What happens when a person with a life sentence is suddenly offered the possibility of freedom? Rob Barton entered prison at just 16 with a 30-year-to-life sentence, facing a future he could barely comprehend. Now free after nearly three decades behind bars, he takes us on a revealing journey through the psychology of incarceration and the transformative power of hope.
"When you're in a mansion, you live like you're in a mansion, but when you're in the woods, you adapt to the woods," Rob explains, capturing the essence of how prison forces adaptation. Without prospects for freedom, people naturally acclimate to their environment in ways that can work against rehabilitation. The mind-bending reality of prison life creates a parallel culture with its own norms – what Rob calls "bidding" – developing routines that make endless time bearable.
The game-changer was DC's Second Look Law, allowing those who entered prison young to petition for release based on rehabilitation after serving 15 years. This legislation created something precious that had been missing: hope. Rob reveals how this hope transformed not just his outlook but the entire prison culture, inspiring people to pursue education and programming they'd previously ignored.
Through powerful personal stories and conversations with others still behind bars, Rob exposes the broken promises of the federal parole system, which routinely denies release even when people meet all requirements. The contrast with second-look laws is striking – of approximately 150 people released under DC's law, fewer than a handful have reoffended.
Today, Rob describes himself as having transitioned from being "a product of to a creator of" his reality – embodying the core message that people are truly more than their worst mistakes. His story offers compelling evidence that rehabilitation is possible and that society benefits when we provide meaningful pathways to redemption, regardless of the original crime.
Join us for this eye-opening conversation that challenges conventional thinking about punishment, rehabilitation, and who deserves a second chance. Subscribe now to support our work advocating for those still behind bars.
Follow this podcast so you'll be informed when new episodes are uploaded (twice a month). Meanwhile, read more stories and learn how you can contribute to reform; visit MoreThanOurCrimes.
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