Listen to Episode 3 of ‘Track Change’ to Understand the Complicated Reality of Recidivism
Struggling with his reentry program, rapper Anthony Johnston digs deep into the setbacks that have kept him from thriving.
Why would someone commit a crime that could get them locked up after they’ve already been incarcerated and experienced that loss of freedom?
It’s a complex question that isn’t really acknowledged by the textbook definition of recidivism, which the U.S. Department of Justice calls “a person’s relapse into criminal behavior” and considers “one of the most fundamental concepts in criminal justice.” This definition fixates on an individual’s “relapse,” when there are many factors that influence whether a formerly incarcerated person is able to reintegrate into the community after being released.
The latest episode of Narratively’s new podcast Track Change shows a more nuanced picture through Anthony, a young man working on a song called “I’m Tired of Recidivism” while being held in the Richmond City Jail.
Anthony’s journey involves a deep turn to reflect on a lifetime of trauma and the fight for survival that led him to substance use and ultimately landed him in jail. The song showcases his lyrical turn away from rapping about drugs, money and violence — and a newfound understanding of how people get trapped by a fight-or-flight mentality.
But even though Anthony is determined to understand himself and use that knowledge to build a better life, he’s trying to do this without a roof over his head, without a stable source of income to make ends meet and without reliable family members to anchor him. He’s not just “tired of recidivism” — he’s also “tired of being in the system.”
So what does it really take to “reduce recidivism”? And will all the time that Anthony’s devoting to his reentry program help him overcome the pitfalls waiting for him on the outside?
Find out by listening to the newest episode of Track Change. Subscribe at NPR, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
James Boo is Narratively’s managing producer of podcasts and the showrunner of Track Change.