The Returning Citizen

Jacob Evan Smith speaks with entrepreneur Robert Gardner about childhood trauma, the terrible decision that landed him in prison for 22.5 years, and his long and winding path to self-discovery and forgiveness while incarcerated. Today, Robert owns a growing trucking business and courageously shares his story to inspire others, including a recent invitation to address students at Princeton Universi...

What would happen if ex-offenders, law enforcement, and legal professionals joined forces, using restorative justice to fight against over-incarceration and high recidivism rates? Meet House of Life Pittsburgh, a group doing just that with their innovative prisoner reentry program. Central to their mission, the organization is led by a group of passionate returning citizens, which allows them to c...

Ed Kressy has come a long way since his days as a struggling meth addict, losing everything as he bounced in and out of jail. Through a long and winding journey, he was finally able to overcome his addiction, turn his life around, and fulfill his childhood dream of publishing a book (link below). Today, in addition to his writing, Ed is a speaker and volunteer whose work serves addicts and people...

When we think about criminal justice reform, voting is an essential piece of the puzzle. But for folks who have spent time in prison... it’s complicated. Your voting rights are often stripped while incarcerated, and in certain situations, this disenfranchisement can be permanent. In this episode, we explore this issue in detail to make sure returning citizens and criminal justice allies know their...

When folks transition out of prison, there are many obstacles ahead--finding a job, securing housing, conquering stigma, and so much more. For the past 13 years, The Here to Help Foundation has provided direct support to Detroit area residents facing emergencies. In this episode, we focus mainly on their newest initiative “Returning Hope to Returning Citizens,” which offers a wide range of support...

Finding a job can be a daunting task for returning citizens for all types of reasons-- gaps in work experience, lack of resources, stigma, and so much more. In this episode, we sit down with a team that’s in the trenches every day, hitting this challenge head-on. The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has been operating for 20+ years, providing transitional employment services for formerly...

At age 16, Jeff Deskovic's life turned upside down when he was wrongfully convicted for the rape and murder of a classmate. After 16 long years in prison, he was finally exonerated and released, cleared of all charges. Today, Jeff is the Founder of The Deskovic Foundation, committed to the prevention of wrongful convictions and the reintegration of exonerees. In this episode, we explore what happe...

When women return from prison, they face some unique challenges as compared to their male counterparts. Even though women are the fastest growing segment of the prison population, there are few programs designed specifically for women after their release. In this episode, Jacob, Erik, and Imani sit down with Michelle Smart and Robin McArdle from Bags to Butterflies in Detroit to discuss their part...

Finding a job can be a major challenge for men and women coming out of prison. For some, entrepreneurship can provide a path to take control of their situation and create their own opportunities. In this episode, Jacob, Erik, and Imani sit down with Karlos Harris (COO, DSDT & Founder, Koded Icons) and Stephan Franklin (Founder, Motor City Media Group), both Detroit-based entrepreneurs who started...

Jacob and Imani sit down with Aaron Kinzel to discuss how he went from serving a 10-year prison sentence to teaching about criminology and criminal justice as a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In his words, "I know everything there is to know about crime. I don't need to read a book about criminology... I lived it since I was a child." He sheds light on how a lifetime of bad infl...

Jacob, Erik, and Imani sit down with Azzie to hear about her experience growing up around crime and ultimately serving two separate prison sentences before finally turning her life around. She shares insight into the unique challenges faced today by incarcerated women, the fastest-growing segment of the US prison population. Azzie is a proud mother who is now thriving as a Creative Designer at Reb...

Jacob and Imani connect with Phil Telfeyan, Executive Director for Equal Justice Under Law, a national civil rights organization based in Washington, DC. Phil explains how they recently filed a class action lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson for suspending driver's licenses of people who are too poor to pay the debts they owe the state for traffic violations or court costs. T...

Jacob, Erik, and Imani chat with members of the Prison Creative Arts Project, a Michigan-based program that "brings those impacted by the justice system and the University of Michigan community into artistic collaboration for mutual learning and growth." GUESTS: - Janie Paul (Senior Curator & Co-Founder, PCAP's Art Exhibition) - Michael Vander Horst (Artist, PCAP Member) - Larnell E. Johnson (Arti...

Jacob and Erik welcome home James “Jamo” Thomas, recently released after a 30-year prison term. Despite being sentenced to life without parole at age 15 in 1987, Jamo managed to help start a variety of programs while incarcerated, including The Teddy Bear Project and Writer's Block (links below). As a recently freed man, he's committed to positively impacting his community through mentorship, art,...

Jacob and guest host Brandon sit down with Detroit's own Anna Kohn to discuss how RecoveryPark Farms is putting returning citizens to work growing produce in Detroit! GUESTS: - Anna Kohn (akohn@recoverypark.org) - Brandon Christopher (canvasxdetroit@gmail.com) LINKS: - The Returning Citizen (http://thereturningcitizen.org) - Recovery Park (http://recoverypark.org) - Ciao Line (http://facebook.com/...

Jacob, Erik, and Imani introduce The Returning Citizen. Erik reflects on why he got life without parole for a nonviolent drug crime, how he got out after 18 years, and what he's been up to since. CONTACT US: - podcast@thereturningcitizen.org