Bridget, thank you for this piece. It hit me hard. I was a U.S. Marine. I was also a cop. NYPD. And then I was an inmate. I spent 5 years in prison, and out of those years, almost three and a half were in solitary confinement. I went in believing, like so many do, that prison was supposed to rehabilitate, that it would “fix” me, teach me something, straighten me out. What I found instead was what you described: idleness, violence, shame, and a system that has no real interest in making people whole again. I am not rehabilitated. That word doesn’t even feel true. What I am is lucky. Lucky because I had certain things stacked in my favor, my background, my ability to read and write, and my stubbornness to not let the box kill me. But most of the men I was locked in with didn’t have those same advantages, and they got ground down into dust. Prison didn’t heal me or prepare me to re-enter the world. I did that work myself once I got out, and even then, it was uphill every step. The truth is, the system is designed to punish and contain, not to transform. And like you and Troy said, painting over a crumbling foundation doesn’t make the house livable. I appreciate you giving space to voices from the inside. Too often, people talk about us instead of with us. I’ll be following Part Two closely, because this is the conversation we need to keep having: not how to polish the system, but how to replace it with something that actually gives people a chance to live better. I’ll DM you again, we should talk sometime. You're an amazing writer, congrats on all of your writing!
All I can say is that this is why I write. Connecting us to reality and to real people. I can't tell you how happy I am that we've 'met' in this space. I'm thankful for you, your continuing story, and for all of the support you give others as well. Talk soon!
Best line of this post: "Where the energy goes, the person grows." The research and first-person experiences you share in this post are VERY impactful. Looking forward to part 2!
Substack is full of the most beautiful, inspiring content... and yours is one that gives me a break from all of the crap I write about. To have your support here is so meaningful because it isn't just a blog for reform types or political folks or even social justice warriors. It's for people back home. It's for regular folk who do regular things and live their lives unaware that these things are real. I hope everyone goes over to your stack and subscribes and looks at the beautiful backroad photos/inspo you give every day.
Thank you so much, Bridget. I will continue reading your intriguing and enlightening posts. There’s so much out there people don’t understand about the prison system and you’re helping unveil all of it.
Wonderful duet with Troy. Two great writers and two fiercely intelligent people going back and forth. Thank you for putting this out there Bridget. You’re a bright light in a dark culture that’s getting darker.
Goodness I am learning a lot from you, your son and Troy. Thank you so much, please let them all know. I had no idea, have never thought about any of this; my own life has not been touched by our justice system - in fact I do what I can to keep out of all systems, if possible. But you are all awakening me to the ongoing tragedy that is occurring. Thank you. I look forward to part 2
Goodness, thank you. We don't know what we don't know and we're all learners (if we listen to others). Thank you for the insight and encouragement-- stay tuned!
Yes, thanks for this question. There are, of course, the Norwegian examples that we love to discuss but they don't translate the same to a very different culture. For instance, in Norway, gun violence is not really a thing. Also, there are only about 3,000 incarcerated people in Norway so we have a numbers problem right from the start. Stay tuned and thank you for always asking the important questions!
I started crying when I read this. I am having an emotional day. Haha. But I cried because I think of the times I have messed up big and small. I remember the times where I was criticized by adults and how that made me create stories about myself. And reading Troy's point of view really saddened me knowing yes, we all have messed up and some more than others. But it is how we show up for each other in those moments. My heart aches for your son, for Troy and the others in prison who haven't been given a proper and nurturing environment and the chance to make right of their wrong.
Thank you for shining a light on this subject. You are such a kind, powerful and compassionate human. Continue with this work because it does matter.
Thank you for your heart, Brandi, and for supporting this work. We're all guilty of mistakes, like you're saying, big and small. Some of us didn't get caught and some of us had supports that protected us from further decline. Thank you for breaking stigma and seeing humans just as we are. I'm grateful for you.
This is what I want: "What if we made prison intake the beginning of a rigorous program that aided us in growing up? What if we were offered a way to try and repair the harm that we have caused others? What if we were encouraged to become the best versions of ourselves instead of the captured, defensive ones the current system demands in order for our survival?" (And before that, I want systems and society, including schools, to aid people in growing up. Let's create more structure and support for people BEFORE they make the choices that lead to prison. Let's build and orient our society around the things we know support human thriving, instead of simply around whatever makes the people on top the most money). Troy, thank you for your writing and insight.
I just listened. So interesting. The real question is, would you trade places with them even for $100k?
The second thought is that most prisoners have tons of legal fees and fines paid to the state (and victims) before they get to keep any money, even money sent to them by their family. They have housing fees and my son is charged for every bandaid he gets (my insurance covered an emergency room visit for my son- not taxpayers). They absolutely have huge costs and overhead that hinder their ability to not drain the system when they're released. They also have ADL in conditions we can't imagine (wash your laundry in an eight inch sink…). Dr. Phil makes it sound like they just get catered to. They don't.
Prisoners should be encouraged to build skill, earn real money, get prepared to financially support themselves once they get out. I wish my son could. The only people in our state's prison making any money are engaged in illegal schemes and violent behavior.
I think Dr. Phil could learn from you and would value your viewpoint. You should reach out to him! Thanks for sharing all of these facts that so many people aren't aware of and educating us about this. It's an interesting topic indeed!
I'm glad our paths crossed and that I read this post. Even more grateful that you wrote it. This is fascinating perspective. You are making the world better in a very real way. Thank you. Not sure if you've heard of Michael Singer but he has worked (spiritually) in prisons for 30+ years. Anyway, thank you. I'm looking forward to part 2.
I have absolutely heard of and read Michael Singer. I did not know he worked in prisons! How did I not know!!?? Thank you for being here and reading and entering this conversation.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and research on this topic, Bridget. It is such an important failure of our society to reveal. Have you see HBO’s The Alabama Solution yet? I would be curious for your thoughts - I’m hopeful that such a mainstream piece will help expand the conversation.
Omgoodness, yes. I recommended it in the post before this one. It's awful and real and unfortunately, it's not just Alabama. I think that Doc a must watch for every American right now. Thank you for adding to this conversation, and for being here. 🖤
Exactly - we got to see a talkback after w one of the producers who was incarcerated in NY for years, and he was reminding us that it’s literally in our backyard too.
Hey Bridget - I'm the Backroad Portfolio co-founder who has been following you. This is my author Substack account. Anyway ... I was on my high school debate team, and each year we focused on one theme then created cases with evidence for the "affirmative" or "negative" side. My junior year, the theme was "prison recidivism," and my partner and I were assigned to take the negative side of each case, which meant we had to take the side against the status-quo for how recidivism was being "prevented." Clearly what they were doing in the late 80s/early 90s wasn't working according to our experiences as high school "attorneys," since we won just about every case. That was also the year I became the Virginia state-runner up Negative debater and took home a nice medal for my letter jacket. (I proudly wore it with my sports medals.) Point is, recidivism is something we really need to focus on in terms of the "how to prevent it" aspect. I'll be reading your series to see what your sources—and you—think we should do. Thanks for writing on this important subject.
Remind me never to debate you! 😉 Thank you for this discussion. Even my husband commented that the average American probably does want "suffering for suffering" but has no clue that means returning citizens (to our communities) have not grown but return broken and worse than when they went into prison. That impacts us all and leads to increased crime/recidivism. I'll definitely keep looking into and upholding this discussion!
Bridget, this is amazing! So spt on. I'm at work, so I can't write what I want to write. I am typing this really fast from my phone, but once I get home, I'll write you a lengthy response here in the comments. Thank you so much for this article. You're right about everything!!!
Bridget, thank you for this piece. It hit me hard. I was a U.S. Marine. I was also a cop. NYPD. And then I was an inmate. I spent 5 years in prison, and out of those years, almost three and a half were in solitary confinement. I went in believing, like so many do, that prison was supposed to rehabilitate, that it would “fix” me, teach me something, straighten me out. What I found instead was what you described: idleness, violence, shame, and a system that has no real interest in making people whole again. I am not rehabilitated. That word doesn’t even feel true. What I am is lucky. Lucky because I had certain things stacked in my favor, my background, my ability to read and write, and my stubbornness to not let the box kill me. But most of the men I was locked in with didn’t have those same advantages, and they got ground down into dust. Prison didn’t heal me or prepare me to re-enter the world. I did that work myself once I got out, and even then, it was uphill every step. The truth is, the system is designed to punish and contain, not to transform. And like you and Troy said, painting over a crumbling foundation doesn’t make the house livable. I appreciate you giving space to voices from the inside. Too often, people talk about us instead of with us. I’ll be following Part Two closely, because this is the conversation we need to keep having: not how to polish the system, but how to replace it with something that actually gives people a chance to live better. I’ll DM you again, we should talk sometime. You're an amazing writer, congrats on all of your writing!
All I can say is that this is why I write. Connecting us to reality and to real people. I can't tell you how happy I am that we've 'met' in this space. I'm thankful for you, your continuing story, and for all of the support you give others as well. Talk soon!
Best line of this post: "Where the energy goes, the person grows." The research and first-person experiences you share in this post are VERY impactful. Looking forward to part 2!
Substack is full of the most beautiful, inspiring content... and yours is one that gives me a break from all of the crap I write about. To have your support here is so meaningful because it isn't just a blog for reform types or political folks or even social justice warriors. It's for people back home. It's for regular folk who do regular things and live their lives unaware that these things are real. I hope everyone goes over to your stack and subscribes and looks at the beautiful backroad photos/inspo you give every day.
Thank you so much, Bridget. I will continue reading your intriguing and enlightening posts. There’s so much out there people don’t understand about the prison system and you’re helping unveil all of it.
Wonderful duet with Troy. Two great writers and two fiercely intelligent people going back and forth. Thank you for putting this out there Bridget. You’re a bright light in a dark culture that’s getting darker.
This means the world to me, Maryann. He needs to be heard (as you well know). Sending love.
Goodness I am learning a lot from you, your son and Troy. Thank you so much, please let them all know. I had no idea, have never thought about any of this; my own life has not been touched by our justice system - in fact I do what I can to keep out of all systems, if possible. But you are all awakening me to the ongoing tragedy that is occurring. Thank you. I look forward to part 2
Goodness, thank you. We don't know what we don't know and we're all learners (if we listen to others). Thank you for the insight and encouragement-- stay tuned!
So right on! Thanks for presenting another vision that is probably being implemented somewhere else in this wide world. Do we have any other examples?
Yes, thanks for this question. There are, of course, the Norwegian examples that we love to discuss but they don't translate the same to a very different culture. For instance, in Norway, gun violence is not really a thing. Also, there are only about 3,000 incarcerated people in Norway so we have a numbers problem right from the start. Stay tuned and thank you for always asking the important questions!
Awesome. This is the way. Agree with Troy.
He's an incredibly insightful and wise man. We are so lucky to hear from him. Thanks for reading.
I started crying when I read this. I am having an emotional day. Haha. But I cried because I think of the times I have messed up big and small. I remember the times where I was criticized by adults and how that made me create stories about myself. And reading Troy's point of view really saddened me knowing yes, we all have messed up and some more than others. But it is how we show up for each other in those moments. My heart aches for your son, for Troy and the others in prison who haven't been given a proper and nurturing environment and the chance to make right of their wrong.
Thank you for shining a light on this subject. You are such a kind, powerful and compassionate human. Continue with this work because it does matter.
Thank you for your heart, Brandi, and for supporting this work. We're all guilty of mistakes, like you're saying, big and small. Some of us didn't get caught and some of us had supports that protected us from further decline. Thank you for breaking stigma and seeing humans just as we are. I'm grateful for you.
This is what I want: "What if we made prison intake the beginning of a rigorous program that aided us in growing up? What if we were offered a way to try and repair the harm that we have caused others? What if we were encouraged to become the best versions of ourselves instead of the captured, defensive ones the current system demands in order for our survival?" (And before that, I want systems and society, including schools, to aid people in growing up. Let's create more structure and support for people BEFORE they make the choices that lead to prison. Let's build and orient our society around the things we know support human thriving, instead of simply around whatever makes the people on top the most money). Troy, thank you for your writing and insight.
Yes!! This is the vision, Jennifer. Thank you for saying the school part outloud! I'll pass your note onto Troy.
Bridget, I listened to this podcast episode today about prison reform and Dr. Phil asks a very interesting question. You'd be a great guest for him. Take a listen if you have about 12 minutes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-crime-pays-literally-the-real-story-with-dr-phil/id1446088262?i=1000732376372
I just listened. So interesting. The real question is, would you trade places with them even for $100k?
The second thought is that most prisoners have tons of legal fees and fines paid to the state (and victims) before they get to keep any money, even money sent to them by their family. They have housing fees and my son is charged for every bandaid he gets (my insurance covered an emergency room visit for my son- not taxpayers). They absolutely have huge costs and overhead that hinder their ability to not drain the system when they're released. They also have ADL in conditions we can't imagine (wash your laundry in an eight inch sink…). Dr. Phil makes it sound like they just get catered to. They don't.
Prisoners should be encouraged to build skill, earn real money, get prepared to financially support themselves once they get out. I wish my son could. The only people in our state's prison making any money are engaged in illegal schemes and violent behavior.
Great conversation. Thanks for sharing!
I think Dr. Phil could learn from you and would value your viewpoint. You should reach out to him! Thanks for sharing all of these facts that so many people aren't aware of and educating us about this. It's an interesting topic indeed!
I'm glad our paths crossed and that I read this post. Even more grateful that you wrote it. This is fascinating perspective. You are making the world better in a very real way. Thank you. Not sure if you've heard of Michael Singer but he has worked (spiritually) in prisons for 30+ years. Anyway, thank you. I'm looking forward to part 2.
I have absolutely heard of and read Michael Singer. I did not know he worked in prisons! How did I not know!!?? Thank you for being here and reading and entering this conversation.
It's my privilege to be here. I appreciate you work and the conversation.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and research on this topic, Bridget. It is such an important failure of our society to reveal. Have you see HBO’s The Alabama Solution yet? I would be curious for your thoughts - I’m hopeful that such a mainstream piece will help expand the conversation.
Omgoodness, yes. I recommended it in the post before this one. It's awful and real and unfortunately, it's not just Alabama. I think that Doc a must watch for every American right now. Thank you for adding to this conversation, and for being here. 🖤
Exactly - we got to see a talkback after w one of the producers who was incarcerated in NY for years, and he was reminding us that it’s literally in our backyard too.
So much so. So many of us have no idea!!
Excellent post. Very effective approach to storytelling and change-making. You are onto something. Thank you.
Thank you! In next week's post, we'll look at The Farm (from the article you sent me) as an example of how it can change.
Hey Bridget - I'm the Backroad Portfolio co-founder who has been following you. This is my author Substack account. Anyway ... I was on my high school debate team, and each year we focused on one theme then created cases with evidence for the "affirmative" or "negative" side. My junior year, the theme was "prison recidivism," and my partner and I were assigned to take the negative side of each case, which meant we had to take the side against the status-quo for how recidivism was being "prevented." Clearly what they were doing in the late 80s/early 90s wasn't working according to our experiences as high school "attorneys," since we won just about every case. That was also the year I became the Virginia state-runner up Negative debater and took home a nice medal for my letter jacket. (I proudly wore it with my sports medals.) Point is, recidivism is something we really need to focus on in terms of the "how to prevent it" aspect. I'll be reading your series to see what your sources—and you—think we should do. Thanks for writing on this important subject.
Remind me never to debate you! 😉 Thank you for this discussion. Even my husband commented that the average American probably does want "suffering for suffering" but has no clue that means returning citizens (to our communities) have not grown but return broken and worse than when they went into prison. That impacts us all and leads to increased crime/recidivism. I'll definitely keep looking into and upholding this discussion!
Bridget, this is amazing! So spt on. I'm at work, so I can't write what I want to write. I am typing this really fast from my phone, but once I get home, I'll write you a lengthy response here in the comments. Thank you so much for this article. You're right about everything!!!
Thanks, Miguel. Take your time-- your thoughts here matter.