We love to believe that we give people second chances and we forgive and we convince ourselves they'll learn from these mistakes and be better for it in the long run. But in reality, does that actually happen? Who is accountable to what and what do we really want as a society?
My guests today are Karen Kovach and Katrina Eickard, two people that know the modern prison system we've built better than most. Katrina tells us her story of generational trauma and tragic personal choices that led to her receiving a prison sentence of 10-15 years for selling cocaine. Her rehabilitation and re-entry into society was aided tremendously by people like Karen Kovach and Changed Choices, a non-profit in Charlotte working to actually give a second chance to people who barely received a first chance.
On today's podcast...
4:29 - Some small town worlds are not idyllic. Katrina's small town struggles in Statesville, NC.
8:33 - A desire for glitz and glam leads to tragic choices and a quick rise in status
12:56 - A rude awakening at just how serious Katrina's troubles were
16:28 - How Katrina's arrest nearly destroyed her entire family
20:14 - Katrina's daughter provides the honesty she needed to break free from her own personal prison
26:01 - Katrina's advice for anyone who has a loved one in prison
28:30 - A group called Changed Choices reaches out to Katrina and promises her nothing
31:46 - What is Changed Choices?
34:48 - How leaving prison is like "being spit out of the mouth of the beast into a bigger beast"
38:44 - Is "rehabilitation" really an option for most prisoners?
42:46 - Thinking macro about crime and punishment
46:05 - Why a lack of consideration of families is a huge problem in our justice system
Hidden Stories is a production of the Sell or Die Network, a collection of the best podcasts on sales and personal development on the planet. Check out what else we have to offer:
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