Advice to Ryan: You can't change things now

If Ambrosio Medrano has any piece of advice for George Ryan, it's this:

Don't "dwell on what's happened. A person can become pretty bitter," said the former Chicago alderman Monday.

Medrano, a Democrat, and George Ryan, the former Republican governor, have one thing in common: Oxford, Wis.

That's where Medrano served his time for taking bribes as an alderman, and it's where Ryan's lawyers say he's slated to serve his time for his conviction on trading governmental contracts for favors for himself and family members.

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Medrano went to prison in 1996 and emerged in 1998. Recently, he tried to regain his old seat on the city council but was disqualified after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled felons can't run for office.

The best thing Ryan can do is put his time to good use and not think about whether he got a fair deal or not, Medrano said. Doing that can drive you crazy.

"You can't change things now, so you get on with your life," recommended Medrano.

When Ryan gets to Oxford, he probably won't get a warm reception from the prison administration.

"Corrupt politicians, corrupt police officers, corrupt attorneys are generally looked down upon" by administrators, Medrano said.

"I assume that it's because we've so-called 'betrayed the public trust,'" surmised Medrano. "We're held to a higher level of standard."

While that didn't translate into any abuse, it did lend itself to wisecracks, he said.

Staff there told him, "If you think you're going to be holding a press conf here, forget about it," the former alderman said.

"I guess they let you know that you're not in for any special treatment," he said.

Part of their ire, speculates Medrano, is because of the fact that before they receive a famous prisoner, prison administrators are besieged with calls from the media, which makes them resent the prisoner.

Former Gov. Dan Walker, who went to prison in Duluth, Minn., recalled in a recent book that a warden there decided to make a particular example of him and took him off chapel duty to make him clean toilets.

Walker also recalled that he witnessed a cellmate get raped in prison.

Medrano said George doesn't need to fear that in Oxford.

"It's not a very physical experience. For the most part, it's doing your time. It's not that hard. The difficult part is the mental part."

But for those who think prison is a walk in the park, it's not, says Medrano.

"I don't think people should be calling any prison facility ... a club fed," said Medrano. "Make no bones about the fact you're in prison ... you're under regimented supervision"

There may not be bars at Oxford, or barbed wire on the minimum-security campus, but you're a prisoner just the same. If you get any ideas about making a run for it, it's an automatic five years added to your sentence.

"Should an emergency arise, there's absolutely nothing you can do to assist your family. So you've got a complete sense of helplessness," noted Medrano.

But the reality is, once you're there, you're there, and Medrano said Ryan should make the most of it.

"What I mean by that is, get into a regular routine where you know the time is going to pass rather quickly," Medrano said.