In the 17 years Shannon Ross spent behind bars, phone calls with family helped him get through tough times. They helped him maintain his mental health, and when he was released from prison, he felt like the weekly communication eased his transition to life outside of prison.
Ross, 39, spent nearly half of his life in prison for a murder he committed at 19. After he was released in September 2020, he became a first-time dad. He completed his bachelor’s in prison then got a Master’s in Sustainable Peace Building at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after he was released.







