Damon Shepard got into corrections to make a difference—but what he found inside nearly destroyed him. Raised by a single mother in St. Louis, Damon was inspired in high school to pursue a career in criminal justice. After falling short of becoming a police officer, he landed a job inside a juvenile correctional facility. But the reality was far from what he expected. Plagued by corruption, drugs, and a toxic environment, Damon was eventually set up and charged with bringing in contraband himself. Forced to resign and clear his name, he now speaks out about the truth behind the system. In this interview, Damon breaks down what really goes on behind bars—and how the people meant to protect can sometimes be part of the problem.

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