Welcome to "The Other Side of the Cell

This blog is a journey—my journey from being a correctional officer to becoming a prison wife, and now, an advocate for change within the very system I once served. Through these posts, I aim to peel back the curtain on the realities of the U.S. prison system, share my personal experiences, and explore how we can push for meaningful reform together.

Years ago, I stepped into a role that I thought was just another job. As a correctional officer, I believed I was part of a system that kept people safe by keeping "bad" people away. But as I walked the cell blocks and talked to the men behind bars, I saw more than criminals; I saw human beings with stories, families, and often, a deep sense of regret and a desire for redemption. My perspective shifted even more dramatically when I fell in love with one of them. He wasn’t just a number or a case file; he was, and is, the love of my life. Our journey together has opened my eyes to the profound flaws and failures of the prison system—a system that often punishes endlessly rather than rehabilitates.

It’s no secret that prisons are overcrowded and understaffed, but the issues run deeper than that. Drugs are often more accessible inside prison walls than out, and the staff—overworked and undertrained—are sometimes part of the problem, not the solution. Rehabilitation programs are frequently superficial at best, setting inmates up for failure upon release and feeding the vicious cycle of recidivism. This blog will dive into these issues, bringing to light the harsh realities that are often hidden from public view.

In the coming weeks and months, you can expect deep dives into:

• Personal stories from my life and the lives of those I’ve met along the way.
• Insights into systemic failures and what they mean for those inside and outside the prison walls.
• Interviews with experts in criminal justice reform, psychology, and other related fields.
• Discussions on potential reforms and how each of us can contribute to the change.

I invite you to join me on this path. Subscribe for updates, share this post to help spread the word, and engage with the content. Every comment, question, and share increases our ability to advocate for change. You can also follow my TikTok @pebblesnbam22 for more frequent updates and insights.

Thank you for taking the time to read this introduction. I believe that by sharing our stories and confronting the realities of the prison system, we can ignite a conversation that leads to real and lasting change. Together, we can turn the tide from punitive isolation to rehabilitative integration.

Micah 6:8 (NIV): “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”