GOODYEAR, AZ (InvestigateTV) — A good workout can do wonders, but for some people it can take quite the effort to get out of bed and get the gym shoes laced and out the door.
That story is the opposite for the women serving time at Perryville Prison. Every Wednesday, the women at the San Carlos unit gather inside and outside in the yard for an hour of escape through exercise through the program, Convicted Comeback.
Helen Dahlstrom is one of them. “I have a gambling addiction, and I broke the law in order to support that habit,” she said.
The one hour offers more than the typical exercise for inmates. It’s a chance to gain back the self-worth that was lost when they entered into a new way of life.
Margaret Coss has been in and out of the system for years. She said she’s not only seen a change in herself through the classes, but in the other women as well.
“It builds a better community among us women. You know we can trust each other because we are working out together and we’re getting to know each other,” Coss said.
Staff have taken notice, too. As a corrections officer at Perryville Prison, Melanie Arrington has built a rapport with the women and said the changes are noticeable.
“I can tell they’re happier. There’s a lot less conflict, I feel like,” Arrington said.
For more information on Convicted Comeback, click here.
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