Bonus Episode | Restoring the Way

Summary

Bone Valley: Bonus Episode | Restoring the Way
Host: Gilbert King
Production: Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1
Release Date: December 21, 2023

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Introduction

In the Bonus Episode of Bone Valley, titled "Restoring the Way," host Gilbert King delves deeper into the life of Leo, an inmate at the Florida Department of Corrections. This episode offers a poignant look into Leo's journey as he transitions from Hardy Correctional Institution to Everglades Correctional Institution, highlighting the challenges and transformations he experiences through the Corrections Transition Program (CTP).

Background

Bone Valley explores the harrowing case of Michelle Schofield's murder in 1987 and the subsequent wrongful conviction of her husband, Leo, who served decades in prison before new evidence exonerated him. Fifteen years post-conviction, fingerprints linked a violent teenager, Jeremy Scott, to the crime, leading to Leo's release and Jeremy's confession. This episode focuses on Leo's current life and his efforts to reintegrate into society.

Transition to Everglades Correctional Institution

The episode begins with a heartfelt conversation between Gilbert King and Leo, where Gilbert provides an update on Leo's recent transfer to Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami. Leo has been actively participating in the Corrections Transition Program (CTP), preparing for parole and eventual reintegration into the community.

Key Highlights:

• Challenges of Transition: Leo discusses the emotional and psychological difficulties of leaving Hardy, where he had established a support system and a sense of purpose.

  [02:31] Leo: "Leaving was really, really difficult. I was involved in a lot of things that were part of the functioning of that particular institution. Coming here, I was essentially nobody and lost those roles. It was still really tough."

• Journey Details: He describes the arduous journey from Hardy to Everglades, including the physical discomfort of the bus rides and the procedural hurdles like property checks and strip searches.

  [03:41] Leo: "The bus rides are notorious... It's hot, and it's a miserable ride. Even the new buses are better, but you're still handcuffed and shackled."

Experience with the Corrections Transition Program (CTP)

At Everglades, Leo is part of one of 79 men undergoing the CTP, which focuses on preparing inmates for life post-release through various classes and workshops.

Program Structure:

• Educational Pursuits: Leo has been taking multiple classes on resocialization skills, job interviews, and self-esteem, even teaching some himself.

  [09:48] Leo: "I took 13 classes last semester, which was a bear... We're learning how to deal with certain addictions and overcome them."

• Support from Florida International University (FIU): The program collaborates with FIU students who provide practical lessons on modern life skills, such as using cell phones and navigating contemporary technology.

  [13:03] Leo: "FIU students come in and show us how to live it... They live with us in it, they're absolutely amazing."

Struggles with Accountability and Claim of Innocence

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Leo's internal conflict within the CTP framework, which emphasizes accountability for one's actions—an expectation Leo grapples with due to his innocence.

Key Insights:

• Program Expectations vs. Personal Truth: Leo finds it challenging to align the program's accountability focus with his claim of innocence.

  [17:21] Leo: "CTP is not full of guys who are innocent... I can't be accountable for a crime I didn't commit. It was difficult because he's wanting to get me in the place where I'm being accountable, which I'm not."

• Moral Inventory: Despite these challenges, the program has facilitated Leo's personal growth, allowing him to reflect on his past behaviors and take responsibility for aspects of his life unrelated to the crime.

  [17:21] Leo: "I've been able to take a really strong moral inventory of my own life... My life before this crime had taken place was pretty rocky."

• Emotional Resilience: Leo discusses how reflecting on his past has helped him manage anger and resentment towards those who wrongfully accused him.

  [17:21] Leo: "It has allowed me really to not be so angry with Jerry Hill and people who have accused me of something that I didn't do."

Personal Reflections and Growth

Throughout the episode, Leo shares heartfelt reflections on his transformation during his time in the CTP. He acknowledges his past immaturity and recognizes the importance of personal development, which has been pivotal in his journey towards reintegration.

[17:21] Leo: "I don't want to be a bad person. I think I was an immature person. I didn't really have a chance to grow up and become who I would be until I got here."

Conclusion

In "Restoring the Way," Bone Valley offers an intimate portrayal of Leo's struggle and resilience as he navigates the complexities of proving his innocence while complying with programmatic expectations of accountability. The episode underscores the transformative power of supportive programs like CTP and highlights the nuanced challenges faced by individuals striving to rebuild their lives post-incarceration.

Through Gilbert King's empathetic interviewing, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the human side of wrongful convictions and the ongoing journey towards personal redemption and societal reintegration.

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Notable Quotes:

• Leo on Leaving Hardy:

  [02:31] "Leaving was really, really difficult... I was essentially nobody and lost those roles."

• Leo on Bus Rides:

  [03:41] "The bus rides are notorious... You're still handcuffed and shackled."

• Leo on CTP Challenges:

  [17:21] "I can't be accountable for a crime I didn't commit. It was difficult..."

• Leo on Personal Growth:

  [17:21] "I've been able to take a really strong moral inventory of my own life."

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This episode of Bone Valley serves as a compelling exploration of the intersection between justice, personal growth, and the systemic challenges within correctional programs. It provides valuable insights for listeners interested in criminal justice reform, wrongful convictions, and the power of rehabilitation programs.

Transcript

[Unknown]

Hello.

[Leo]

This is a prepaid call from an inmate at a Florida Department of Corrections institution. To accept this call, press 0. To refuse this call.

[Unknown]

This call is from a correction facility and is subject to monitoring and recording.

[Leo]

Thank you for using Global TEL Link. Good morning, Leo. Hey, bud. How are you?

[Unknown]

Good.

[Gilbert]

I'm sitting here with Kelsey.

[Leo]

Oh, really? Hey, Kelsey.

[Kelsey]

Hey, Leo. It's so nice to hear your voice.

[Leo]

It's nice to hear you too. I ask about you all the time.

[Kelsey]

I know. I get the messages. I mean, I ask about you all the time too.

[Leo]

Yeah. How are you?

[Kelsey]

I'm good. How are you?

[Leo]

I'm doing really well.

[Gilbert]

Hey, everyone. It's been a while since our last episode. Leo has been transferred to Everglades Correctional Institution down in Miami, where he's been preparing for parole through what's called the Corrections Transition Program, or CTP for short. Currently, he's one of 79 men who are preparing for life on the outside after spending decades in prison. Leo has spent the past seven months attending classes and workshops on resocialization skills, job interviews, and self esteem with help from program alumni and students at Florida International University. He's even been teaching a few classes himself. I've been keeping up with Leo through weekly phone calls and emails. I even had dinner with him over the summer. At an end of semester banquet, Leo and I sat at a long table in the CTP cafeteria with Chrissy, former judge Scott Kupp, and and Senator Jonathan Martin, along with some of the other guys in the program and their families. Leo's classes just ended for this semester. He has some free time now and we wanted him to give an update on how he's been doing. Hey, Leo, we want to ask you a couple questions because, you know, the last that the listeners had heard from you was was right after the parole hearing back in May. And so we just wanted to, you know, ask a few questions about what it was like when you just left Hardy and made the transition down to Everglades.

[Leo]

Yeah. Oh my God. Well, for me, you know, I was. I was at Hardy for so long and created a family and of course my best friend Kevin's there. So that made all the difference in the world as well. And we were there for a long time, but leaving, that was really, really difficult. And I had a lot of responsibilities there. I was involved in a lot of things that was part of the functioning of that particular institution. And then coming here, I was essentially nobody and lost those roles. And it's kind of a fish out of water. Even though I Knew this was a good move. I knew it was the right move at the time for me, for my bid for home. It was still really, really tough. And then I missed my friends horribly, to be honest with you. I still miss them all right now. And sometimes I get lonely for them, and, you know, I'll tell myself, maybe I can go back and, you know, but there is no going back.

[Gilbert]

Yeah. What was that journey like, Leo? Like, I'm just imagining. You get on a bus and off you go. What is it like?

[Leo]

Yeah, you know, when. When the bus rides are notorious. So back in the 80s, you know, I hate that I can say that, but way back in the 80s, they had these buses, and they were old and they were rickety, and, I mean, it's essentially like a school bus with steel over the windows and stuff. It's hot, and it's a miserable ride. This last trip, and I hadn't been on one in, you know, quite a few years, almost decade and a half. But they've since then got new ones, and so the new ones were much better. They were cleaner and not so dark on the inside. But you're still handcuffed, you're still shackled, and you take a ride, and you don't come straight from one place to another. That would make it kind of okay. When you come in here from Hardy, you're going to leave Hardy and go to Central Florida Reception center, and you stay there until you get on the bus that's leaving from Central Florida, come to South Florida Reception center, and then you go through that. And every time you go through one of those places, you got to check your property in. You got to go through the strip search and all that stuff. You know, it's just part of the. The journey, and it's very tiring. Yeah.

[Gilbert]

Did you. Did you drive through Polk County?

[Leo]

We did. We did have to go through Polk County. You got to go through there to get to Orlando, and there were some places that I didn't recognize. It looks so different out there. I mean, even the names of stores. There was one name of a convenience store. I don't even remember what it is now. It just. I didn't even know that was a word. Apparently, that's a. That's a thing. And then the way people dress, you know, I'm like, you know, I know it's hot, but, you know, you should try to put some clothes on. But it was just very, very strange for me. And that had been the first time I've been outside of, you know, Hardy in 16 years, and a lot had changed. Yeah. Yeah, it was a lot.

[Gilbert]

What is it like, Leo, when you get down to a ctp?

[Leo]

I mean, I wish you could see it. You got to understand, in prison, the dorms are painted in stock colors for a reason. And they. They're very bland. And, you know, that's the way that they are everywhere here. I mean, if you can just envision it, the main color here is purple. Colors of CTP are purple and yellow, really bright, vibrant. So you come in, it's like, you know it's different. You immediately know it's different. It took a little getting used to. I mean, purple is not a color I associate with prison. And it is royal purple. It's very, very purple.

[Gilbert]

Wow.

[Leo]

I wish you could see it.

[Kelsey]

I know. I wish I could see it, too. Gilbert mentioned to me that there's a place there that maybe it's like a room where there's photos of men who have gone through the program.

[Leo]

It's called a learning zone. I think I told Gilbert this before. Aside from the war room over at hardy, I think it's the most profound room I've ever been in a prison. And the room is yellow and purple like the dawn. And there's a lot of symbolism around when you look around. So at the top of the wall, right where the wall and ceiling meet, all the way around from one end of the room all the way around to the other on three walls, these posters that were handmade from each class, the year of the class that exists. Like, I'm in 27. CTP is existed for 27 years, and I'm in the number 27 class. It's called Restoring the Way. That's the overall name of the class of 27. And there's a representation poster for each class all the way around. And when you get from, like, 1 to 16, all the names are in yellow. And there's a 100% sticker on all those posters. And what that means is that everybody in that class. So you gotta get to get to, like, 16 before you start seeing. They're not all in yellow anymore. They're sporadic throughout. Get to my class, and there's now a couple of people from my class that have paroled recently that are being colored in. And so that just shows you. And that. I mean, you see them 100% stickers, a little ribbon on them, and you realize that everybody in that class paroled. That's. That's pretty amazing. And then on the back wall, you have all this giant bulletin board with all these photos of inmates that have gotten out, people that are out in the street and street clothes. In fact, our picture is on there, Gilbert. There's a picture of us with Senator Martin that's right in the middle of the bulletin board. And then on the front wall is the most important part, because on the front wall there is a giant blown up official paper. It's the form that you get from the parole commission that it's a termination of parole form. You know, it would be eight and a half by 11 piece of paper, but it's blown up on poster size. And underneath that is. And it's called the hall of Fame Wall of Fame. And underneath that are all these little yellow stickers with names on it of the hundred or so people that have been terminated from parole. That's the goal. You know, finally, they're not just paroled now. They've been terminated from parole. They're no longer on parole. They successfully made it through the program and through parole and made it off. And that's where I want my name to be.

[Gilbert]

Hey, Leo, can you talk a little bit about the program and what your days are like there at Everglades?

[Leo]

Yeah, well, thankfully, we're in a break right now. We're in between semesters because I took 13 classes last semester, and that was an idiotic move on my part. We have to take five. But, yeah, as I facilitated three of them. One of them I do twice a week. So literally four classes a week I'm facilitating, plus the 13 that I'm already doing. And I'm running the messianic community here again as well. So I got a lot on the plate. And taking them 13 classes was a bear cycle of addiction. That was one of the mandatory classes. You know, we all need work in that area. You know, there's various types of addictions, not just drugs. And so we learn through curriculum how to deal with certain addictions, how to overcome those. And, you know, those classes, extremely important. There's also parole planning, which is also mandatory every semester because we're always. That was a very important class for me. The parole planning class was important. And I'm so glad I was here because there are so many things, aspects of parole that just didn't even know I just took for granted. You parole, you go out, you obey the law, and you. You live peaceably in the land. You're fine, and for the most part, that's okay. But there's a lot of responsibility that you. That we have to, you know, be concerned with being out on parole that I didn't even know one of them is. I didn't realize that we don't have freedom of speech. I'm still under the conviction, and so I don't have freedom of speech. You can't say just anything you want. There's a perfect example of a guy that he got out on parole. He was out, he was working in a job. And, you know, there's some. Somebody was, you know, prejudice against him being in a former convict. And they went out and keyed his car. And, you know, that was pretty hard. And he got really upset about it. And, you know, and in a bit of his anger, he had said, if I find out who did this, I'm going to kill you. Well, guess what he got. He got violated for that. And he's been in prison for over 20 years over it.

[Gilbert]

Oh, wow.

[Leo]

You can't just go out and say what you want to say, even if you're angry. You got to be careful. You got to be careful of those things. There's a lot of things that, you know, I needed to learn. And Monday night, where the FIU students come in to share with us as part of their curriculum, to have to come in on Monday nights to one of them will give a presentation on some element of, you know, being out in the free world, such as maybe like, the use of a cell phone. I mean, think about. You guys use a cell phone all the time. I've never, ever been on a cell phone. I wouldn't even know that. I mean, it looks like a little square thing to me. I wouldn't know how you answer it. Where's the speaker? How do you hear it? You know, none of that stuff. That's a really big deal for us in here. Some of these guys have been in longer than I have 40, 50 years, and they're 60, 70 years old. And so, you know, those are important elements of. Of learning. So the classes may be great, and they are, and they teach you a lot of good information. But the FIU students come in and show us how to live it, and they live with us in it. They're absolutely amazing. And then on Tuesday night, you have the.

[Unknown]

You have 1 minute remaining.

[Gilbert]

Leo, would it be possible that you said you had to wait a half hour before you call back? Would you be. Would you be able to do that today?

[Leo]

Yeah, I should be able to call at 11. Hopefully we can get another one in. Yeah, they usually call count around 1120, 1130, somewhere on there.

[Kelsey]

Okay.

[Gilbert]

Okay. Yeah, we would love to talk to you if you can. If you can swing it.

[Leo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't get a chance to talk to Kelsey all the time so I know.

[Gilbert]

Take advantage.

[Unknown]

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[Leo]

Hello, this is a prepaid call from an inmate at a Florida Department of Corrections institution. To accept this call, press zero.

[Gilbert]

Hey, thanks for calling us back, Leo Gilbert.

[Leo]

Well, the one thing I couldn't account for was people being on the phone when I came to get it. So we're probably going to get cut off with count Just to let you know. But I wanted the phone open. I want to let you know that you know. Yeah.

[Gilbert]

Oh, no, that's fine. We totally. We totally understand. It's no problem.

[Leo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So here I am. We can go to law. They call count anyway. Okay. In about a minute or so.

[Kelsey]

Okay, well, let's. Okay. One of the questions I wanted to ask you is, I know at Hardy, by the time you left, your claim of innocence was, like, very well known and accepted by a lot of people there. And I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about what that's been like at CTP at Everglades. How has that been received?

[Leo]

You know, that's an interesting question. CTP is not full of guys who are in here innocently. You know, a big factor, a big element of CPP is taking responsibility for your wrongdoing and being accountable for it. That is a huge, huge thing, and rightly so. So when I first got here, my very first week here, when I was going through the orientation process, the orientating inmate that was talking to me about that, he didn't know me from Adam, and, you know, he was taking me through the orientation process, and he, you know, made a big thing about that part of it, about being accountable about, you know, know, being able to admit your guilt and being able to talk about it openly. Especially, you know, during any time your questions or things like that, they want to know you're being accountable. And like I said, that's. That's a right thing. My problem was I can't be accountable for a crime I didn't commit. And so I. I began explaining that to, you know, this individual, and he was a little bit, you know, that's not going to work really well, you know, and it was interesting because coming from an inmate is different. You know, I expect free world people to be a little skeptical. You know, inmates kind of know better. You know, we don't. We don't just say those kinds of things. And so when he was giving me a little bit of resistance to that, it was. It was. It was difficult because he's wanting to get me in the place where I'm being accountable, which he's supposed to do, and I just can't do it. And so it was a struggle for me in the beginning, you know, and, you know, we talked about it, and eventually, senior counselor got involved in it. Ctp, and he knew me from Hardy and explained to him, you know, who I was and where I was coming from. And so it got. It got a Little better after that. But there was a couple of weeks in the beginning where it was a struggle. And, you know, when I do get the opportunity to speak and talk, as we do make presentations with each other, you know, it's a little. It's a little different for me because everybody here is able to stand up and say, you know, how sorry they are, and they pray for their victims, and they, you know, they say all these, you know, things that show them being accountable. And, you know, I'm proud of them for doing it, but I don't. I don't have the ability to do that. You know, of course, I pray from Michelle's family and Michelle and all that, but I can't stand up and give an account of, you know, a crime I didn't commit. And so it puts me at a different place and one that I not always comfortable with. And I'm not saying I wish I was guilty, but, you know, being in a program that is designed to bring accountability and not being guilty of the crime is difficult. Now, having said that, I will say that what CTP has helped me, what my brothers have helped me with here, that was different than any place else before, is that I've been able to take a really strong moral inventory of my own life. And the reason why I'm here, and I'm very careful about how I word this, because I'm not guilty. Having said that, my life before this crime had taken place was pretty rocky because of my personality issues and growing up and just the attitude that I had. And that played as much a part in allowing people like on the jury to believe that I was guilty as anything else. And so I had to take account for my own actions. And that was really hard for me. It was because I've been on the defense for my life with this case from the very beginning. And, you know, you don't get to take moral inventories while you're defending. Defending yourself against a crime you commit. And when you're doing that for so many years and you're claiming your innocence for so many years, you. You kind of get in this victim role. And here I was able to get outside of that for a minute and look and see my own responsibility in it. And that has allowed me really to not be so angry with Jerry Hill and people who have accused me of something that I didn't do, you know, to be able to see their perspective in it. Let me tell you something that's. That's really difficult. That is extremely difficult. And it was hard for me Because I don't want to be a bad person. I don't think I was a bad person. I just think I was an immature person. I didn't really have a chance to grow up and become who I would be until I got here. So. Yeah, that, that part was hard, Kelsey. It was. It was really difficult and still is a little bit now. You know, seven, eight months in it. You know, these guys know me really, really well. They've gotten close to me like they did at Hardy. And, you know, we've worked together and they've accepted that, you know, this guy's the real deal. He really didn't do it. And. But yeah, to directly answer your question, it was difficult. It was a difficult transition and I think I'm full circle with that now. Yeah. But hey, listen, they just called Count.

[Kelsey]

Okay.

[Leo]

So listen, guys, thank you so much.

[Gilbert]

Thanks for. Thanks for calling, Leo. Really appreciate it. And we'll talk to you soon.

[Unknown]

Yeah, take care.

[Kelsey]

Bye.

[Leo]

Thank you for using Global. Cool.

[Gilbert]

I cut that off. I should have left it.

[Kelsey]

I think we got it the first time. Probably.

[Gilbert]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

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