Thursday, November 16, 2023
Dear Mary, Kara, Kristen and family,
My heart is with you as you mourn the loss of Mike, your Husband, Dad, Granddad, Brother and Uncle. We join you in missing Mike, the wonderful man and leader.
During the 5 years Mike served as BOP Director, I was privileged to observe and learn from his leadership in action. I offer just two of many possible examples that reflect the compassionate, caring person Mike was.
First, Mike appreciated greatly and spoke often about BOP staff dedication and commitment to the Bureau's mission, as well as the support provided and sacrifices made by staff families. As Director, Mike worked to enhance career development and work-life policies and to minimize stresses on staff families.
Second, Mike strongly supported the efforts by incarcerated individuals to make significant life changes while in BOP custody, generally referred to then as the process of "rehabilitation." This process would prepare them to return to the community after release as good citizens and family members and to avoid a return to crime. And, of course, Mike invariably recognized the work of staff to provide the programs, treatment, training and security that enabled inmates to make such significant life changes. In his frequent presentations to staff, Mike would reinforce that the rehabilitative process had been an explicit part of the Bureau's mission since the time of the first BOP Director, Sanford Bates. Furthermore, Mike wisely and compassionately in virtually all presentations to staff and stakeholders, expanded the concept of rehabilitation to what he called a "3-part responsibility" or a process akin to a 3-legged stool. The roles of inmates and staff function as the first 2 legs, with the third leg being the equally important role of the community in providing help and support to the individual returning home from prison. Mike remained stalwart on the importance of the rehabilitative process throughout the late 1980's and 1990's, in the face of high crime rates and the "war on drugs" that made incarceration per se the primary political and popular response to crime.
Thank you for your leadership, Director Quinlan. Thank you for your friendship, Mike. May you rest in peace.
Tom Kane
