The Upside: Formerly Incarcerated Mentors Are Changing Lives in California

The Upside: Formerly Incarcerated Mentors Are Changing Lives in California

Why this story matters: This article cuts through the sensationalism to provide a clear, constructive look at a project that is actually working. It’s a reminder that behind every great achievement is a group of people who refused to give up. Quick summary: This story highlights recent developments related to prison reform, showing how constructive action can lead to meaningful results. When he walked out of prison after 28 years, the first thing Allen Burnett did was drive to the ocean. “I just stood there for a minute,” he recalls. “I wanted to feel the air.” Would you like to read more good news about Prison Reform , Justice , Incarceration , Mental Health , Prison , and Criminal Justice ? For most of his life, Burnett never expected that moment to come. He entered California’s prison system as a teenager in the early 1990s after participating in a fatal carjacking. Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, he believed he would die behind bars: “I was told I’m not worthy.” Allen Bur…