Country music has a long and unique relationship with the corrections system. Several of the genre’s biggest stars served prison sentences, and have written some of their most familiar songs about their time behind bars. Legendary albums have been recorded in unique settings such as San Quentin, Folsom Prison, and Angola. Johnny Cash not only performed in prisons, but also promoted criminal justice reforms that would benefit those who attended those performances.
But Cody Johnson provides a unique perspective on prison life. In an interview with Country Music Television, the up-and-coming singer remembers his previous job as a corrections official, and how it shaped him as a performer.
“I’ve always thought it was cool that Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Paycheck sang about prison,” Johnson says. “It’s a hard thing to sing about, but it’s something I don’t think I can ever get away from. … If I ever let go of it, I’d be a counterfeit.”
Johnson remembers taking the job right out of high school, and the stress that came with it. “There were times where you’d feel in fear for your life, and you’re not really sure if you’re going to go home. I have been in enough situations that will stay with me for the rest of my life. To this day, I don’t sit to my back to the door at a restaurant. I’m very security-minded—even when I’m out at shows with fans.”
Johnson says it’s not unusual to run into former prisoners at his shows, but that it doesn’t bother him to have them as fans. “I think we’re all about two or three bad decisions away from prison,” he says. “If I would have been caught for half the things I’ve done in my life, I’d be there right now probably. But there’s a lot of good people in prison. It doesn’t take much to go these days.”
For the men and women who do go to prison, being a “good person” doesn’t always equate to receiving a second chance. Even after paying the price for their past actions, former prisoners face many more barriers to actually integrating into society and being able to contribute to the communities in which they live. Finding housing and employment can be difficult, as numerous legal restrictions limit where they can live and what types of jobs they can hold.
Prison Fellowship seeks to remove these barriers, enabling men and women with criminal records to succeed and helping to bring an end to high recidivism rates. By promoting legislation like the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, Prison Fellowship is working to bring about meaningful change that restores former prisoners as productive citizens, reduces prison populations, and makes neighborhoods and communities safer. To learn more about what Prison Fellowship is doing to reform the criminal justice system, visit https://www.prisonfellowship.org/advocacy.
