19 Comments
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Abbey Wade's avatar

Bridget, I am so happy to be following you. I learn so much from you and pass it along and pay it forward to people in my every day life.

Thank you for opening yourself up like this. It matters.

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Bridget Young's avatar

You know, some people just feel like friends from far away and you're one already. I am honored to have you here and passing all of my angsty truths along. Thank you.

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Abbey Wade's avatar

Bring it. All of it. And all of that right back at you xo

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Laura O'Driscoll's avatar

Seconding this 100%

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Leslie Senevey's avatar

Sadly relatable once again. My sister is still in the county jail--in Texas--where they have changed the book sending requirements twice in the past few months. We are not allowed to send from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any retailer now. Only directly from publishers who do not use third party delivery services. Which is no one. Haven't been able to get a book to her in months. It is insane.

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Bridget Young's avatar

INFURIATING. 1. I can’t believe she is STILL there. Seems like it has been forever since your first note about this. 2. How can we say— with a straight face— that our system wants rehabilitation? Books are the most basic articles of human learning we can provide. Take those and you’ve taken a whole category of hope and change and evolution. Just ugh.

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Elizabeth Bohannon's avatar

Wow, you opened my eyes. Thank you for the massive energy you put into this essay. I am better for reading it.

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Bridget Young's avatar

Thank you for reading, and for letting me know. It means so much.

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Billie Best's avatar

Shouldn't there be a DOC PRISONER BILL OF RIGHTS? After all it's called the Department of Corrections. Shouldn't the Department be obligated to the core elements of rehabilitation that enable an inmate to correct their mistakes? Shouldn't the Department be required to cultivate good citizenship to ensure inmates are fit for society on release? It seems the DOC is more interested in breaking people than enabling them to recover their better judgement.

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Bridget Young's avatar

This. 100x this. Unfortunately, too many people (not just in Corrections) view 'prisoners' as non-people who gave up their rights when they broke the law. I could not agree with you more but it will take shifts in society's hard line beliefs in punishment over restitution and human growth.

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Laura O'Driscoll's avatar

Oof. My jaw dropped multiple times reading this. Your posts are an education in so many senses - what a world we live in. I love the note of hope at the end too. I’ll have a think on books but off the top of my head, if he hasn’t read it already Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett it’s a great one. Brilliant story, full spectrum of human experience/connection, and a history lesson to boot. ❤️

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Bridget Young's avatar

Thank you for reading and for your great suggestion! He has read Pillars and loved it. Please keep the recommendations coming!!

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Deb Zerafa's avatar

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is EXCELLENT! One of my favorite "keeper" books and available on Amazon.

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Bridget Young's avatar

Great option! I took him to the movie many years ago but I bet the book is better. 😉

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Deb Zerafa's avatar

The movie was not worth seeing 😖

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Bridget Young's avatar

Well, shoot, I guess I better read the book!!!

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Nick Klotz's avatar

Extreme Ownership by Jocko would make a great read.

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Bridget Young's avatar

Great suggestion. 🖤

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Joy's avatar

This makes me so frustrated. Our prison systems can be so inhumane and absurd.

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