Hard Time: A Look At The Law Inside The Walls

Jake Welder
  • 4.7 (12)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Daily

To get ALL the NEW episodes, become a paid subscriber with this link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtime/subscribe Thinking about a career in corrections? Thinking about committing a crime? Correctional Sergeants Jake Welder and Jonathan Bates talk about life and the law behind bars, the challenges facing America's Forgotten Cop-- the correctional officer. The first responders on beats made up exclusively of our communities' most dangerous people. MERCH https://my-store-108c6f6.creator-spring.com/

  1. May 25

    NEW SHOW, MORE OF THE SAME. EVERY DAY

    Starting today there's a new episode of COMM CENTER TRUE CRIME-- on The Comm Center With Drew Breasy. It's more of the COMM CENTER you love: 911 calls, compelling stories and Jon's takes. Starting June 1 it's subscriber only content, so check it out while you can.

  2. May 7

    223. Josef Fritzl's Do It Yourself Prison

    In this true crime episode, Jon—a former corrections officer—dives into the horrifying case of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian monster who imprisoned his own daughter for 24 years beneath his family home. Joined by a special guest who jokes she’s lived her whole life like a prisoner—and who happens to be a direct descendant of a criminal—they unpack captivity, control, and why history keeps producing people who think “secret basement prison” is a lifestyle choice.

  3. Mar 20

    216. Corrections Officer Jeremy Hall Died Because DOCs Don't Care

    A Virginia correctional officer saw it coming — threats, warnings, even a weapon with his name on it. He went to work anyway. Months later, he was dead. Now his widow is asking the questions the Department of Corrections won’t answer — and exposing what officers already know: the danger isn’t hypothetical, it’s daily. In this episode, we break down the killing of Officer Jeremy Hall, the ignored warnings, and the silence that followed. Because when an officer dies, administrators hold a press conference, issue a statement, and move on — while the same policies stay in place. Understaffed. Underpaid. Outnumbered. Officers are told to keep quiet, keep working, and keep risking their lives — because speaking up means retaliation, unemployment, and becoming the next problem the system needs to manage. The inmates aren’t the only ones trapped inside the prison system.

  4. Mar 6

    214. Absolute Monster Inmate Funston in CA Eligible for Parole?

    Subhuman David Alan Funston a convicted serial child kidnapper and molester was eligible for parole under California's new Elderly Parole Program. Jake breaks down the heinous crimes, how the f**k this happened, and what the current result is. It doesn't end up as bad as you'd think, but unfortunately, he's still walking around. Oh and there are some Jake Jokes. I need a few drinks after this one. As a warning I get a little heated. Enjoy!

    214. Absolute Monster Inmate Funston in CA Eligible for Parole?

  5. Feb 6

    210. Historic Jackson State Prison W/Allie

    In this episode of Hard Time, Jon is joined by Allie Siebert from Allie in the Archives to examine 19th-century crime and punishment through her tour of Jackson State Prison. Michigan rejected the death penalty, but prison life was still defined by overcrowding, forced labor, corruption, and failed reform. Drawing on archival research and firsthand experience, this episode explores how early justice ideals often collapsed in practice—and how those failures continue to influence modern incarceration. Want to go to the Archives? Bloodstained: Exploring Michigan's Darkest Murders Forgotten By TimeHouseholdhistory.comInstagram: @allieinthearchives

  6. Jan 23

    208. Robert Brooks: You Forgot You Were Mad

    JON RETURNS to talk about the death of Robert Brooks-- it sparked widespread outrage when the story first broke — headlines, social media fury, and demands for accountability. But when the sentencing of the prison guards responsible finally arrived, it barely registered. In this episode, we examine how the Brooks case became a flash-in-the-pan moment of public attention, and what the muted response to these sentences says about how little most people think about what happens inside prisons once the cameras move on. While lives have been permanently altered — Brooks’ family, the convicted guards, and the correctional system itself — the broader public has already shifted its focus to the next controversy. We break down the sentencing, the legal outcomes, and why accountability behind prison walls rarely sustains public interest. This episode challenges the idea that outrage equals engagement, and explores how incarceration exists largely outside public concern until a shocking death forces it briefly into view. A hard look at justice, punishment, and how quickly society moves on when suffering happens out of sight.

  7. Jan 13

    206. Test Episode. Will trump Pardon Diddy?

    A bonus episode where Jake tests out some new equipment and covers the latest Trump and Diddy News.

    206. Test Episode. Will trump Pardon Diddy?

  8. 12/19/2025

    202. Ho Hum Drones From Above!

    Drones! The bane of this podcast are back. Humming into action for the good guys this time! But the Cartels and criminal organizations are continuing to adapt them into new roles. A bold prediction from Jake. A tale from across the pond. And a few Jake Jokes as well. Enjoy!

    202. Ho Hum Drones From Above!
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4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

To get ALL the NEW episodes, become a paid subscriber with this link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtime/subscribe Thinking about a career in corrections? Thinking about committing a crime? Correctional Sergeants Jake Welder and Jonathan Bates talk about life and the law behind bars, the challenges facing America's Forgotten Cop-- the correctional officer. The first responders on beats made up exclusively of our communities' most dangerous people. MERCH https://my-store-108c6f6.creator-spring.com/

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