Prison Writers - From Brilliant Mind to Broken Prison System

Heidi • July 26, 2025

The following essay, "From Brilliant Mind to Broken Prison System: My Journey Through Incarceration, Re-entry, and Redemption" appears on the Prison Writers website and is written by formerly incarcerated writer Anthony McCarary.


Excerpts are included below.


*****


People often say, “Anthony, you look like you’re always deep in thought.” They’re right. I was born with an eidetic memory and a vivid, inner world. A naturally precocious child, I saw glowing mental images behind my eyes—creative visions that shaped my intelligence, artistry, and drive. Had life gone differently, I truly believe I could’ve been a world-class scientist. Instead, I became a product of my environment.


Despite my natural gifts and thirst for knowledge, I was incarcerated for 11 years for a crime I didn’t commit. I spent those years reading everything I could and writing letters to public figures, hoping someone would notice my talent. I was released in 2022 under California Senate Bill 483, which ruled that my sentence was illegal. My freedom came abruptly—but so did a new set of obstacles.


I believe if I can get a clean slate in a new city—away from San Diego—I can thrive. When I feel safe and supported, I flourish. The same struggles I faced in 2022 were the same ones I faced in 2011: no resources, no safety net, no real help for people like me trying to start over in their 30s with nothing but the clothes on their back.


Don’t judge my story by one chapter. What keeps me going is my faith in something greater, and the belief that redemption is possible—even for people like me—as long as we don’t give up.


*****


You can read the full essay, "From Brilliant Mind to Broken Prison System: My Journey Through Incarceration, Re-entry, and Redemption" at the Prison Writers website. Prison Writers offer uncensored, personal stories and thoughtful essays from incarcerated citizens across the country about what really goes on inside the secretive world of prison corrections.


If you are interested in submitting to Prison Writers or know someone who is, you can find more information here --->>> Helpful Information for New Writers

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