Breaking the Cycle: How Inmates Can Transform Their Lives by an Anonymous Prisoner in the Georgia Department of Corrections
These photos are of your host, Wayne T. Dowdy, showing the truth in this title. On the left I was a prisoner in Georgia (1978-1985). On the right, I am a free man, decades later, after serving more time (1988-2018) in the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons, where I changed my life twenty-three and a half years before I walked out the door. Part of my change and successful transition was due to utilitizing some of the options available, many of which are not available to other prisoners throughout the US and abroad.
A man confined in the Georgia Department of Corrections submitted an anonymous post on Facebook for publication on StraightFromthePen. Because I spent several years of my life inside the Georgia Department of Corrections, and in the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons, I know that a lot of what he wrote is true; however, that is not to say that StraightFromthePen endorses or necessarily agrees with any position or claims made in the submission. But we do agree that the suggestions for supporting education, and mental health/addiction treatment are valid.
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During President Donald Trump’s first term, he signed into law The First Step Act (FSA), which the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons still hasn’t fully implemented. The FSA included a lot of provisions the author states as in need for the Georgia Department of Corrections, some of the provisions of which a few states adopted into their system after Congress passed the FSA.
CHANGE CAN HAPPEN
Look, I’ve been locked up since I was a kid. Some of us came in at 18 or 19 with crazy long sentences—30 years minimum or life—and no parole. That kind of time crushes hope. When you have nothing to look forward to, all you do is survive. And when survival’s all you get, violence becomes how you get through the day.
A lot of guys in here made mistakes when they were under the influence—drugs, alcohol, whatever. Not saying it’s okay, but it explains a lot. Addiction, pain, mental health issues… that’s the real problem. And just throwing us away for decades without help? That doesn’t fix anything.
But here’s the thing—change can happen. We’re already seeing some good moves: Pell Grants coming back to prisons means people can finally get college degrees again. Churches and volunteers are stepping up, nonprofits want to help, and some programs are getting started.
What’s missing is a system that lets us use those chances:
Let folks with long sentences earn parole by proving they’ve changed.
Bring back and grow education and rehab programs inside—more than just basics, real stuff that helps us build a future.
Support mental health and addiction treatment so guys can get to the root of their struggles.
Work with churches, volunteers, nonprofits—people who want to see us succeed, not just locked up.
Prepare us for life on the outside while we’re still inside, so we’re ready when we get out.
If you give us a shot and real support, we’ll stop living day-to-day like it’s a fight. We’ll start thinking long-term. That means less violence, less anger, and more people ready to come back and contribute.
We’re not asking for a free pass. We just want a real chance to turn things around.
If you want safer prisons and safer communities, start by giving us hope and the tools to change.
And to my brothers still locked up—listen up:
Change starts with us. We can’t wait for the system to fix everything. We’ve got to reach one, teach one. There are free courses, books, and resources online—knowledge is out there if you’re ready to grab it. Use every moment inside to grow, to learn, to heal.
Because when we get out, the goal isn’t just to leave prison behind—we gotta stay out. That means preparing now, building new habits, new skills, and new mindsets. When we touch down back in the free world, we need to be ready to live as free men, not just free bodies.
It starts with you. Keep pushing, keep learning, keep growing. Together, we can break the cycle.