from bars to stars

Albert W.

Albert spent over four decades in solitary confinement in Angola Prison in Louisiana for a crime he maintained he did not commit. After his release, he became an advocate for prison reform, addressing issues of solitary confinement and racial injustice within the criminal justice system.

Alkemia E.

Alkemia was involved in gang activity as a youth and served time in a youth detention center. He transformed his life through hip-hop and became an advocate for healthy food and environmental sustainability, combining his passions for music, health, and the environment to educate and inspire others.

Andre Y.

Andre, is a successful music producer, rapper, and entrepreneur. Early in his life, he had several run-ins with the law and spent time in prison. After his release, he went on to co-found the influential hip-hop group N.W.A and became one of the most influential figures in the music industry.

Andrew M. 

Andrew spent time in jail for drug possession and distribution. After his release, he turned his life around and became a successful entrepreneur, speaker, and angel investor, founding various businesses and helping others with startups.

Anthony R. H.

Anthony spent 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. After his release, he became an advocate against the death penalty and an inspirational speaker, sharing his story of resilience and forgiveness.

Brian B.

Brian, a football player who had his promising career derailed by a wrongful rape conviction, was exonerated after serving six years in prison. He went on to play professional football, become a public speaker, and advocate for criminal justice reform and the rights of the wrongfully convicted.

Bryan S.

After being wrongfully accused of a crime and serving time on death row, Brian went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. He founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted.

Catherine H.

Catherine, a former venture capitalist, founded Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for individuals with criminal histories. She has helped thousands of formerly incarcerated individuals start their own businesses.

Catherine R.

After working on Wall Street, Catherine decided to focus on helping incarcerated individuals make positive changes. She founded the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, which provides entrepreneurial training and support to prisoners. Many former program participants have successfully started their own businesses after release.

Celia S.

Celia, a formerly incarcerated individual, is now an activist and advocate for justice reform. She founded We Got Us Now, an organization focused on raising awareness about the experiences and needs of children with incarcerated parents.

Claudia W.

After serving time in prison, Claudia founded The Redemption Project, an organization that supports formerly incarcerated individuals as they find employment, reintegrate into society, and lead successful lives.

Cyntoia B. L.

Cyntoia, who was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16 for killing a man who had solicited her for sex, was granted clemency after serving 15 years. Since her release, she has become an advocate for criminal justice reform, particularly for trafficking survivors and individuals facing unfair sentencing.

Chris W.

Chris spent 16 years in prison for a crime he committed as a teenager. After his release, he founded The Barclay Investment Corporation, a workforce development and reentry program that helps formerly incarcerated individuals secure employment and reintegrate into society successfully. He has also authored a book titled "The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose."

Coss M.

Coss, a former drug dealer, served time in prison before turning his life around. He developed a unique prison-style workout program and founded ConBody, a fitness company that employs formerly incarcerated individuals as instructors and provides workout programs both in-person and online.

Damien E.

Damien, one of the "West Memphis Three," served nearly 18 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. After his release, he became an author, public speaker, and advocate for criminal justice reform and the abolition of the death penalty.

Danny T.

Danny, a well-known actor and entrepreneur, struggled with addiction and spent time in various prisons during his youth. After turning his life around, he pursued a successful acting career, appearing in numerous films and TV shows, including "Machete" and "Breaking Bad." He now uses his platform to help others combat addiction and make positive changes in their lives.

Deborah J. S.

Adopted by a loving family at a young age, Deborah later discovered that she was born in prison to an incarcerated mother. She overcame numerous obstacles, including addiction and self-destructive behavior, to become a successful author, speaker, and advocate for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women.

Derrick H.

Derrick, who spent over 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, was exonerated with the help of the Innocence Project. Following his release, he became a community organizer and advocate for the rights of the wrongfully convicted.

Desmond M.

Desmond, a formerly homeless and incarcerated individual, became an advocate for criminal justice reform and voting rights restoration. He successfully led the effort to pass Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to over a million people with prior felony convictions.

Frank W. A. Jr.

Frank, whose life story was depicted in the film "Catch Me If You Can," committed various forms of fraud and impersonation in his youth. After serving prison time, he became a security consultant and lecturer, helping companies and governments prevent fraud and identity theft.

George F.

The former heavyweight boxing champion, George, had a troubled youth and spent some time in jail. He turned his life around through boxing and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and a successful entrepreneur, renowned for his George Foreman Grill.

Glenn M. 

Glen served six years in prison for armed robbery. After his release, he became a leading advocate for criminal justice reform and founded JustLeadershipUSA, an organization dedicated to reducing mass incarceration and empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to become leaders for change.

Jarvis J. M.

Jarvis, who spent over 30 years in prison, including many years on death row, transformed his life through art and writing. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, and he has become an acclaimed author, sharing his experiences and advocating for compassion and restorative justice.

Jeff S.

Jeff, a former Missouri state senator, served a year in prison due to a campaign finance violation. Following his release, he became an advocate for criminal justice reform and focused on improving educational opportunities for inmates.

Jeffrey D.

Jeffrey was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder as a teenager and spent 16 years in prison. After DNA testing exonerated him, he pursued a law degree and founded The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, which works to prevent wrongful convictions and provide support to exonerees.

Jesse L.

Jesse was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap at the age of 20. After serving time in prison, he pursued education and activism. He now works as a policy analyst and advocate for criminal justice reform, focusing on addressing racial disparities in the system.

John J.

John, a formerly incarcerated individual, turned his life around and became an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His documentary "Against All Odds: Life After Prison" highlights the struggles and successes of individuals reintegrating into society after release.

Khalil C.

Khalil served six years in prison for a non-violent drug offense. After his release, he earned a college degree and went on to become an advocacy manager at the Innocence Project, working to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals and advocating for criminal justice reform.

Malcom X.

While serving time in prison for burglary in the 1940s, Malcom X underwent a transformative journey of self-education. After his release, he became a prominent civil rights leader, author, and advocate for Black empowerment and equality.

Martha S.

Martha, a successful businesswoman and TV personality, served time in prison for charges related to insider trading. Following her release, she rebuilt her brand and continued to find success in various ventures, including her media and merchandise empire.

Ndume O. 

Ndume was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 28 years in prison, including 20 years on death row. After being exonerated, he dedicated his life to advocating against the death penalty and helping others who have been wrongfully convicted.

Piper K.

P's memoir, "Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison," inspired the hit Netflix series. After serving her sentence for drug-related charges, she became a prominent voice for prison reform, advocating for alternatives to incarceration and better conditions for incarcerated women.

Ramona B.

Ramona was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Following a successful clemency campaign, she was released after serving 21 years. Since her release, she has become an advocate for women's rights, criminal justice reform, and the importance of second chances.

Reginald D. B.

Reginald, a poet, lawyer, and advocate, was sentenced to nine years in prison for a carjacking incident he committed as a teenager. During his incarceration, he discovered his love for writing and literature. After his release, he obtained a law degree and published several poetry collections, using his voice to speak out about the criminal justice system and its impact on individuals.

Richard P.

After serving over 45 years in prison for a wrongful murder conviction, Richard was exonerated and released. Since his release, he has become an artist and speaker, sharing his story of wrongful conviction and advocating for criminal justice reform.

Scott B. 

Scott, a film producer, encountered the criminal justice system while working on the film "Gridiron Gang." Inspired by the experience, he founded the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), an organization that supports and advocates for formerly incarcerated individuals. Scott's work has been instrumental in promoting criminal justice reform and providing opportunities for rehabilitation.

Shaka S.

Shaka served 19 years in prison for second-degree murder. During his incarceration, he found solace in writing and self-reflection. After his release, he became an author, speaker, and advocate for criminal justice reform.

Stanley A.

Stanley was incarcerated for a drug offense while pursuing his doctoral degree. He eventually completed his education and became a renowned scientist and advocate for criminal justice reform. He co-founded From Prison Cells to PhD, a program that supports formerly incarcerated individuals pursuing higher education.

Stanley W.

Although Stanley was convicted of multiple murders and faced the death penalty, he spent his time in prison working to prevent youth involvement in gangs. He authored several books, most notably "Life in Prison" and "Gangs and Drugs," and was nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-gang activism.

Susan B.

Susan struggled with addiction and spent many years in and out of prison. Upon her release, she founded "A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project," which supports formerly incarcerated women in rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into society successfully.

Susan M. L.

Susan spent time in jail and experienced addiction issues. After her release, she became an acclaimed photographer and author, using her art to shed light on the struggles faced by those in the criminal justice system.

Susan R. 

Susan, now an author and activist, spent 16 years in prison for her involvement in a political organization. After her release, she became an advocate for social justice, serving as the director of communications for the Real Cost of Prisons Project and writing about her experiences in her memoir "An American Radical."

Terrence S.

Terrence was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 23 years in prison before being exonerated and released. Following his release, he became an advocate for the wrongfully convicted and founded the nonprofit organization Unjust Justice, which supports those who have experienced wrongful convictions.

Thomas H. 

Thomas, a former inmate, is now a successful entrepreneur and founder of a fitness company called TOMS Shoes Fitness. He discovered his passion for physical fitness during his incarceration and used it as a foundation for rebuilding his life after release.

Tiheba B. 

Tiheba served 13 years in prison for a non-violent drug offense. After her release, she earned a bachelor's degree and went on to become an accomplished author, public speaker, and advocate for criminal justice reform and drug policy reform.

Topeka S. 

Topeka was sentenced to prison for involvement in a drug conspiracy. Following her release, she co-founded Ladies of Hope Ministries, an organization that provides support and resources for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. She also advocates for criminal justice reform and has testified before Congress on related issues.

Valerie J.

A successful lawyer, business executive, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie experienced the impact of having a father with a criminal background. She has dedicated her career to advocating for criminal justice reforms, including initiatives focused on reducing recidivism rates.

Weldon A.

Weldon served a 13-year sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. After his release, he became a successful music producer and advocate for criminal justice reform. He founded the nonprofit organization The Weldon Project, which aims to help individuals who are serving overly harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses.

Wes M.

Wes, a bestselling author and social entrepreneur, was sentenced to prison for his involvement in a robbery as a young adult. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, earn a degree from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and establish various organizations focused on education and youth empowerment.