Can people change?

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Disagreement about this basic question makes it difficult to find support for prison reform and rehabilitation programs.  Why should we put taxpayer money toward educating or rehabilitating criminals, critics ask. Why should we be worried about prison conditions? Aren’t those people getting what they deserve?

 

It’s common knowledge that the U.S. incarcerates citizens at a rate four times higher than other Western nations. Politicians on both sides of the aisle, from Former President Obama to Newt Gingrich, have called for reform. During his presidency, President Obama reinstated Pell Grants for prisoners and commuted the sentences of more than 1,300 nonviolent offenders. Even as Obama opened doors to reform, however, the new president is calling for tough-on-crime policies. In addition, public opinion has a long way to go before people get behind reform, especially if there is cost involved. 

 

So how do you change people’s minds? How can you help them see ex-offenders as human beings with enormous potential, too much potential to waste? 

 

It is by telling individual stories, like the ones in this podcast. The men and women we interview here have fought uphill battles to make amends for their mistakes and to build new lives that contribute to their communities. But we will let them tell you themselves.