From Convict To CEO — Turning Inmates Into Business Entrepreneurs

From Convict To CEO — Turning Inmates Into Business Entrepreneurs

Author: Robert Riggs August 3, 2022 Duration: 45:21

Many U.S. prisons are trade schools for crime. High recidivism rates underscore the failure of the current criminal justice system.

Released and rearrested inmates pass through an expensive revolving door. 

The Texas prison used to be called the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC), but there was little evidence that it corrected bad behavior. 

In Texas, nearly one-fourth of the prisoners released return within three years. Nationally, half of the prisoners released return within three years.

However, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), an independent nonprofit organization in Texas, puts inmates within one to three years of parole eligibility on the path to jobs and even running a business.  Less than 7% of its graduates return to prison within three years.

500 participants are chosen yearly out of more than 10,000 eligible inmates. The screening process, which is more selective than prestigious universities, includes a 20-page application, three exams, and an interview with PEP staff members.

Death row inmates or those convicted of sex crimes are not eligible.

The program exposes them to PEP’s ten driving values: fresh-start outlook, servant-leader mentality, love, innovation, accountability, integrity, execution, fun, excellence, and wise stewardship. 

The entrepreneurship program starts with a three-month Leadership Academy that teaches character development and computer skills. 

Next, they take a rigorous six-month “mini-MBA” course taught by staff, volunteer business executives, and college students.

Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business has worked with PEP since 2007. It awards certificates of Entrepreneurship at the program’s graduation ceremonies.

All of the inmates who have graduated get a job within 90 days of walking out of prison. More than 1,500 PEP graduates have launched 300 businesses. Six of those companies generate more than $1 million in annual sales. Nearly half of the grads own homes within three years of their release.

Bryan Kelley, the CEO of PEP, has “walked the line” in the prison system. Kelley served 22 years of a life sentence for a drug-related murder. (note: In this context, “walk the line” refers to the white lines painted on the floors of prison cellblocks. Inmates must stay inside the white line and against the wall as they walk in both directions.)

Investigative reporter Robert Riggs spent a decade in every corner of the prison system, exposing corruption in the Texas parole system.

Riggs interviews Kelley about the life-changing Prison Entrepreneurship Program.


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Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Reporter
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