Purpose in Prison

On January 11, 2015 I took the life of an innocent person. The first years of incarceration offered little, if any, real rehabilitation. The average cell block (housing area) was infested with drugs, hooch (homemade wine), gambling, and violence. Wanting change I signed up for Alcoholics Anonymous, classes in the chapel, and church. However these events lasted only an hour or two. Inevitably I found myself back in a war zone disguised as a prison dormitory or cell block. Chaos and dissention was abundant. It wasn't impossible to find personal rehabilitation, however it was challenging to cultivate and maintain.

In 2020 HB 3227 was passed by the Texas Legislature to implement Peer Recovery Support Specialists in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Myself and two other newly designated "Recovery Coaches" were certified and transferred to the Mark W. Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas to serve in this capacity.

We immediately recognized a need for rehabilitation on every level. Suicides, homicide, and drug overdoses were reaching record numbers. Filth covered every square inch of this hostile environment.

We put our differences to the side, and agreed to do what we signed up for. We would begin to create a new culture in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice by offering rehabilitation on the front end of incarceration to anyone willing to do the work.

The odds were against us but we had a few things in our favor. The first was a Warden who was a visionary with decades of experience in the criminal justice system. The second was our Unit Liaison, the Chief of classification who did the work of four employees.  With a pilot program proposal in hand we went to work. Reaching out to anyone who would listen.

For the next couple of years everyone involved worked relentlessly to establish and maintain the first Recovery Housing Opportunity Program; RHOP in the Texas prison system. With the support and direction from Rehabilitation and Reentry Division and Correctional Institutions Division a clean and structured housing area was developed for persons incarcerated who wanted something better for themselves. This (52) fifty two week opportunity offered (23) twenty three recovery related groups, activities, events, structure, and accountability.  RHOP participants attended (16) sixteen groups a week with a wide range of curriculum including Relapse Prevention, Substance Use  and  the Brain, Victim Impact, and Community Speaker Events.

Let me be abundantly clear when I admit I was the worst of the worst when it came to substance use, relapse, and recidivism. Never was I a model inmate. I've drank, ran poker tables, and dealt in contraband. Serving as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist in RHOP gave me the support and recovery capital needed to CHANGE MY LIFE.

These Peer driven recovery communities are about personal growth, serving time with purpose, and remaining crime free. Today Peer Recovery Support Specialists and RHOP are available in both men's and women's prisons across the state.

RHOP has helped myself and others discover a realistic path to recovery while incarcerated. Prison has a uncanny ability to make monsters. Rehabilitation and Reentry Division are making citizens. However this could not be possible without men like Mr. Wayne Edson who's been by our side since day one. Forever advocating, encouraging, and supporting us. From speaking at RHOP Community Speaker Events across the state to purchasing much needed equipment for recovery groups, Wayne is a living example of what prison ministry and leadership looks like. Thank you for always showing up.

Respectfully Submitted,

Scott Michael Flynn