My Journey from Privilege to Prison

Jim Hooker speaks about how, while may all be created equal, we’re not born equal. We’re automatically categorized by society based on circumstances, not by decisions we’ve made. For many, these categories last a lifetime and are near impossible to change. This is even more true for those being released from prison in the United States. Regardless of their crime, their intellect, or their spirit, they are categorized into a single checkbox: a criminal. Withheld from working in favorable jobs or moving into thriving communities. For many, this categorization lasts a lifetime and is near impossible to change.

“I believe we can all rethink how we look at those incarcerated. Discarding people for the rest of their lives, based on a decision they made on the worst day of their life, is such a waste of human potential.” – Jim Hooker