249: NY State Prison to Media Spokesperson on Prison Issues

Media Spokesperson on Prison

Erik Jensen on Earning Freedom

At the very tender age of 11, Erik Jensen was living in an abusive, single parent household with daily violence fueled by alcoholism. He sought escape on the streets, committing theft, selling and using drugs, and was always in trouble with the law until Erik found himself in some of the worst prisons in New York.

From his late teens to mid-twenties Erik was convicted on an array of charges including Robbery in the Second Degree, Promoting Prison Contraband, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree. He ended up serving 12 years collectively in the New York State Department Of Corrections. He did his time at Greene, Franklin, Watertown, Bare Hill, Five Points, Attica, and in 2011-2012 at the now infamous Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York. It was there he became well acquainted with inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt. On June 6, 2015, the two convicted murderers pulled off one of the most daring prison escapes in recent history.

During his imprisonment Erik was witness to atrocities perpetrated against fellow inmates by several of the guards. He also observed abominable behavior inflicted on inmates by each other, convincing him that the U.S. penal system takes in the bad and instead of rehabilitating, it makes them worse.

Erik is a self-taught scholar in the field of prisoner transformation. He uses his own personal experience to revitalize the mind and spirits of men and women who have shared a similar path in life. Through his words, Erik illustrates that we are much more than the worst thing we’ve ever done, and that the potential for doing good resides within every one of us.

Given his vast knowledge of the Department of Corrections; Clinton Correctional Facility; David Sweat, Richard Matt and their escape; their accomplices, civilian worker Joyce Mitchell and guard Gene Palmer; plus the barbaric culture of the prison system, Erik Jensen is a consultant on an array of projects with television networks and major motion picture production companies. He is a producer for an upcoming Netflix series, based on the Clinton escape; directed by Jodie Foster, and Executive Produced by Bryan Zuriff and Brett Johnson of Ray Donovan and Mad Men.

Erik has been interviewed more than 40 times live on over a dozen networks, including CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, HLN, TWC, PIX11, WNYT13; plus numerous other news media, such as GQ, People, and Time magazines. He has appeared and played a prominent role in television specials: Nightline, Outside The Wall, The Great Prison Break, Inside Edition, Up Close with Marvin Scott, 360 Anderson Cooper, Outfront with Erin Burnett, At This Hour with John Berman and Kate Balduan, and Dateline: “The Accomplice” with Matt Lauer.

Erik continues to share his views with the world by consulting on disturbing issues in the prison system nationwide, such as corruption, physical and mental abuse, and the long-term effects of solitary confinement. He has participated in myriad televised debates hosted by award winning journalists such as Deborah Feyerick, Randi Kaye, and Jessica Schneider.

Erik is a regular guest speaker on numerous Dutchess County Legislator forums concerning criminal justice reform, and makes weekly guest appearances on County Legislator Joel Tyner’s radio show on WVKR 91.3 FM.

He is also frequently invited to the “Earning Freedom” podcast. A California based show created by Michael Santos that is broadcasted in jails and prisons nationwide.

SUNY New Paltz welcomes Mr. Jensen every semester to speak with students studying Criminology. He also volunteers at Redhook Residential Youth Facility, where he shares his story of recovery and redemption with juvenile delinquents.

Erik is currently a contributing writer at Unheard Voices magazine. See: www.unheardvoicesmag.com

He also volunteers with numerous criminal justice reform organizations including but not limited to: Cut50, Prisoner’s Legal Service, and Beacon Prison Action. His memoir is due out in 2017.

MEDIA EXPERIENCE:

ABC: Nightline

Contacted by Yu Fanting

Interviewed by Juju Chang

ABC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and 20/20

Contacted and interviewed by Linzie Janis (interview used on all three shows)

CBS: CBS News

Contacted and interviewed by Jessica Schneider

NBC: Dateline: “The Accomplice” with Matt Lauer

Contacted by Cassandra Marshall

Interviewed by Cassandra Marshall & Matt Lauer

NBC News

Contacted by Laura Allenbaugh

Interviewed by Chelsea Damberg

CNN: Anderson Cooper360

Contacted by Kari Pricher

Interviewed by Anderson Cooper (twice)

Outfront with Erin Burnett

Contacted by Kayte Steinmetz

Interviewed by Erin Burnett (seven times)

CNN Newsroom:

Contacted and interviewed by Brooke Baldwin (twice)

At This Hour with Berman and Balduan

Contacted by Marie Malzberg

Interviewed by John Berman and Kate Balduan (five times)

The Great Prison Escape: CNN Special Report

Contacted and interviewed by Randi Kaye

Fredricka Whitfield

Contacted by Sarah Edwards

Interviewed by Fredricka Whitfield

CNN Remote studio interview

Contacted and interviewed by Carol Costello for later broadcast and syndication

Deborah Feyerick (documentary)

Contacted and interviewed by Deborah Feyerick

PIX-11: Special Report

Contacted by Veronica Rosario

Interviewed by Kori Chambers and Sukanya Krishnan

Up Close with Marvin Scott

Contacted by Ellyn Marks

Interviewed by Marvin Scott

MSNBC: Special Report

Contacted by Tara Ayers

Interviewed by Tamron Hall

WNYT-13-NBC: Special Report

Contacted and interviewed by Jessica Layton

TIME WARNER CABLE SPECIAL: Behind the Wall

Contacted and interviewed by Michael Howard

GQ MAGAZINE

Contacted and interviewed by Cole Louison

PEOPLE MAGAZINE

Contacted and interviewed by Jeff Truesdell

NY POST (two page spread)

Contacted and interviewed by Jamie Schram

TIME MAGAZINE ONLINE

(My sound bites used in an article on The Great Escape)

GAWKER MAGAZINE

Contacted and interviewed by Gabrielle Bluestone

SIRIUS XM RADIO – Channel 121 with Margaret Hoover.

Contacted and interviewed by Margaret Hoover

Channel 45 (Shade45) – Sway in the Morning Show

SHOPFM

National Internet Radio Show

NPR – In depth interview with Brian Mann

AREAS OF ANALYSIS INCLUDE:

A strong knowledge of the structure of the New York State Department of Corrections, the Criminal Justice System, the Court System, and Law.
Prison Life
Corruption inside Correctional Facilities
Escape from Prison
Relationships between Corrections Officers/Employee’s and Prisoners inside Prison
The Criminal Mind
Re-Entry
Rehabilitation
The Effects of Long Term Solitary Confinement
Prison Reform