Blog: And Then I Cry All The Way Back to the Airport

Finally home and tired. Leavenworth is always emotional.

Today’s audience at Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas were all inmates who are going to be paroled in the next three years. Out of 1700 federal prisoners, about 100 were present through the LCP (Life Connection Program), a voluntary program offered to the inmates ready to be paroled. While the recidivism rate in the adult prison populations plateus at 66.66% those who go through the LCP program show a rate under 11%.

I always speak at the front end of the program as Champlain Hughes, who manages the program, always tells me they pay more attention to the rest of the program after I speak.

I do three things in a half-day workshop:

(1) Explain the impact of crime on victims – this parts ends up with grown men in tears.

(2) Teach a 4-step formula showing how they can redeem themselves on the outside, and support them in being good role models so other young souls do not follow in their footsteps. At TKF we use several ex-offenders as panelists; they are very effective and help young kids not choose a life of gangs, drugs, weapons and violence.

(3) Teach them how to meditate and help them to forgive themselves and go out and live a productive life.

There are many hugs and handshakes – as most leave with hope as to how they can help society and not return to prison.

I believe we all have of something of value to offer to the world and that is true of some of the most hardened offenders. Also, I have yet to meet an offender who was not a victim. While I do offer a high level of empathy for their earlier victimization, that does not get them off the hook for the crime they committed. I show them a way to redeem and heal and a high percentage do exactly that.

And then I cry all the way back to the airport. The tears are meaningful, as I feel the sadness of so many who have served over 25 years in prison away from their families. There are also tears of hope for all of their future.