To recognize that one has done wrong often motivates a desire to do right.  Prisoners seeking to atone try to do good works in an environment where positivity is not usually celebrated.  

Learning how to understand and control your own emotions is an important step toward atonement.  But that’s not so simple in the hyper-masculine world of prison. 

Inside of prison, finding and walking the right path is not always easy.  Cameron and Steve wanted to become different people, but had to overcome the culture of prison violence to do so.

For many prisoners, remorseful thoughts of their victims motivate a drive toward atonement. Terrence and Moustafa describe how their regret propels them to be better people. 

Violence was a constant in the lives of both Anthony and Theron, starting at a very young age. Once in prison, they began to question their allegiance to their gangs and their reliance on violence. What motivated that introspection and change?

How do we atone for the worst thing we’ve ever done? Many prisoners at the Oregon State Penitentiary wrestle with  this question every day. In this 8-part series, they share their stories with Steve Herbert, describing how they strive to make amends in an age of mass incarceration.