Can someone really find true freedom inside the walls of a notorious prison? 

In 1987, David Mike swore allegiance to his country and joined the army—a goal he had worked toward since he was a teenager. His dream quickly slipped through his fingers once ecstasy was placed in his palm. Before he knew it, David was the prime seller of ecstasy on his army base. The army’s criminal division arrested him in 1989, and by 1990, he had landed at Fort Leavenworth—an infamous military prison in Kansas. The final nail in the coffin? David was dishonorably discharged for desertion.

His memoir, Dishonor: One Soldier’s Journey from Desertion to Redemption, details David’s journey as a new inmate at Fort Leavenworth. I met David at a conference in 2016 and had the privilege of helping him with his book. Now his book is read in dozens of prisons throughout the US, including the very one where I volunteer: Mabel Bassett Correctional in McLoud, Oklahoma. (Small world.)

Today, you’re going to learn how David found freedom in a dark, dark place. 

Created & Hosted by Shayla Hale

https://crimeandcompassion.substack.com

Crime & Compassion strives to shake up how we view and treat the incarcerated. Podcast host Shayla Hale asks difficult questions to gain a more compassionate understanding of those who were written off. The podcast serves as a safe space for the formerly incarcerated, currently incarcerated, their families and loved ones, and those who work with men and women in US jails and prisons. Crime & Compassion’s goals are 1) to show love and kindness toward the captives, 2) to help bring their stories and art into the world, 3) to completely flip the narrative on the US justice system by having tough conversations, 4) to educate society on why people commit the crimes they do, and 5) to reframe how people see, treat, and think about the incarcerated.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crimeandcompassion.substack.com/subscribe