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What happens when turning 18 transforms a teenage relationship into a serious crime? In this conversation, Jason and Amber speak with Heather who shares her gut-wrenching journey through the criminal legal system.

With remarkable vulnerability, Heather reveals how a small-town teen romance led to an arrest warrant, interrogation by police, and eventually a plea deal resulting in four years in prison and ten years on the registry. The cruel irony? Shortly after her arrest, Indiana passed "Romeo and Juliet" laws that would have made her case a minor offense, but she couldn't benefit from them because she was charged months earlier.

The devastating ripple effects of her conviction touch every aspect of Heather's life. From navigating confusing and inconsistent probation and registry requirements that varied by county to the crushing shame that kept her isolated, Heather's story illuminates how our legal system fails young people. Despite these enormous obstacles, she built a remarkable life – earning two degrees, maintaining stable employment for 15 years, marrying, and raising two daughters.

Now 37 and five years removed from registry requirements, Heather still struggles with the psychological aftermath of her conviction. She avoids situations requiring background checks, limiting her involvement in her children's activities, and constantly fears judgment if people discover her past. Yet through therapy and growing advocacy work, she's finding her voice.

Heather's journey raises profound questions about proportionality in punishment, the purpose of registries, and whether our system truly allows for rehabilitation. Her message to others facing similar circumstances resonates with hope: "Keep fighting, keep going. Your story matters, your voice matters. You can go through traumatic, hard things and still make it out the other side."

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In this powerful episode, Amber and Jason meet Fez, who spent 22 years in prison, and Vern, who has volunteered with the Jericho Circle for 25 years. Together, they share the transformative impact of circle work both inside prison walls and beyond.

Fez's story begins with a childhood lacking affection and stability, which paved his path to juvenile detention at 15 and later a 22-29 year sentence. When he first entered prison, his mindset was focused solely on revenge. "I'm going to get out and finish what I started," he recalls thinking. But something profound happened when he encountered the Native American Circle and later the Jericho Circle.

The simple yet powerful structure of circle— where the group focuses on interconnectedness and shared humanity and participants use a talking stick to ensure each person speaks uninterrupted —created a space where Fez could confront his past, take responsibility, and begin genuine healing. "People share very deep traumatic events in their lives," Fez explains. "We're there supporting them."

What makes Jericho Circle unique is that it operates entirely through volunteers with no government funding. The circle keepers receive no compensation yet continue showing up because, as Vern puts it, "The healing was as deeply felt in me as in anyone else."

Now five years free, Fez has built a successful life and serves as a circle guide himself, creating space for others to heal.

Their story challenges conventional approaches and offers a powerful model of transformation through community, vulnerability, and genuine human connection.

Visit JerichoCircle.org to learn more about this life-changing work.

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What happens when we replace shame and barriers for people in reentry with resources? Kevin Scott of Community Spring shares his story and work with direct cash assistance for justice-impacted people as part of this insightful conversation with Amplified Voices co-hosts, Jason and Amber.

Kevin's story begins in the chaos of childhood trauma – a family member struggling with addiction, a kidnapping, and his own early descent into substance use. Despite multiple attempts at recovery, Kevin eventually found himself serving a four-year prison sentence in Florida's Department of Corrections, where the heat was unbearable and hope seemed impossible.

Yet even amongst the harsh and dehumanizing prison environment, Kevin discovered unexpected paths to healing. He became responsible for the prison band room, tapping into his passion for music. More profoundly, he discovered meditation, which forced him to confront his lifelong pattern of seeking escape and "oblivion" rather than facing reality. This practice became the foundation for his lasting recovery and transformed his understanding of himself.

Upon release, Kevin faced the brutal realities of reentry – sleeping in a homeless shelter parking lot, struggling with probation fees, and battling the constant threat of reincarceration for inability to pay. The system that claimed to rehabilitate had no interest in his actual success.

Despite these barriers, Kevin found stability and eventually connected with Community Spring, where he and others helped create Just Income – a groundbreaking program providing $800 monthly to formerly incarcerated people with no strings attached.

The results have been extraordinary: a 31% reduction in recidivism, nearly halving money-related probation violations, and significantly improved mental health and employment outcomes. As Director of Guaranteed Income, Kevin has overseen the distribution of over $1 million to 157 recipients, proving that "money and kindness" outperform surveillance and control.

Beyond the numbers lies a profound truth captured by one participant: "Hope goes a long way for people who are accustomed to hopelessness." Kevin's work demonstrates that viewing formerly incarcerated people through a lens of humanity rather than criminality creates better outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

Featured in an award-winning documentary and major news outlets, Community Spring is not only transforming lives in Gainesville—it’s becoming a replicable model for communities across the country.

More About Kevin Scott:

A formerly incarcerated advocate, Kevin Scott has been instrumental in advancing policies that remove economic barriers for justice-impacted people. His work has helped end unpaid prison labor contracts, pass Florida’s first Fair Chance Hiring ordinance, eliminate fines and fees, and secure free phone calls for incarcerated individuals and their families.

Kevin’s efforts as Director of Guaranteed Income at Community Spring have received national recognition for their bold, evidence-based approach to reentry and economic justice.

Outside of work, Kevin is a devoted Zen meditation practitioner, a soccer fan, and the proud father of one brilliant daughter and two idiot cats.

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