The Hustler Files

In Episode 117, Sheriff Brad Burkhart inspired us with his commitment to help those justice-impacted individuals under his watch return to their communities with a new lease on life.  In this episode, we return to Hancock County, Indiana, to meet jail navigator Crystal Petty and former jail resident Danielle Brashear as they discuss the innovative programs implemented at the Hancock County Jail, f...

From a small-town upbringing, working in construction, to leading the Albany County Sheriff's Office, in New York State, Sheriff Craig Apple has placed a strong emphasis on programs that have drastically reduced recidivism and received statewide and national recognition.  From his day-to-day watch of 748 employees and 800-900 incarcerated individuals, he has built programs that will last long afte...

Drawing from his upbringing on an Indiana farm, Sheriff Brad Burkhart’s philosophy is grounded in the idea of “planting seeds of hope and opportunity” for those incarcerated individuals under his watch in Hancock County. With over 38 years of experience in law enforcement, Sheriff Burkhart shares his journey and has seen firsthand that in corrections, there is a need to prepare the ground for indi...

There aren’t many people who can transition from incarceration for a white-collar crime to CEO of an established educational nonprofit, but then again, Jeff Abramowitz is unlike most people you’ll ever meet.  As CEO of the critically acclaimed Petey Green Program, Jeff discusses the transformative power of education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, a firsthand experience he...

In Franklin County, Massachusetts, Sheriff Lori Streeter may be the newest female Sheriff in Massachusetts.  She joins Sheriff Donna Buckley of Barnstable County as one of two female Sheriffs across the Commonwealth, but Sheriff Streeter is also the first female Sheriff to be appointed, in her County by the Governor. (She takes over for Sheriff Donelan, who retired early.)  With over 35 years of e...

Upon driving into the State of Maine there is a sign that reads, ‘WELCOME TO MAINE, THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE’. For thirty-eight years, Kevin Joyce, the current Sheriff of Cumberland County, Maine, has made it his mission to ensure that his county, which includes the city of Portland, Maine, lives up to its state motto. While the State of Maine, in general, is considered rural, Cumberland County is a...

In another milestone episode, retired prison Chaplain Peg Newman shares an insightful and heartfelt look inside her life journey at the intersection of faith, spirituality, and the criminal justice system. From her early work with AIDS patients to providing spiritual guidance to incarcerated individuals with life sentences or facing death and dying, her stories offer profound reflections from a co...

In part 2 of this gripping story, former Sheriff Rick Walter dives deeper into the complex and haunting case of murder victim Mischelle Lawless. After years of investigation and a wrongful conviction, Rick shares his journey of reopening the case, the obstacles he faced, and the truth he uncovered. This episode also delves into the themes of justice, perseverance, and the impact of systemic failur...

In Episode 108, Attorney Charlie Weiss shared the wrongful conviction and exoneration of Josh Kezer, a man who spent sixteen years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. That interview led to a compelling conversation with former Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. Rick shares his harrowing experience of discovering the body of Mischelle Lawless in 1992 and the subsequent investigation by a previo...

Laurence Colletti is a seasoned podcast producer, writer, and attorney.  For over a decade, he’s brought to light the stories and critical issues surrounding prison reform and wrongful convictions while hosting the Legal Talk Network Podcast, and producing the For The Innocent Podcast. In this episode of The Hustler Files, Laurence shares his journey into podcasting, the emotional stories behind s...

"The future isn't about what you do. It's about what you're for”. Charlie Weiss never thought he’d become an attorney, but a chance meeting with a man of the cloth led him to a scholarship at Notre Dame Law School and a storied career fighting for the rights of those who are wronged. From his early days in law to his impactful pro bono work, Charlie shares inspiring stories of those wrongfully con...

To date, 99 incarcerated men have participated in the Nurturing Fathers program at the Hampshire County Jail and it’s nothing short of transformative.  Incarcerated fathers seeking to reconnect with their children attend this 13-week program, behind the wall, to help them become better fathers.  Listen as Sheriff Patrick Cahillane shares insights on the program's success since its inception in 201...

What started as a gym is now a community where people belong together. In this space, surrounded by weight machines, free weights, and mats, they are valued as equals, and those with lived experience are listened to as the experts. As April marks Fair Chance Hiring Month, guests Caz Walcott, Director of Inclusive Hiring at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), and Jon Feinman, Fo...

With over two decades of experience, reporter Katie Johnston shares her journey from reporting on arts and entertainment to focusing on work and income inequality, specifically with incarcerated and justice-involved populations. Katie’s dedication to offering a voice to those who don’t have one is the driving force behind her writing.  In this episode, Katie discusses her recent article highlighti...

To be in the wrong place at the wrong time cost William Allen 28 years behind bars for an unintended crime. William shares his tumultuous journey from his early days of family dysfunction, the guilt he carried from a childhood accident, and the pivotal moments that led him into a life of crime. He candidly recounts the fateful robbery that resulted in a tragic death and how he found himself facing...

In this powerful episode Miguel Vazquez engages in a heartfelt conversation about his journey from the streets of Brooklyn to an 18-year prison sentence. His story is nothing short of transformative. Miguel opens up about his challenging upbringing in a single-parent household, the loss of his mother, and the choices that led him down a path of crime and incarceration. His candid reflections revea...

At Baker Industries, an organization dedicated to providing fair chance hiring for marginalized communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, their mission is centered around four simple but powerful words. EMPLOY those who have the most difficulty in getting and holding jobs. TEACH the work ethic through real work experience. ACT as a transition step toward gaining and maintaining outside employment. HELP...

IF YOU'RE JUST FINDING OUR PODCAST, THE HUSTLER FILES, WELCOME! WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU LISTEN IN!  THIS IS OUR THIRD SEASON AND WE'VE GOT OVER 100 EPISODES, SO FAR, FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.  WE KNOW IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU COME ACROSS A NEW SHOW. OUR EPISODES ARE CREATED WITH THE MISSION TO BREAK STIGMAS, RESHAPE NARRATIVES, AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, AD...

Every incarcerated person knows the exact date and time of their parole hearing, even if it’s years in the future. For Chan Park, his first parole hearing took place after 13 years, 8 months of incarceration. His rejection by the Parole Board because he hadn’t served enough time. That was the first of what would be three more parole hearings over the next 20 years, four in total.  All ended in rej...

In March of 2023, Governor Newsom of California announced that the infamous San Quentin State Prison would have its name changed to the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.  Since the mid-1800s San Quentin has housed some of the most notorious criminals, but times are changing and that includes the use of tablet technology for the incarcerated population. California, like Massachusetts and other sta...

Some prison reform advocacy organizations call their mission, pillars. Some, key initiatives, and in the case of the advocacy organization, The Sentencing Project, are strategic priorities. But at The Sentencing Project, they take their mission one step further and bring a unique value to their prison reform work, as a bridge organization.  For Kara Gotsch, Executive Director, uniting their work o...

Gabrielle Perry was one of the lucky ones. Her birth mother was incarcerated when giving birth to Gabrielle. She engaged the aid of a friend who found a family to adopt Gabrielle, site unseen. Her parents were older, settled and without children and as she tells it, her beloved father Thurman Perry, answered the call to raise her as his own.  Gabrielle’s life was as normal as could be until as a t...

There are a little over 3,000 Sheriffs’ in the United States. Of that number only 60 are women. Sheriff Donna Buckley of Barnstable County, Massachusetts,(also better known as Cape Cod) is the first female in the County’s 331-year history to hold this office.  Sheriff Buckley will tell you that running for Sheriff in 2022 was not on her bucket list, but still, she saw an opportunity to use her for...

In the movie E.T., the alien builds a way to communicate with his planet. Inside the jails and prisons in the US, communication between an incarcerated individual and their family and friends, was for many decades, strictly by mail but technology waits for no one.   Today, many behind the wall have access to tablets, kiosks, and wall-mounted phones, with tablets being the most popular. Of course,...