Bio

Michael "Prison Mike" Cantrell

Michael Cantrell is a 29-year veteran of Corrections, retiring as Chief of the Office of Emergency Preparedness for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He led special response teams, disturbance control units, and canine operations, and is recognized as a leading expert in correctional breaching operations and use of force. He is a certified instructor in firearms, non-lethal weapons, and disturbance control.

His new memoir, The Weight of Justice, takes readers inside a career spent navigating the gray space between order and chaos — the decisions made in seconds, the weight carried for years, and what it truly costs to serve in America's most demanding profession. It is an unflinching look at corrections work told from the inside.

Michael is also the author of Power Skills: Emotional Intelligence for High-Stakes Professionals (2025), The Keys to Your Career in Corrections, Finding Your Purpose, and Born of the Ozarks, as well as a series of children's books.

As host of The Prison Officer Podcast, he is one of the most influential voices in corrections today. Michael reaches thousands of officers, administrators, and advocates each week. His work has appeared in over 50 published articles across the ILEETA Journal, CorrectionsOne.com, and American Jails Magazine.

A sought-after speaker and trainer, Michael presents on leadership, emotional intelligence, crisis response, and career resilience for corrections professionals and first responders nationwide.

To book Michael for your event or conference, contact him at mike@theprisonofficer.com or visit www.theprisonofficer.com.