Candace met Taewon when they were fifteen years old and just a couple of kids navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. They dated for a bit, on and off, then Taewon got caught up in a crime that sent him to prison with a life without the possibility of parole sentence, which meant he would probably die in prison. This is the story of how Taewon and Candace reconnected, found love, got married, and are now fighting for his freedom. 

Shone went to prison at age 19 and served 22 years at a women's prison in California. As the years ticked by Shone started "counting bricks," wondering if she'd ever go home. She started going to self-help courses and turning her life around behind bars. But would it be enough? After 22 years, Shone walked out of prison a free woman with a powerful story to tell. 

The year is 1999 and Richard is lying on the top bunk in his prison cell and nearing death. He has just overdosed on heroin and praying to god not to die. When he makes it through the night, Richard decides he is going to stay sober for the rest of his life. That was the last night he ever did drugs. Richard starts writing letters of amends, taking college courses, and preparing for the parole board. After a violent crime and a life of drug use will he be found suitable for parole? 

Richard fell deep into a life of addiction, leading him to doing burglaries to support his addiction. In 1998 at age 20 Richard was charged with attempted murder and sentenced of life in prison. Finally, 21 months ago he was released. There was a day Richard thought he would die in prison. But now he's free. What has life on the outside been like for him? How does he navigate the free world? 

In this KCRW piece reported by "Life on the Outside" producer Lucy Copp, the question is asked: Who gets to go home early from prison when there's a global pandemic? It's complicated and every state seems to handle it differently. But one things for sure, letting out 'lifers' continues to be a contentious and politically fraught. 

Michelle got out of prison 9 years ago but her struggles are still a slippery slope. She talks about her reentry challenges, fighting fires, and how forgiveness is the key to freedom. 

Allen Burnett was sentenced to life without the possibility parole as a young kid. Decades later, his sentence was commuted and he found himself at the gates of the prison head home. His journey was tumultuous, trying, and triumphant. 

Find out what happened the night of the "incident" that would sent Crystal to prison for 23 years. 

Crystal served a long sentence for murder done in self-defense. Her journey takes twists and turns and we learn that a conviction and a charge are sometimes far from the truth. 

There are 48,000 documented barriers to reentry when someone gets out of prison. In Episode 30, Jon shares his experience returning home after receiving six life sentences, practically a death sentence. How will he navigate these barriers? Which ones will be the hardest to face?