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Beyond Bars

Beyond Bars: Not much decision-making behind drug addiction

About this time nine years ago, I thought I had “made it” in life after landing a software sales gig with target earning potential around a quarter million a year. There was one problem; I was addicted to prescription pain killers. I lost that job after just 17 weeks of training and it was ...

Beyond Bars: Mentor’s guidance paying post-release dividends

It’s been just 18 months since I was released from prison, but it seems so long ago. At the same time, the experience completely changed me. I no longer sweat the small stuff in day-to-day life, but yet I really appreciate all the little things. I can’t think of the last time I was ...

Beyond Bars: Talk with state prison director gives encouragement

Not too long ago, this newspaper published a response to my article about the HOPE program at the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF). It was written by none other than the executive director of the Utah State Prison — the guy who runs the whole show and is appointed by the governor. We ...

Beyond Bars: Rehabilitation implementation doesn’t match the design

Making positive changes to the criminal justice system is difficult. It’s not for a lack of good ideas; it’s the systemic failure to implement good ideas and I believe most of this is due to culture.Case and point: I’m going to give you a summary of the policies, personnel and processes ...

Beyond Bars: ‘I finally feel free’ now that parole is officially over

I'm officially off parole. Not being able to travel outside the state of Utah without asking permission or not being allowed to set foot in an establishment whose chief item of sale is alcohol was inconvenient, but not really a big deal. The best part about being off parole is no longer having ...

Beyond Bars: Parole not impossible if you follow the rules

When I was in prison, the idea of parole was quite intimidating. I heard over and over how difficult it was going to be. “Near impossible” to get off parole is a comment I remember. I would have written this hyperbole off if it were not for the fact that many prisoners who had been paroled ...

Beyond Bars: Drug court helping those who can’t help themselves

Every now and again I check the Davis County Jail inmate roster. It never ceases to amaze me how many familiar faces I come across. Yesterday, I saw that a couple of guys I was buddies with during drug court had recently been booked into jail on consecutive days. These were guys who I played ...

Beyond Bars: The Department of Corrections’ job is to correct individuals

Call me idealistic, but I think the job of the Department of Corrections (DOC) is to help correct the individuals under their keep. It’s less about saving or improving the individuals as it is about benefitting society as a whole.The goal and responsibility of the DOC should be to lower ...

Beyond Bars: ‘What is your current level of pain?’

“What is your current pain level on a scale from 0 to 10?” This is the first thing I remember the nurse asking me after my surgery. I don’t know how many times I was asked this, not because it was so many, but because of the anesthesia. I guess I told the nurse multiple times that the ...