So, how does a self-published book with the unusual title of What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired!, launched by Neiman Marcus and intended to be the basis of a sitcom, lead the authors "off to prison"? We're not exactly sure, but we do know that our journey into the world of criminal justice has been eye-opening and immensely gratifying. Not to mention full of stories and surprises!
It all began when Black accepted an invitation for us to speak at a national prisoners' family conference (Red thought she was kidding when she first opened the email). Unlike the other speakers, who focused on either advocacy or faith-based topics, we shared how a crisis became a catalyst that forced Red to face reality and learn about basic "Life 101" topics (such as personal finance, handling stress, relationships, and values and priorities). Which, in turn, allowed her to take control of her life instead of having her life control her.
Soon after the conference, Black was invited on a "field trip" to Stringfellow Unit, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison south of Houston. (There's an amusing story about the visit, including the prison chaplain's first impression of Black, that we'll post at a later date.) Ultimately, it led to the first "Red & Black Personal Finance & Life 101 Program" inside prison walls, which, since 2012, has been completed by thousands of men and women.
Red & Black Perspective On Criminal Justice
| Yes, I may be warm and fuzzy, but I’m first and foremost a mom. When we first started our journey into the prison world, my thought was that anyone in prison was a criminal and that our time should be spent on people in the "free world". And there was certainly no way I’d ever visit a prison. However, after watching 11+ hours of raw video footage of the men who voluntarily participated in the pilot Red& Black program at Stringfellow Unit, championed by Chaplain Watkins, they went from being offenders known by their prison identification numbers to people, each with their own stories. Men who wanted better — not only for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren. And as a mom, I saw hope and opportunity to change not only their lives but their families’. Right after I watched the last interview, I turned to my sister and told her that I was contacting the chaplain in the morning to arrange for us to meet the men. I wanted to tell them in person how much their words affected me and my outlook on people who are incarcerated. |
| I appreciate that there may be moral and/or social reasons to help those within the criminal justice system, but put that aside for the moment. Incarceration is expensive. At $25 per person, our book/program costs a fraction of what it costs to keep someone in prison for just one day. In terms of recidivism, if you merely delay their return by one day, you have over 100% ROI (Return on Investment). So, if you can help keep them from returning, the $25 cost is a small investment... with significant upside potential. And, that does not take into consideration the impact it may have on family members, but I do not know how to calculate the financial savings in terms of individuals who might have ended up in prison, but now have taken control of their lives instead of having their lives control them. |
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