I want you to judge me according to my integrity, and I’m sure other people do too. I don’t hide my integrity, and I don’t deny my integrity. I made the changes to walk in integrity for 40 plus years. Many walk with a good set of values even after we received death by incarceration from the parole boards. But I have to ask myself, and I want you to ask yourself: Is the criminal justice system, is the leaders, are they striving for integrity in their decisions? Are governors and legislators using a set of values to consider second look laws or second chances for people? I know 25 states have, but let’s keep going.
There’s no excuse for terrible choices I made 40 years ago. Choices that I’ll never forget. No amount of remorse, no amount of tears, no amount of apologies can bring that wonderful young man back. Even though I didn’t commit the murder itself, I was there, so I carry that burden. I opened the door to troubles in my life when I started using drugs, when I chose the wrong friends. Yet, I’ve chosen that this young man’s legacy will be a life with a daily walk in integrity.
Integrity, it’s kind of a guide to help us choose truth and acting on it. Where is the Kentucky parole board’s integrity? Where’s their truth in many cases, including mine? I’ve lived the right values for 40 plus years only to have it turn against me to receive death by incarceration, which was what I was not sentenced to. The disappointment, the frustration, it can be overwhelming and discouraging at times. Yet I share this word integrity because it kept me from giving up, even on days I really wanted to. A core set of values, they’ll prove themselves in every life as proof in mine for over four decades. Integrity will stand even when parole boards, governors, judges don’t make decisions based on it.
The United States is said to have the best legal system, best criminal justice system, but how can we without laws giving second chances or parole board reforms, second look laws based on integrity of character, based on character of individual cases? Think about the acronym for integrity: I- invest in rehabilitation, N-never give up on people, T-truth over fear, E- encourage second chances, G- growth deserves recognition, R- redemption is real, I- individual transformation matters, T-time should reflect justice, and Y is yes to hope. I know there’s plenty, but for myself, I’ve rehabilitated, I’ve lived in truth, I’ve grown, I’ve been redeemed, I’ve transformed, I’ve done the time, and I’m still hoping. This is Karen, with integrity.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
