After Prison, Then What?

I recently joined WSLR’s Peace & Justice Report with Tom Walker to talk about prison, responsibility, and what happens after.

In the episode, we talked through how people end up in the system, what prison actually does and doesn’t do, and why reentry is where outcomes are really decided. It stayed focused on real experience rather than theory, including what it takes to build a stable life after release.

Listen to the full conversation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9av21_9LeA

Peace & Justice Report WSLR

When I was 17, I made a serious mistake that hurt people. That doesn’t change, and it’s where any honest conversation has to start.

For the past 35 years, I’ve tried to live differently. Working, staying out of trouble, and helping where I can. Over time, that’s included things like volunteering at organizations like Project180 for prison reentry, supporting community efforts like St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and trying to be useful in small ways.

One thing we talked about on the show is that going to prison, by itself, doesn’t always change people for the better. That part comes later, and it’s harder.

Reentry is where things either hold or fall apart.

When someone gets out, they’re trying to find work, stability, and some kind of direction. Without that, it’s easy to fall back into old patterns. With it, people have a chance to move forward.

That’s been my experience.

Change is built over time by showing up, keeping commitments, and making better decisions, day after day.

Today, I’m still doing the same thing. And my #1 priority is trying to be a good father to my son, Jack.

— Mark Edgington

This article also appears on Medium where you can learn more about Mark Edgington’s ongoing work.