Joshua Vaughn (Narrator/Reporter)

When the warden was confronted about this during a public meeting, he brushed it off. He said he merely listens in on my calls because he knows inmates talk to me about their concerns. The administration at DCP could try to stop me from reporting. But I wasn't the only threat to the status quo at Dauphin County Prison. Lamont Jones worked inside DCP for years.

When the warden was confronted about this during a public meeting, he brushed it off. He said he merely listens in on my calls because he knows inmates talk to me about their concerns. The administration at DCP could try to stop me from reporting. But I wasn't the only threat to the status quo at Dauphin County Prison. Lamont Jones worked inside DCP for years.

And he was finally finding a way to get through to the people who had power over the jail.

And he was finally finding a way to get through to the people who had power over the jail.

Lamont was in his role as a member of the Dolphin County Prison Community Advisory Committee, which was just that, advisory, no real power. But he figured maybe with his catch bees with honey approach, he could make some improvements. He took aim at a policy that struck him as especially cruel and unusual. The county was actually charging some inmates to stay at DCP.

Lamont was in his role as a member of the Dolphin County Prison Community Advisory Committee, which was just that, advisory, no real power. But he figured maybe with his catch bees with honey approach, he could make some improvements. He took aim at a policy that struck him as especially cruel and unusual. The county was actually charging some inmates to stay at DCP.

They would have to pay a nightly rate to be locked up. They called it room and board fees.

They would have to pay a nightly rate to be locked up. They called it room and board fees.

Lamont saw this as a blatant example of the county taking advantage of inmates any way they could. These charges would add up. They were due as soon as an inmate was released.

Lamont saw this as a blatant example of the county taking advantage of inmates any way they could. These charges would add up. They were due as soon as an inmate was released.

Lamont made it his signature issue on the advisory board. He told the county commissioners and the warden and everyone else how this policy was leading to recidivism, how it wasn't a deterrent, but was instead making everyone in the community less safe. He slowly felt like people were actually starting to listen to him.

Lamont made it his signature issue on the advisory board. He told the county commissioners and the warden and everyone else how this policy was leading to recidivism, how it wasn't a deterrent, but was instead making everyone in the community less safe. He slowly felt like people were actually starting to listen to him.

About a year after Lamont joined the board, Dauphin County officially ended the practice. Lamont had spent years trying to push for reforms. Now he'd actually achieved a major victory. He decided he would push for more, but with real power. Around the same time Justin was gearing up for his run for Dauphin County Commissioner, Lamont entered the race for a seat on the Harrisburg City Council.

About a year after Lamont joined the board, Dauphin County officially ended the practice. Lamont had spent years trying to push for reforms. Now he'd actually achieved a major victory. He decided he would push for more, but with real power. Around the same time Justin was gearing up for his run for Dauphin County Commissioner, Lamont entered the race for a seat on the Harrisburg City Council.

Lamont's life and work had given him a clear-eyed view of the interconnected problems facing the city. He was practical. He knew he couldn't fix everything. But he thought just the experience he could bring to the council could open up new ways of looking at those problems. And he thought his candidacy itself would be a message.

Lamont's life and work had given him a clear-eyed view of the interconnected problems facing the city. He was practical. He knew he couldn't fix everything. But he thought just the experience he could bring to the council could open up new ways of looking at those problems. And he thought his candidacy itself would be a message.

Lamont would be an unorthodox candidate with an improbable background. There was one person who was following his campaign closely.

Lamont would be an unorthodox candidate with an improbable background. There was one person who was following his campaign closely.

Justin would see Lamont at events, and Justin was excited when he found out Lamont was going to run for office.

Justin would see Lamont at events, and Justin was excited when he found out Lamont was going to run for office.