The Hustler Files with Lisa Reilly - Stories That Challenge What You Thought You Knew

Unfortunately, the cycle of domestic abuse can be handed down, from generation to generation, and it is an inheritance that can prove deadly. Such was the case for Kelly Savage-Rodriguez. Kelly grew up in an abusive family, and her mother was constantly, in the criminal justice system. Kelly herself was in a domestic violence situation when sadly she lost her 4 year old son, at the hands of her then-husband. While Kelly's husband was sentenced to LWOP - Life Without Parole, Kelly herself was charged, at the time, with the California failure to protect law. Kelly served 23 years behind the wall and she also lost her baby daughter to her ex-husbands family. But Kelly wasn't going to quit fighting for her release, and in November of 2018 had her LWOP sentence commuted by then-California Governor Brown. Through all of Kelly's pain, she used her time in prison to not only improve herself but help others, including taking on a role with the California Coalition of Women Prisoners, as a Drop LWOP Coordinator. Kelly is still in that role today, but fortunately outside the wall.

On September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Attorney Alex Van Dyke, of famed legal firm, Kline & Specter, along with 67 million viewers tuned in to watch the Presidential debate between Vice President, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump. What transpired that evening, would once again put the former Central Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, back in the spotlight. That night at the podium, Donald Trump relayed false information, stating that the Exonerated Five plead guilty to the assault and rape of the jogger and that she, in-fact, died of her injuries. Neither of these statements are true. In 1989, these five men, then teenagers, were arrested for the rape and assault of that woman. All five pled not guilty, yet were sentenced to years in prison. The victim of this infamous attack suffered horrific injuries, but she did survive. In 2002, with more conclusive DNA evidence, and a confession from the actual rapist, these five men were exonerated and their charges vacated. Fast forward 35 years, and the Exonerated Five have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. Listen in as we open this episode with a preamble from Attorney Bill Newman and then, Attorney Alex Van Dyke, from the Exonerated Fives' legal team, joins us for a first look at this new civil lawsuit against Donald Trump.

Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County, Idaho, will tell you it's humbling to be a Sheriff that's responsible for a jurisdiction that encompasses 602 square miles, with a population of close to 250,000, but then again, Sheriff Donahue is no ordinary Sheriff. Sheriff Kieran Donahue's career reads like an adventure novel and maybe that's because it's been just that. From an Alaskan Fish & Game Warden, to a scuba diver on the Exxon Valdez, to working undercover on the Federal Task Force, he'll also tell you that his career has been undeniably directed by God. As Sheriff Donahue prepares to take on a fourth term for Canyon County, he's been privileged to also hold his current role as President of the National Sheriffs' Association, oh and let's not forget that he's also a subject matter expert on the Mexican Cartels, their relationship with China, the Northern and Southern borders, and the people and drugs that are being smuggled into the United States, on a daily basis.

We all know the pink ribbon that signifies support for Breast Cancer. But did you know there's another color ribbon that's just as significant? It's the purple ribbon of Domestic Violence. In 2012, in Nampa, Idaho, Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County approached his wife, Jeanie, and suggested they launch an organization to raise funds for those affected by domestic violence. In his line of work, Sheriff Donahue had encountered both women and men in the throes of intimate partnership violence and he wanted to be a changemaker. Having grown up as a fourth-generation cattleman, Sheriff Donahue was raised with the cowboy codes that included the saying, 'man up', meaning, be man enough to deal with a difficult situation. Thus the Man Up Crusade was born. EVERY day in the U.S., 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are the victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Man Up Crusade partners with local community events such as rodeos, and fairs to promote safe and healthy relationships through education, advocacy, and funding. Currently, Man Up Crusade has a presence in 18 States and is also supported by the Western States Sheriffs' Association.

This episode continues some additional, and important storylines we explored during our recent visit behind the wall in Episode 79. Coincidentally, it also touched upon a recent Op-Ed article on BostonGlobe.com from Professor Susan Sered, a criminal justice specialist who wrote, 'incarcerated women are being held in overly restrictive environments despite evidence that women pose little security risk, compared to their male counterparts.' Based on what we heard and saw behind the wall, that article and ensuing soundbites we recorded, and now share in this episode created an interesting conversation that included The Hustler Files Producer Jess Tyler. Of the six women we met, 1 was awaiting trial for an alleged murder, 1 for assault with a dangerous weapon, and 1 for carjacking and robbery. The other 3 were sentenced; one for manslaughter (defending herself), one for multiple DUIs, and one for 'being in the wrong place'. To sit and chat with them, you could close your eyes and be anywhere but behind the wall. The sad common denominator between them was abusive childhoods, no parents or lack of parental boundaries, drugs, alcohol and/or mental health challenges. So the question to be asked is; Are these women as much the victims as they are the criminals?

Behind the wall in Chicopee Massachusetts, there are 150 women serving time. If you're sentenced, you wear green prison garb. If you're waiting to be sentenced then you're wearing orange. The Women's Western Mass Regional Correctional Center is under the watch of the Hampden County Sheriff, Nick Cocchi, and thus, considered a jail. Just don't make the mistake of calling it a prison. Prisons are either run by the state, the feds, or private industry. Upon arriving at the jail, submitting to our CORI reports, and being escorted through the many sliding metal doors, we are ushered into a classroom where there are six incarcerated women sitting around a table and signing release forms for their interview. Assistant Superintendent, Colleen Stocks, who runs the jail, graciously hosted us and allowed us to chat with Maggie, Vanessa, Brenda, Auntie, Keys, and Jay. Listen in as these women open up about life behind the wall, the daily challenges of incarceration, and what they would tell their younger selves.

This episode is the second of a two-parter featuring Eva Hamilton, MBE, CEO and Founder of the very successful re-entry program, Key4Life. There was still so much to cover, including a very revealing conversation with Aaron White, a Senior Case Worker on the Key4Life program and a formerly incarcerated individual. If you're wondering about Eva's Key4Life blended program, well it's seven steps and involves Equine Therapy, Behavioral Support, Music Therapy, Non-physical Football and Boxing, an introduction to Mentors, Mock interviews, and a Final Action Plan but there's so much more to learn about Eva Hamilton, MBE with her 39 years in impacting the incarceral system.

Eva Hamilton, MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), is nothing short of a whirling dervish when it comes to seeing a challenge and then creating a solution. For 38 years, Eva has worked with some of the U.K.'s most marginalized groups. From her organization, Business Action on Homelessness to the program Seeing is Believing, a collaboration with HRH The Prince of Wales (now King Charles), Eva believes everyone deserves another chance. Her current crime prevention charity Key4Life offers what she refers to as 'blended' Seven Step program to rehabilitate young men in prison or at risk of going to prison and reduce the cycle of crime. Since its inception after the 2011 London riots, Key4Life has impacted over 1000 offenders and run 39 programs with more than 150 UK companies.

We've all heard the quote – 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.' With more than 600,000 people being released across the U.S. each year yet more than two thirds are rearrested within three years, the prison reform wheel needs to become more innovative, and leading that charge is the California organization, Impact Justice. Their overall mission, to get creative, change the script and rules of engagement, believe in one another, and expand what's possible. Aishatu Yusuf, Vice President of Innovation Programs breaks down some of the transformational projects that take the prison reform movement, head on. Impact Justice programs run the gamut from a reentry mentorship program for formerly incarcerated, to a sharing economy model that pairs returning citizens with welcoming community housing hosts, and a first of its kind partnership to improve food quality, and provide access to fresh, nourishing, appealing food behind the wall. As Aishatu Yusuf says, 'at Impact Justice we are all doers'.

This milestone episode for The Hustler Files was recorded at the Hampden County Jail, in Western Massachusetts, but this conversation with Sheriff Nick Cocchi, who runs the jail and Liz Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts could take place in any city or county, USA. Domestic violence month may be in October, but it's not a once-a-year issue. It's also NOT just a female issue. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence and domestic violence does not discriminate. It affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, which is why the YWCA is no longer just a place to find a pool and an exercise class. The YWCA is now a safe haven for women and men who have experienced domestic violence. A place where support for survivors is their top priority with no questions asked, but a shoulder is offered. To also offer support and awareness is Sheriff Cocchi, one of the most progressive Sheriffs anywhere in the U.S. Sadly, this Sheriff had to experience the recent loss of a most beloved Assistant due to domestic violence, but that only fueled his fire to bring awareness to the domestic violence issue that can be right under our noses and thus partnering with the YWCA to amplify the message. As Sheriff Cocchi says, "there is no shame in asking for help if you're a victim of domestic violence, it's not YOUR problem, it's the abuser's".