Making Amends

S 2 E 1: ”That’s a Big Responsibility”

What do prosecutors do? Why do they pursue prison sentences when they charge people with violent offenses?  What do they think incarceration accomplishes?

S 2 E 2: ”Hurt People Hurt People”

How do people come to commit violent acts?  What can prosecutors learn by listening to stories of how people ended up in prison?

S 2 E 3: ”We As Prosecutors Have A Lot Of Power”

What is it like to be prosecuted for a violent crime?  On the way toward getting a conviction, do you have any reason to take accountability for your actions?

S 2 E 4: ”How Am I Going To Be A Better Person After This Time?”

In Oregon and elsewhere, many people convicted by prosecutors of a violent crime are given a long and fixed sentence.  What does it mean to go prison on such a sentence?  What can prisoners teach prosecutors about the experience of doing time?

S 2 E 5: ”You Get To The Point Where You’re Doing Dead Time”

Despite the difficult conditions of prison, many people inside find a pathway to self-improvement.  How is that possible?  Are there changes in criminal justice policy that even prosecutors could support that would make transformations inside more likely?

S 2 E 6: ”This Really Humanized The Criminal Justice System”

So, what did it mean for the prosecutors to engage in intensive conversations with prisoners?  What lessons did everyone learn?