Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks out about son's time in prison

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said as far he knows, his son has responded well to treatment and is continuing his activism of behalf of all inmates.

Jackson debunked reports of Jesse Jackson Jr.'s alleged erratic behavior.

"I know his health is better than it was when this whole ordeal began," Jackson Sr. said.

He said that reports of his imprisoned son's bizarre behavior behind bars is news to him and his family. They try to visit Jackson Jr. at least twice a month at a prison camp in Alabama.

"I visited him a couple of weeks ago, my wife visited him last week, so he is in a state of recovery," he said.

After being convicted for misusing his campaign fund, Jackson Jr. began serving his two and a half year sentence in Butner, N.C. Another inmate wrote that Jackson Jr., who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, scrubbed prison toilets with a toothbrush to repent for his crime.

Jackson Sr., who also visited junior in North Carolina, said he had no idea.

Jackson: "We did not discuss his duties."

ABC7's Charles Thomas: "But he never said anything like that to you?"

Jackson: "No."

ABC7's Charles Thomas: "That he takes a toothbrush because he feels a sense of guilt and he's scrubbing the toilets?"

Jackson: "Not to my knowledge."

Jackson Sr. said Jackson Jr. was ordered to solitary confinement at Butner when he angered guards by advising other inmates of their rights.

He was then transferred to the Alabama prison, where Jackson Sr. said his son continues the fight to reform the justice system and how society treats ex-convicts.

"People should serve their time honorably, and when they're finished with their time, they should have their rights and responsibilities restored unto them," Jackson Sr. said.

Jackson Sr. confirmed that Jackson Jr. is writing while in prison but could not confirm reports that his son has already finished two books while incarcerated. Jackson Jr. could be released as soon as Dec. 31, 2015.