Right to Redemption from a student view
During the fall of 2025, the Beautiful Social Research Collaborative (BSocial), a student-run digital media consultancy program at Saint Joseph’s University that works with nonprofit organizations on digital projects, partnered with Right to Redemption (R2R). The group was made up of 6 students: Bridget Brattini, Ray Casale, Courtney Hine, Haley Howat, Luke Sanelli, and Foley Fellow (project manager), Hannah Pajtis. The group worked over the course of the semester on web design and content creation ideas.
The group first spoke with R2R members Vern Robinson and Saadiq Palmer over Zoom from their classroom on campus. None of the students had worked with incarcerated people before, and many had never worked with a nonprofit in general. The students did not know what to expect when speaking with incarcerated people, and were even unsure how to start conversations. After the initial Zoom meetings, this anxiety was instantly put to rest. Over the course of the semester, the students came to consider the R2R members not just community partners, but also friends. They drove to SCI-Pheonix, meeting, hugging, and laughing together in-person and having eye-opening conversations about what death by incarceration means.
In an early Zoom call, Saadiq asked the students what their perceptions were of incarcerated people, as the media has worked to construct a monolithic, one-dimensional picture of people within the justice system. He challenged the students to write a reflection on how their perceptions of incarcerated people changed as the semester progressed and they got to know the R2R members better.
The students discuss many different topics in their reflections—some speak of their first impressions, others reflect on their thoughts before saying goodbye at the end of the visits. Despite these differences in content, all the reflections shared one universal sentiment: The experience of working with R2R was one they’d never forget.
These are their words. These are their experiences.These are the ways R2R changed them for the better.
Ray Casale (Class of 2026): When I first enrolled in this class, I did not really understand what I would be getting into, but I was excited to find out. In our first week, we got assigned groups and a nonprofit organization to work with. I did not know anybody in my group or anything about R2R, and I was kind of nervous about this at first because projects can be overwhelming. When we started meeting regularly and learned more about R2R, I started to get invested with the activities and meeting with the group. I thought it was an amazing experience to be able to meet 5 great people and work towards this cause together. I have grown up in the suburbs all of my life and was shielded from the harsh reality of incarceration. I never knew anybody personally incarcerated and never thought twice about it until this experience.
When I found out we were visiting SCI Phoenix, I was a little nervous but also excited. Mainly, it was a little nerve-wracking to hear all the rules and dress code policies, especially when I had never done this before. Things were less intimidating when we got inside. Upon arriving, we were greeted by Vern and Saadiq. I shook both of their hands, and we sat down and started talking. For the first 5 minutes, I was a little quiet due to the environment and newness of the situation, but after speaking with them, I realized that this was no different from talking to my friends at a restaurant or their house. Vern and Saadiq are two of the kindest, smartest, and easiest to talk to people I have ever met. It was a pleasure getting to laugh, talk, and get to know each other over the 3 hours we spent together. One thing that stuck with me after this visit was how Vern and Saadiq thanked us profusely for working with them and said, “We love you all” as we were leaving. This stuck with me because it showed how deeply they care for R2R and us for fighting with them. Overall, this class is one of my favorites I have taken at Saint Joes. I think it was so valuable to get to put myself in a different experience like this. In my eyes, college is all about growing up and preparing you for the real world, and this experience really opened my eyes. The experience taught me that everybody has a story to tell, and to never judge a book by its cover. I am so glad I took a chance doing this, and I came out with 5 new friends and life long lessons.
“The experience taught me that everybody has a story to tell, and to never judge a book by its cover. I am so glad I took a chance doing this, and I came out with 5 new friends and life long lessons.”
Ray Casale, SJU Student
Courtney Hine (Class of 2026): Growing up, my father would warn me to avoid the ‘wrong crowds’ in school. He was a local police officer and wanted to make sure I was on the right path in life. Prior to our visit to SCI Phoenix, the only exposure I’ve had to the prison system was through the media. I was a big fan of “Orange is the New Black” and had seen episodes of “Beyond Scared Straight.” My idea of prison was confined to my lack of understanding through dramatized television, which I’m sure is true for many people in our country. I have known since I was a teenager that the prison industrial complex was in need of reformation, especially when people who were charged with possession of marijuana were still imprisoned regardless of many states legalizing it and/or decriminalizing it.
When I went to SCI Phoenix, I was a little nervous, mostly because of the heightened security they have. I initially had anxiety about meeting Vern, Diggs, and Saadiq because I wasn’t sure where we would find common ground, but I soon realized I had nothing to worry about. They are truly some of the most ambitious people I have ever met. Although the prison system is often not focused on redemption and is instead punitive, the men of R2R have worked hard to turn that around for themselves. They have plans for their future and strive to make changes every day. They have done meaningful community work and challenged themselves to become better people. Regardless of their charges or environment, they are worthy, dignified people looking for a second chance. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit and spend time with them. It has given me a new perspective on imprisoned and previously incarcerated individuals. We are all born into a geographical lottery, and mistakes don’t define a person’s worth.
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit and spend time with them. It has given me a new perspective on imprisoned and previously incarcerated individuals. We are all born into a geographical lottery, and mistakes don’t define a person’s worth.”
Courtney Hine, SJU Student
Bridget Brattini (Class of 2027): Going into my visit for Right To Redemption at SCI Phoenix, I was extremely anxious at first. I had no idea what to expect, and the whole idea of walking into a prison to talk to inmates was a little scary. We had previously talked to Vern and Saadiq over Zoom, which was great. We had amazing conversations, and just by those calls, I could tell they were great men. Despite the initial nerves, my experience in prison was one that I will never forget.
The scariest part was walking in and getting approved by security, but it ended up being easy and simple. Once we got to the visiting room, Vern, Diggs, and Saadiq came out, and I’d never felt safer and more protected by anyone. These men were some of the friendliest and down-to-earth people I have ever met. We talked for about three hours, but it felt like three minutes. We talked about everything from food and music to our beliefs about redemption and ways to get R2R out for more attraction and awareness. I learned their stories and why they are a part of this amazing nonprofit. It put our work into perspective and made me want to do even more to help them and others who are in similar situations. I left that prison anxious, but anxious to go back for another visit. It was so rewarding but heartbreaking at the same time, meeting these men. Watching them walk away back to their cells after the visitation left me feeling sad and sickened by the way our justice system works in the United States. I want R2R to be known by so many more people, so other people can feel the way I do and have the chance to help and make a difference like my classmates and I are trying to do.
“Once we got to the visiting room, Vern, Diggs, and Saadiq came out, and I’d never felt safer and more protected by anyone. These men were some of the friendliest and down-to-earth people I have ever met.”
Bridget Brattini, SJU Student
Luke Sanelli (Class of 2026): I was only able to talk to the members of Right to Redemption through phone calls and Zoom, but I found my conversations to be both incredibly rewarding and informative. Going into this project, I was eager to meet and work with R2R members, but I was also a little hesitant. I’d never spoken to people in or out of prison, much less people who have been sentenced to live inside a cell for the rest of their lives. I just didn’t know what to expect. What I found were men who are incredibly smart, funny, kind, and thoughtful. Every time I spoke to Vern and Saddiq, they were always elated to speak with me — about the website, about football, about their perspectives, and about mine. It’s so easy to dehumanize incarcerated people, to not see them as full human beings. But after meeting with R2R, I came away with a much different perspective regarding the criminal justice system, one that couldn’t just flatly disregard incarcerated people.
I understand that not everyone may understand this. They may argue that many incarcerated people have committed sins that should never have an opportunity to be forgiven. But the men I spoke to are men who have spent years thinking about their mistakes, serving their time, and trying to grow and make the most of the worst moments in their lives. The men I saw, the men I spoke to, were not people who I believed deserved to live inside a cell for the rest of their lives. They deserved an opportunity to show the world how much they have grown and the full, smart, funny men that they are.
“It’s so easy to dehumanize incarcerated people, to not see them as full human beings. But after meeting with R2R, I came away with a much different perspective regarding the criminal justice system, one that couldn’t just flatly disregard incarcerated people.”
Luke Sanelli, SJU Student
Haley Howat (Class of 2026): I really enjoyed our visit to SCI Phoenix with Right to Redemption. It was an experience that I will never forget. It was really inspiring to see people with so much passion and enthusiasm in what they believe in. They put a lot of effort into running Right To Redemption. They were very friendly people and I think we all enjoyed being there and getting to know Vern and Saadiq. Being there has also shown me first hand how dehumanizing incarceration can be and the need to reconstruct the system and the need for resources for life after incarceration and for resources for during incarceration. There is a bigger systemic issue at hand that has to be resolved.
I think it can be intimidating initially going into a prison, but the R2R members made it easy because they were the most welcoming people. It was so nice to be able to work with Right to Redemption this semester and to be able to help them with what we could do for them, using our communications skills that we learned from classes and to be able to use it outside of the classroom to help make the website easier to navigate was nice. I like that we can still be in contact with them and it doesn’t have to end when our semester does. I loved working with R2R, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them because the members are most dedicated people I have ever met. I know they can get what they are fighting for.
” I loved working with R2R, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them because the members are most dedicated people I have ever met. I know they can get what they are fighting for.”
Haley Howat, SJU Student
Right to Redemption 