>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS WTTW NEWS AND SPECIAL.

FIRST-HAND LIFE AFTER PRISON.

ON THE PROGRAM, ILLINOIS PRISONS RELEASED MORE THAN 20,000 INMATES EACH YEAR.

WE DEBUT THE FOCUS EXAMINING THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH LIFE AFTER PRISON.

>> ONCE YOU MAKE IT OUT.

>> THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS ENSURE WE ARE BETTER MEN WHEN WE GO OUT.

>> SOMETIMES LIFE AFTER PRISON IS AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

WE WILL HEAR TWO STORIES OF OVERCOMING HARDSHIP, HOPE AND INCARCERATION.

>> SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGES OFFICIALLY KEEPING ITS DOORS OPEN.

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS VENDORS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING DISPLACED BY A BIG BOX RETAIL STORE.

THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ANNOUNCED TODAY A FUTURE PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF THE TWO BUSINESS OWNERS OF THE MALL.

THEY FINALIZED AN AGREEMENT WITH NOVAK DEVELOPMENT WITH A LEASE SET TO RUN FOR 10 YEARS.

THE DISCOUNT MALL PLAZA WILL UNDERGO MAJOR RENOVATIONS STARTING MID SPRING.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT A RENDERING OF SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED.

A MEETING WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK.

THERE IS MORE OF THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> IF YOUR COMMUTE INCLUDES TRAVELING BETWEEN THE CITY AND SUBURBS, CTA IS HOPING IT WILL BE EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE WITH INTEGRATED RIDE PASSES.

STARTING MONDAY ALL NEWLY PURCHASED ONE DAY AND THREE DAY UNLIMITED PASSES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON BOTH CTA TRAINS AND BUSES.

ADDITIONALLY, CTA'S FIVE DOLLARS SURCHARGE FOR THE SEVEN-DAY PASS HAS BEEN REMOVED.

ALL PASSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

>>> CHICAGO VOTERS CAN START CASTING THEIR BALLOT NOW THAT EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED CITYWIDE.

YOU CAN CAST YOUR BALLOT AT ANY LOCATION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT IS YOUR AWARD.

THE SUPER SITE IS OPEN DOWNTOWN AS WELL AND YOU CAN DROP OFF A MAIL-IN BALLOT AT THOSE LOCATIONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE CHECK OUT OUR WTTW NEWS VOTER GUIDE OFFERING CANDIDATE PROFILES AND RESPONSES TO LOCALIZED QUESTIONNAIRES AND LINKS TO OUR ONGOING POLITICAL COVERAGE.

ALL AT WTTW.COM /VOTER GUIDE.

ELECTION DAY IS FEBRUARY 28th, TWO WEEKS FROM TOMORROW FOLKS.

>>> UP NEXT WE DELVE INTO FIRST-HAND LIFE AFTER PRISON, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> TODAY WTTW LAUNCHES ITS NEW MULTIMEDIA INITIATIVE, FIRST-HAND , LIFE AFTER PRISON.

THIS YEAR WE ARE EXPLORING THE MANY CHALLENGES OF MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE LEAVING ILLINOIS PRISON EACH YEAR AS THEY REENTER FREE SOCIETY.

THOUSANDS OF LAWS GOVERN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON IN THE UNITED STATES MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND TO RESTART LIFE AFTER THEY HAVE DONE THEIR TIME.

WE WILL HEAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE HAVE SEEN AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON AND ALSO THE TRAUMA THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR INCARCERATION.

YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST-HAND DOCUMENTARIES ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM /FIRST-HAND.

HERE'S ONE OF OUR NEXT GUESTS TALKING ABOUT THEIR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES.

>> MY SMILE AS A KID, HIDES THE TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT IN MY CHILDHOOD I COULDN'T ESCAPE FROM.

AT THE AGE OF 4, I WITNESSED MY MOTHER THROWN OVER A THIRD STORY ROOF.

HAVING TO SEE HER BODY LYING AMONG THE WEEDS BEHIND MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOME, CHANGED ME.

I'M THANKFUL MY MOTHER DIDN'T DIE THAT DAY.

BUT THE TRAUMA, AND THE VIOLENCE, DID NOT STOP FOR US.

MY MOTHER WOULD LATER MARRY THE MAN WHO THREW HER OVER THAT ROOF.

>> JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE AFTER PRISON, THE REENTRY COLLAR SEE COORDINATOR.

AND THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JUSTICE INITIATIVE FOR CHICAGO BEYOND.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

ORLANDO, WE HEAR YOU TELLING THAT TRAUMATIC STORY OF YOUR CHILDHOOD.

WE SEE YOUR MOTHER IN THE AUDIENCE, OBVIOUSLY VERY EMOTIONAL.

WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER YOU JOINED A GANG WHICH LED TO HER EVENTUAL INCARCERATION.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THAT EPISODE BEGAN IN MY CHILDHOOD.

GROWING UP IN A HOME WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WAS THE NORM.

I ENDED UP GRAVITATING TOWARDS THE STREET LIFE IN MY EARLY TEENS.

I STARTED MAKING BAD DECISION AFTER BAD DECISION.

IT EVENTUALLY LED TO AN ALTERCATION IN WHICH I WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS, AS I SPOKE.

I POINTED A GUN AT ANOTHER TEENAGER, AND I FIRED IT.

AT THE TIME I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAD HARMED ANYONE.

BUT THE NEXT DAY, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL, TELLING ME I HAD HARMED SOMEONE IN THE WORST OF WAYS.

I HAD TAKEN A LIFE.

IN THAT INSTANT, IT WAS DEFINITELY A SHOCK.

THE FIRST THING I DID WAS START TO CRY.

BECAUSE, IN MY CHILDHOOD THE ONE VOICE THAT WAS A CONSTANT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE ME TO CHURCH AND I WOULD ALWAYS HEAR THAT ONE OF THE SINS THAT ANY HUMAN BEING CAN COMMIT IT WAS THE WORST WAS TO COMMIT MURDER.

I REMEMBER HEARING HER VOICE IN MY HEAD.

AND I WAS CRYING KNOWING I HAD DONE A VERY TERRIBLE THING.

>> OF COURSE YOU WERE INCARCERATED AND RELEASED IN 2017.

SO FAST FORWARDING A GOOD BIT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED UPON RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> THE HARDEST THING FOR ME WAS ADJUSTING EMOTIONALLY TO MY RELATIONSHIPS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INCARCERATION DOES, IT DESTROYS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS GOING INTO THE SYSTEM WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.

THEN AGAIN, ONCE YOU COME HOME, IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MOTHER THAT YOU SEE MAYBE ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS.

SOMETIMES ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS DEPENDING ON WHAT PRISON YOU ARE IN.

WITH MY BROTHERS, I'M THE OLDEST OF FOUR SIBLINGS.

I WASN'T ABLE TO MAINTAIN A BOND WITH MY BROTHERS WHO AT THE TIME WERE ONE AND 2 1/2.

MY SISTER WAS A LITTLE OLDER BUT EVEN THEN, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT CONSTANT BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE.

AT THE EXPENSE, THAT IT PLACES ON A FAMILY.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY RECEIVING ANONYMOUS THREATS.

THROUGH CALLS AND THROUGH THE MAIL.

NICO, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS INCARCERATION HAS ON COMMUNITIES.

YOUR FATHER WAS IMPRISONED WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT YEARS OLD?

HOW DID THAT IMPACT YOU?

>> I THINK THE INCARCERATION OF MY FATHER AND A FEW OTHER MEN IN MY FAMILY JUST, IT OPENED UP THE DOOR FOR ME TO SEE EARLY ON THAT THE CAR SEVERAL SYSTEM WASN'T ESTABLISHED.

IT TOUR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND LARGE COMMUNITIES APART.

I ALSO REALIZED AT AN EARLY AGE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LOCKED BEHIND THESE WALLS WERE DESERVING OF SOMETHING MORE.

THAT ULTIMATELY I THINK LED TO MY DECISION TO WANT TO GO INTO A CAREER IN RENTAL HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

>> OF COURSE YOU ARE DOING IT TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BOTH FOR INMATES AND STAFF.

HERE'S A PART OF A TALK YOU GAVE AT PART OF WTTW'S FIRST-HAND INITIATIVE.

>> THERE IS NO ONE STORY THAT CAPTURES THE MIRRORED EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THIS SYSTEM.

AND THE STAFF WHO WORK IN IT.

EACH OF THESE GROUPS IS DEALING WITH THE PAIN INFLICTED ON THEM FROM THIS SYSTEM.

YET, THEY ARE TAUGHT TO VIEW EACH OTHER AS THE ENEMY.

RENDERING THEM IN CAPABLE OF CHALLENGING THE REAL ENEMY , THE SYSTEM ITSELF.

AND THE TRAUMA IT CAUSES.

>> HOW DOES LIFE INSIDE PRISON CHANGED BOTH THE STAFF AND THOSE INCARCERATED >> IT MAKES LIFE DIFFICULT.

THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF TRAUMA THAT EVERYONE IN THAT SYSTEM EXPERIENCES.

YET THEY ARE NOT OFTEN GIVEN THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THAT TRAUMA.

SO WHAT WE END UP SEEING HIS STAFF HAVE HIGH RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE, HIGH RATES OF DIVORCE AND SUICIDE.

CORRECTIONAL STAFF ACTUALLY LIVE AN AVERAGE OF 10-15 YEARS LESS THAN THOSE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

A SIMILAR STORY FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED THOUGH I WOULD SAY MUCH WORSE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED LOSE AN AVERAGE OF TWO YEARS I BELIEVE OFF OF THEIR LIFE FOR EVERY ONE YEAR THEY ARE INCARCERATED.

THEY ALSO HAVE HIGH RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE, MARITAL ISSUES, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ON THE FRONT END OF THIS SYSTEM TO REALLY DISRUPT WHAT WE KNOW THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY CAUSES.

>> ORLANDO HOW DID YOU HEAL FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND EXPERIENCE WITH INCARCERATION?

TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY WERE YOU CAN HELP OTHERS?

>> I THINK MOST OF IT CAME FROM HAVING PEER SUPPORT.

HAVING STRONG MALE ROLE MODELS WHO I ADOPTED AS FATHER FIGURES AND BROTHERS IN MY LIFE, WHO HELPED ME NOT ONLY TO SEE THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE A CHANGE BUT, TO INSTILL IN ME A NOTION OF WHAT COMMUNITY CAN DO.

AND REALLY FOR MYSELF, TO BE ABLE TO MODEL THAT IN OPPORTUNITIES CREATED FOR ME THROUGH EDUCATION PATHWAYS AND PROGRAMMING.

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE IN SPACES WHERE THEY WERE AVAILABLE AND IT ADDED TO THAT PEER SUPPORT.

>> THE COMMUNITY ANTI-VIOLENCE EDUCATION.

>> THAT PROGRAM ITSELF WAS CREATED AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER .

TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT TO BEGIN HEALING FROM THE TRAUMA WE OURSELVES HAD.

>> OF COURSE YOU ARE WORKING TODAY WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS THE REENTRY COORDINATOR.

>> MY ROLE IS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT POLICY AND INFUSE A TRANSFORMATIVE LENS IN SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT COME TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

ONE BEING THE HEALING BEYOND HARM , WHICH IS TAKING PLACE AND TO PLEASE -- IN 2 FACILITIES.

>> WHAT SORT OF ASSISTANCE IS THE STATE ABLE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING?

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS NOT A DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER BUT ONE THING I DO IN MY CAPACITY AS THE POLY POLICY COORDINATOR, TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR STATE AGENCIES.

FOR EXAMPLE THE STATE ID PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES THE IDS FOR EVERYONE, AND FOR PEOPLE ENTERING FROM INCARCERATION.

AN ID IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING BUT IT PROVIDES A LEG UP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OPEN TO ENGAGE IN EMPLOYMENT AND DIRECT SERVICES.

AGAIN THE HEALING BEYOND HARM PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE THAT IS BRINGING TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY, WORKING TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> NIKA, AS WE WRAP UP, WHAT DO YOU WISH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?

>> I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT INCARCERATION ISN'T THE ANSWER AND INSTEAD, IT HAS MASSIVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

TO ALL OF US REALLY.

INSTEAD OF USING INCARCERATION IS THE ONLY TOOL FOR SOME OF THE SOCIETAL ILLS WE EXPERIENCE, WE REALLY HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE THRIVE IN COMMUNITY.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS, HEAR THEIR TALKS AND READ ABOUT OUR FIRST-HAND LIFE AFTER PRISON SERIES.

IT'S ALL AT WTTW.COM /FIRST-HAND.

UP NEXT, 2 PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT OVERCOMING HURDLES AFTER INCARCERATION.

STAY WITH US.

>>> BEING INCARCERATED AT THE AGE OF 18 MEANS WHEN YOU ARE RELEASED TO 24 YEARS LATER, THE PERSON WALKING OUT OF PRISON MAY STILL BE IN SOME WAYS A TEENAGER.

SOMETIMES IT LEADS TO AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

OUR NEXT GUEST HAD SUCH UNEXPECTED JOURNEYS AND CHALLENGES BUT CONTINUED TO PUSH FOR A BETTER LIFE.

JOINING US IS TAWANA POPE.

AND NICK CRAYTON WHO WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON JUST LAST YEAR FROM THE LIFE SKILLS REENTRY CENTER IN Q1 ILLINOIS.

NICK AS WE MENTIONED YOU HAVE BEEN OUT OF PRISON FOR JUST OVER FOUR MONTHS AFTER HAVING BEEN INCARCERATED FOR 24 YEARS.

18 YEARS OLD WHEN YOU WENT IN.

HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE EARLY DAYS WERE LIKE FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS AWKWARD.

SITTING IN A RESTAURANT.

LIKE, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST RESTAURANT I WAS IN PRE-ARREST.

EMOTIONALLY I'M STILL AN 18-YEAR-OLD KIDS SO RIGHT NOW I'M KIND OF NERVOUS LIKE, ABOUT MYSELF.

EVERYWHERE I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN ACCOMPANIED OR CHAPERONED.

SO OBVIOUSLY, IT'S THE WORK WEEK AND PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

THE OTHER NIGHT, I DON'T GET ANXIETY, BUT I STARTED FEELING MYSELF, THE ALARM GOING OFF IN MY BRAIN SAYING, IT'S TIME TO GO LOCKUP IT'S ALMOST 9:30.

YOU KNOW... BE AWARE.

THEN I HAD TO TELL MYSELF, THERE ISN'T A COUNT TIME OR A GUARD OR OFFICER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE HOUSE AT 9:30.

SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO RECONDITION.

BECAUSE THEY ARE EMBEDDED YOU KNOW?

>> SHIFTING MINDSET FOR YOU, NICK, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ADJUSTING?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK I'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD.

A LOT OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE LIKE, YOU ARE MOVING PRETTY FAST YOU MIGHT WANT TO SLOW DOWN.

BUT FOR ME I'M JUST REBUILDING WHAT I SQUANDERED 24 YEARS AGO.

I THINK I'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD.

NOTHING HAS REALLY TRIPPED ME UP.

MAJORLY, YOU KNOW >> Translator: SMALL THINGS.

>> THINGS YOU ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED DAY-TO-DAY BUT IT'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELPFUL SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> WHAT DOES REBUILDING LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> FOR ME, GETTING MY DRIVERS LICENSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE AT 42 YEARS OLD.

THEY WERE LIKE, HOW HAVE YOU NEVER HAD A LICENSE?

I HAD TO BE FORTHCOMING AND SAY, I WAS INCARCERATED.

SO PEOPLE WERE KIND OF TAKEN ABACK BUT THEY WERE UNDERSTANDING.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT AND UNDERSTANDING LIKE, HOW TO PAY FOR A CREDIT CARD.

INSURANCE, THE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LEARN AT 18, 21, PAYING RENT ONLINE.

SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NEW FOR ME.

LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT PLAYING CATCH-UP BUT JUST REBUILDING THAT WHICH I'M BEHIND ON AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

>> TAWANA IN YOUR DOCUMENTARY YOU TELL THE STORY OF HOW YOU SPENT TIME IN AND OUT OF JAIL.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE IN JAIL AND HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU?

>> JAIL IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE ON THIS PLATFORM.

IN AND OUT OF JAIL, AND HAVING CHILDREN BEING INCARCERATED IS A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE.

IT WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT STIGMA OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, AM I GOING TO STAY STUCK OR AM I GOING TO PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND CONTINUE TO REBUILD TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL BY CHANGING WHO I AM FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

>> WAS THE MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU NEEDED TO MAKE A CHANGE?

>> THE LAST TIME WHEN I WENT IN AND I SAID, GOD, IF YOU GIVE ME ABOUT A YEAR I'M NEVER COMING BACK.

BECAUSE I WAS IN THERE WITH A YOUNG LADY WHO HAD COMMITTED A MURDER.

THEY PUT ME IN THE CELL WITH HER.

I'M LIKE, OH, OKAY.

YOU HELP ME GOD AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO COME BACK YEAR.

>> TAWANA HERE'S A BIT OF YOUR DOCUMENTARY AS WELL .

TAKE A LOOK.

>> FOR ME THAT BREAKING POINT, IT WAS ME, SICK AND TIRED OF BEING TIRED OF DISAPPOINTING MY CHILDREN.

ONE DAY I WASN'T HIGH AND I LOOK AT THEIR FACE.

I SAW IN THEIR SOUL WHAT I WAS DOING TO THEM.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY TIME I GOT HIGH MY CHILDREN DID TOO.

EVERY TIME I GOT INCARCERATED MY CHILDREN DID TO.

I WAS REPEATING THE CYCLE THAT WAS DONE TO ME.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT CYCLE IF YOU WOULD.

YOUR EXPERIENCE GROWING UP THAT LED TO THE CHOICES YOU MADE?

>> I'M THE OLDEST OF 10 AND MY MOM WAS A FORTY-YEAR ATTIC.

I BECAME THIS PERSON THAT I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR.

I'M THE MOM OF KIDS AND I HAD NEVER HAD A PREGNANCY.

A LOT OF THE THINGS I ENDURED AS THE OLDER SIBLING, HAPPENED TO DO THINGS TO MAKE SURE THEY ATE AND HAD THE THINGS THEY NEEDED.

AND PUTTING EVERYTHING THAT MADE ME ME ASIDE BECAUSE I HAD THESE CHILDREN I WAS LOOKING FOR.

IT WAS LIKE I HAD TO SHOW UP FOR THEM, IN SPITE OF HOW I FELT.

A LOT OF THINGS WERE BURIED INSIDE BECAUSE OF THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL PART OF THE FAMILY.

FAMILIES SAY THEY WILL BE THERE BUT WHEN THE TIME SHOWS UP, NOBODY'S THERE.

I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SO, IT WAS LIKE I WAS JUST BY MYSELF TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT.

>> NICK, YOU WERE IN THE LIFE SKILLS CENTER.

WHAT HAS THAT MEANT FOR YOU AND HOW HAS IT HELPED SINCE YOU'VE BEEN OUT?

>> ENTERING INTO THAT EXPERIMENT, IT WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WAS TRYING, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN CORRECTIONS.

YOU HAVE WARDEN CARRUTHERS THERE WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AGGRESSIVE AND THEY TOOK A CHANCE.

I'M A CONVICTED MURDERER SO, THE CITY OF KEY ONE HE CHANGED THEIR LAWS SO THAT I COULD STEP OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY AND GO INTO THE TOWN AND ACTUALLY HAVE A REAL JOB.

I WORKED FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THAT EXPERIENCE REALLY CHANGED THE SCOPE OF EVERYTHING.

I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT RELEASE WOULD BE LIKE.

SO I THINK IMPLEMENTING MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT IN THE EXISTING FACILITY THAT WE HAVE, WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE RECIDIVISM RATE THAT YOU HAVE.

PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO COME HOME TO SOMETHING.

>> TAWANA YOU EARNED A MASTERS DEGREE IN JAIL, HOW HAS THAT BEEN HELPFUL FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE TODAY?

>> VERY HELPFUL.

DURING THE TIME WHERE ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE TRYING TO REBUILD FROM THAT BROKEN PLACE, I HAD NEVER WORKED A JOB .

IT MADE IT KIND OF HARD TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

GETTING MY MASTERS OPEN SO MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME.

NOW THAT I HAVE OBTAINED MY LS W AS WELL.

NOW THAT I'M WORKING IN A FIELD WITH HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE VETERANS, WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

IT IS REWARDING.

YOU GO BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE GOD GAVE YOU THAT LIFELINE AND YOU GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP GOING ROUND AND ROUND.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, NICK, HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE A DIFFERENT PERSON TODAY THAN THE ONE WHO WAS INCARCERATED 24 YEARS AGO?

>> LOOK AT MY PERFORMANCE WHILE I WAS INCARCERATED.

SOME PEOPLE SAY PAST PERFORMANCE TELLS OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE THINGS I'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN FREE.

OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT A TEEN ANYMORE BUT IF YOU BELIEVE IN PEOPLE CHANGING.

IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WHO THEY WERE 24 YEARS AGO, YOU HAVE TO GIVE US A CHANCE AND THAT COMES WITH TRUST.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY STEPPING OUT AND HELPING THESE KIDS AND REBUILDING THAT WHICH WE STOLE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FIRST-HAND LIFE AFTER PRISON SERIES WHERE YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE DOCUMENTARIES FEATURING OUR GUESTS.

IT IS ALL AT WTTW.COM/FIRST-HAND.

WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP THE FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT, STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN STREAM US ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS APP.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10.

LAWMAKERS DISCUSS AHEAD OF THE BUDGET ADDRESS AND WE BREAKDOWN THE CITY'S NEW PROPOSAL.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE WTTW NEWS, THANKS FOR WATCHING, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.