly in
fact that prisnners denend on activiet hacmuse the
<trannth of nrisonera fa tno (naionificant (at thia time)
“~ offer eny possihility of hrinaing mhout the neceseary
rhennes. freating An underlving anfmus from (1) Ant heing
atyen the opnortunity tn bulld areater strenoth; and (2)
not kelng shle to put front and center tha feaues and
Arohleme mast Amanresnt and dear tn them.

o

*a a reqult prisoners have not really trusted ectivie
nrisnnera have aluays suspected that ectiviat are someho
hemefiting or neotesting thelr own intersst, and anv
homafits +het prisoners receive are mersly sacondarv
nraemnuancen. The fact that this i belna expressed,
“enause thess suepizions are whispersd all the +ime
anywhara prisoners nather, will ceuse some activist to
froun, nrunhle and utter wnrde 1l inanorecistive end
smarataful. Nlemissing thia tenl and ramnant enncern emon
n~tannara, hecaiuna? They can. Since whan dn parents 1iaten
“n #ha cencerna of childran?

Fricnnere enprectate that anvone la concernad with
anvthinn that onea on in prisan--feu oeanls are. fut the
relationehin hetumen activiat and neisonera s that nf
~arant and ghilA. Yot mitually mature intereats ynriine on

.
el intellectual levals. Rctivist have not learnes th7%
1f prisonera are to be tranaformed, the bulk af the wer'
nust be done by prisoners. Prisoners renuire sunnost ns
Soposed to parental fiaures who oive commands. Thinee have
o be done by orisoncrs even if they are not done an well

ctivist need to abendon thelr tradition of atvina
commands and their hahit of soeakina far, and ~ctind for.
orisoners. The ectivirt role must he limited o
facilitetor, ooening channels So that nrisgner vnices =0
he heard and Lntarasta acted unon.

A bia part of the strain hatwsen activiat and orizpaers io
that when the strungle for chenge in prison maves hevond
orose end critiques, the majoritv of activist are

_reluctant tn move slona with if. For examnle. it wes
recently sungested to an activist avoun who has unied
long end diligently to reduce the orice of nrisoner chone
“colls to procose in thelr news lettar that not usino th
phone may expedite the reruction in cost. linder th thmorv
that less damend for n service louers the orice. T
suganation was deemed "radical® and too much like callinn
for ® boycott. Rightly or uronaly. nrisaners receive this
sort of cunicism. The queatinn was naked of the armn
would they continia tn use m servise thae uas exnloitinn
tham? Prisanars are atill writing an A stratant fapeoss
vas or nn.

They sra for prisoner's objectives. chev cau, bt the
cannnt relinauish the lead s nesume @ sunacetiva enle,
n somegne nnce sALd, "uhen you sev At von Anrae 9 A
thing in orineipla, vou mean that vmi heum pnt the
slinhtest ntantton nn carryine L6 aut in nrantics.®

Tf astiviat want to adnit 10 or not, §f nrismners asy f+
fopenlv] or not, thera sre fundamentsl cifferancna hat
hinder onrester accomnlishments: Prisoners have
1ittle, Lf anvthina, tn lose and uoat tn rake more da-ine
attemota tn carcect a moreunt nriagn systen, phereps i
Aetiuter alliea nften haun raresre. ficancial o sor

- llence, the latter have a
;77 Mnteraat in not pusning tn hard o fast, in the sema
0f maintalning relationshins with the very forc
chuse nrisonurs much more than "discomfort.” Prisoners are
uffering enotional. psyehological and social demage, seme
37 it irreparable.

|f orisoners are to galn control of their lives, it s

:3santial, tnerefore, that tney tekc the initlative in
lction on their oun behalf. And for activist, those who
allv ctund by orisoners and helieve in their humanity,
fo suaport those initiatives. Prisoners must be agents of
nedr oun transfornation onposed to recipients of oarental
ke charity.

n henalf of orisoncrs who are ready to stand un and take
tne lend.

LETTER TO THE UANGUARD

¥ are approaching THE PEIVLE uith @ lot of rhotoric. WF

#T8 N2t oraanizing them around concrete dey-to-dsy issues
imortant to them. TF I don't organize them the schools,
pdlicz and courts uill organize them for correctional
“uzilitios.

in unerevsr THE OFNPLE are: on the cormer, in

smoloyrent 1ines, crack dens, prisons, shelters, hack of

[7e nark, houses of worship--The poole who sre struanling

7 tmen “he rent un. linhts on and families uhole have the
)T 0otential, not to mention ore the most in need. They

TR the ones with a refined fmanination--daily they make
237thing out of nothing.

7 sorothinn, nn matter hou small it fs. Meeomplish
nc tn sho: that effort con he reunrded. From their

",
arqanize and take on hiager tarqets. And #his iord St i
oftan misunderatand. movement, is a collective thino. 'nt
You, me o ua, hut a1l of us. bho cores han many hanks
Yoad? Tf yon havan't masterad sarving the pennls, oot
ey P. Neutonta, T0 DTE FAR TWT PEEOLE, and T
Chakn's. MRT AF LEANERENTR.

WE have this "servant of thn peonle’ +hinn canfir
like the democrate and renuhlicans have i+ confuserd
1ike the police snd crerts have it eanfused. Ceruonte
serve, they don't dictate and command. They keen nuite and
iaten, and when they dn +alk, §+ 1= uanelly tn under-tant
how thay an serve hettmr. T+ fsn't s, N don't make the
strungle. Tt in an iamie orientsd thina. M€ are evmhols,
examplas tn the unornanized, undiscinlined sod
tn heln tham raconnize AU collactive

et

s

power .

Tf WE are dolng Anvthing other than thi=. 1€ ete o0
giffarant than thooe who created thia dull reslity

“,
SOUTH GHICAGO A0
Z1HE DISTHO

POF T