In Part Three of Plausible Denial of Liability — When Silence Becomes Strategy, host Madeline-Michelle: Carthen continues her in-depth conversation with Eugene Bickley, who has spent nearly 28.2 years incarcerated following a St. Louis City conviction.

This episode moves beyond procedural filings and into the structural realities of long-term incarceration. The discussion examines evidence preservation, access to original case records, witness reliability over time, and the transparency of post-conviction review processes. It also addresses the psychological weight of pursuing legal remedies across decades when judicial pathways narrow and procedural barriers increase.

Rather than relitigating facts, this conversation focuses on institutional responsibility and the long-term implications of silence within the justice system. What happens when evidence becomes harder to access? When review processes lack clarity? When time itself becomes an obstacle?

Part Three invites listeners to consider the endurance required to seek accountability in prolonged cases and the importance of preserving the public record even when formal reconsideration is uncertain.

Resilience2Redemption remains committed to examining justice carefully not as an attorney but with human dignity, questioning silence thoughtfully and encouraging informed civic awareness rooted in documented facts.

In this international episode of Resilience2Redemption, host Madeline-Michelle: Carthen leads a cross-continental dialogue examining prison conditions, human dignity, and reform.

Joining the conversation is Frans Douw, former Dutch prison warden and global prison reform advocate. With more than 40 years of leadership experience in correctional institutions and forensic psychiatry, Frans recently traveled from Amsterdam to Texas as a guest panel speaker at a conference hosted by the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab. His visit focused on research surrounding sleep deprivation in prisons and its impact on mental health, rehabilitation, and human rights.

Also joining the discussion is Jessica Dickerson, Board Member of Texas Prison Community Advocates. Jessica works in research, social media engagement, and legislative advocacy to improve conditions within Texas prisons while supporting incarcerated individuals and their families.

Together, this episode bridges global leadership and grassroots advocacy — exploring systemic challenges, accountability, and practical reform.

On this episode of Resilience2Redemption, host Madeline-Michelle: Carthen leads an urgent conversation on the recent unrest connected to the St. Louis County Justice Center, the advocacy efforts of EXPO StL, and growing concerns over proposed legislation SB 888 and HB 2498.

Executive Director Latrell Stanton explains that the most recent uprising followed severe staffing shortages during a January snowstorm, resulting in extended lock-downs and reported limited access to food, water, medication, and communication. He emphasizes that pretrial detainees are legally presumed innocent, yet detention conditions often resemble punishment. Chronic understaffing, sanitation concerns, delayed medical care, and lack of transparency contribute to systemic instability. According to Stanton, repeated unrest signals structural failure rather than isolated incidents.

The discussion shifts to policy concerns. Stanton outlines how SB 888 and HB 2498 could expand prosecutorial authority in juvenile cases, potentially increasing certification of youth into adult systems and expanding record accessibility. Advocates fear these changes would move the system further from rehabilitation and disproportionately impact Black and Brown youth, creating long-term barriers in employment, housing, and education.

Keisha, an impacted mother, shares the emotional toll of having her son certified as an adult while still a minor. She describes the constant worry of knowing her child is housed within an adult system and the broader strain placed on families navigating the judicial process. She stresses the importance of parental involvement, asking questions, and remaining engaged despite the complexity of the system.

Throughout the conversation, Madeline-Michelle highlights the intersection of detention conditions, legislative reform, and family impact, underscoring that transparency and community engagement are critical to meaningful change.

This episode calls listeners to remain informed, stay engaged, and participate constructively in civic processes that affect youth, families, and justice reform in Missouri.