PRISON FELLOWSHIP BLOG:

With his wiry gray beard, rugged appearance, and familiar name, William “Billy” Kidd looks like someone who has stories to tell.

And he does. The former drug dealer who was once a leader of the Aryan Nation within the Michigan correctional system has spent much of his life in and out of prison, with the many tattoos covering his body chronicling his nefarious past.

As a general rule, when seeking to solve a problem, it helps to get the opinions of those most directly affected by the policy in question. Those who are most familiar with the situation are usually able to bring unique insights and ideas to the table, and are often better equipped to make these suggestions a reality.

If the changing leaves and cooler temperatures across much of the country are any indication, winter is coming. Soon, thoughts will turn to the holidays and the joys that come with having friends and families together for Christmastime.

But for 2.7 million children with at least one parent behind bars, the reality is quite different.

Living life as a Christian in prison can be challenging. Many of these men and women find themselves isolated, in the midst of a culture that doesn’t share or reflect their values, struggling to hold onto beliefs that are constantly being challenged and ridiculed.

Animals. Subhuman. Unrepentant. Undeserving of mercy.

The perceptions that many people have of prisoners are harsh and unforgiving. They are formed by television and movies, augmented by the nightly news, and used by politicians seeking to sway voters that they are “tough on crime.” The general sense is that the men and women behind bars are there because they are unable to be a part of the larger society, and that we are all better off with them isolated from “regular people.”

This was the view of M.

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.

There is a transformative power in good literature. A book can transport us to faraway places and introduce us to characters from different times and eras. It can rouse the emotions, challenge perceptions, and engage the mind in ways that few things can.

Did you know that if you are arrested on suspicion of criminal activity, law enforcement officials can seize cash and property they believe could have been connected to the crime, in some cases without even filing criminal charges against you?

The practice is called civil asset forfeiture, and it is being used across the country to help fund some of the various police units and prosecutors’ offices that are doing the seizing of property.

For the last nine years, Denise Harris has served as Prison Fellowship’s field director for the Detroit metro area. In that role, Denise has been a tireless advocate for men and women behind bars in Michigan, a source of encouragement for families with an incarcerated loved ones, and a valuable resource for former prisoners as they seek to become productive members of their communities.

Ever wonder what life is like for someone with a criminal record?

A new quiz on the Marshall Project website gives readers an opportunity to see how much they know about the hurdles that face men and women who have committed crimes.