What happens to a man sentenced to 80 years in prison for a single, irreversible mistake?
In this powerful episode of The Jake Giffin Podcast, Reginald Hicks shares his raw and unfiltered story—from a first-time offender receiving an 80-year sentence to serving 30 years inside one of the most violent prison systems in America.
At 19 years old, Reginald made a decision that changed everything. What followed were decades inside Texas prisons during the height of gang violence, racial segregation, and brutality. He describes living in a 6x9 cell for 23 hours a day, hearing screams through the night, watching men lose their identity—and nearly losing his own.
For 18 years, he lived without hope.
Then everything changed.
This conversation explores:
• What 30 years in prison does to a man • The psychological impact of hopelessness • The reality of Texas prisons in the 1990s • Why 70% of inmates return within 3 years • The shocking truth about reentry (including the $100 release reality) • How faith rewired identity and behavior • The difference between being disciplined and being delivered • Why prison ministry is directly connected to public safety • The 2% prison marriage survival rate—and how his survived • His vision to build transitional housing for men reentering society
Reginald now leads Brothers Keeper Prison Ministry, mentoring incarcerated men, strengthening families impacted by incarceration, and building a long-term solution for reintegration that goes beyond survival and focuses on transformation.
This episode is not about sentiment. It is about responsibility, identity, hope, and the hard truth about redemption.
If you care about criminal justice reform, prison ministry, second chances, faith-based rehabilitation, or the psychology of transformation, this conversation will challenge your assumptions.
About Reginald Hicks
Reginald Hicks is the founder of Brothers Keeper Prison Ministry. After serving 30 years of an 80-year sentence in Texas, he now works directly with incarcerated men and women, facilitates marriage retreats, supports families impacted by incarceration, and is building a vision for transitional housing focused on long-term restoration.
Connect with Reginald Hicks:
Website: https://www.brotherskeeperprisonministry.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: Brothers Keeper Prison Ministry
About The Jake Giffin Podcast
The Jake Giffin Podcast explores faith, psychology, leadership, identity, and transformation through direct, unfiltered conversations. Each episode is structured to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and transfer real value.
Host: Jake Giffin Website: https://www.jakegiffin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejakegiffin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakegiffin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejakegiffin
Follow @thejakegiffin on all platforms.