A few years ago, I was asked by whom I thought was a good friend of mine (Rep. Jeff Hickman) about serving on this board, knowing nothing about corrections, except being in Alva.

I knew we had a facility of which I was extremely proud, because we felt like we were making an enormous difference in people's lives.

I had no idea the change that could happen to people. I had no idea about any other facility but this one, right? So I thought they were all like this one. I thought all communities were like this one, right? I was born and raised here and never left this lovely community. I thought, “...