Making Amends Steve Herbert
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- True Crime
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.
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S 2 E 1: ”That’s a Big Responsibility”
What do prosecutors do? Why do they pursue prison sentences when they charge people with violent offenses? What do they think incarceration accomplishes?
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S 2 E 2: ”Hurt People Hurt People”
How do people come to commit violent acts? What can prosecutors learn by listening to stories of how people ended up in prison?
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S 2 E 3: ”We As Prosecutors Have A Lot Of Power”
What is it like to be prosecuted for a violent crime? On the way toward getting a conviction, do you have any reason to take accountability for your actions?
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S 2 E 4: ”How Am I Going To Be A Better Person After This Time?”
In Oregon and elsewhere, many people convicted by prosecutors of a violent crime are given a long and fixed sentence. What does it mean to go prison on such a sentence? What can prisoners teach prosecutors about the experience of doing time?
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S 2 E 5: ”You Get To The Point Where You’re Doing Dead Time”
Despite the difficult conditions of prison, many people inside find a pathway to self-improvement. How is that possible? Are there changes in criminal justice policy that even prosecutors could support that would make transformations inside more likely?
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S 2 E 6: ”This Really Humanized The Criminal Justice System”
So, what did it mean for the prosecutors to engage in intensive conversations with prisoners? What lessons did everyone learn?