Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was whisked away to prison for up to 5 years last month, after a judge determined that he had been lying about his ability to make $1 million in restitution payments to his former city.

Now, that same judge must decide if Kilpatrick is eligible for a boot camp program that could put him on the streets in 90 days.

Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said that inmates who successfully complete the boot camp program, which involves military exercises and work assignments, are paroled.

Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner sentenced Kilpatrick last month and issued some harsh words in the process:

"Frankly, your continued attempt to cast yourself as the victim, your lack of forthrightness, your lack of contriteness and your lack of humility serve to affirm that you have not learned your lesson," the judge said.




Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, after it was shown that he lied under oath regarding his affair with a staff member in a whistle blower lawsuit. In addition to jail time and giving up his law license, Kilpatrick agreed to repay $ 1million in restitution to the city of Detroit.

Kilpatrick got a job with a medical firm in Dallas and was accused of hiding over $300,000 in loans, gifts and tax refunds that should have been used to repay his debt to Detroit.

Kilpatrick, once a promising young politician, seems to have chosen money and debauchery over doing the right thing. If I had already destroyed my career and my marriage, served jail time, lost my law license and was once again facing serious jail time, the last thing I would be doing is obstructing the truth about my finances.

Maybe Kilpatrick needs a boot camp–style program to help him learn self-restraint and goal planning. It seems he had some of those things before, but lost his way when he became a powerful mayor.

The only reason for the judge to not send Kilpatrick to jail was so that he could pay the money he owes back to the struggling city of Detroit. Maybe now that Kilpatrick can see that the judge is not playing and that he will be sent back to prison if he doesn't comply with court orders, he will come out of prison a changed man.

Whether that's three or 17 months from now is up to the judge.