Original Air Date:
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Mother of 3 Released from Prison:
Kelly Taloff, or inmate R37930 in the state of Illinois, is a mother of 3 who has spent most of her last 7 years locked up. Being told when to eat, sleep, shower, and hug her kids, Kelly was looking forward to being released; and Oprah's cameras were there to see how she coped.
Cameras followed as Kelly prepared to leave the place she called home for the past 3 years. Coming from a good family, Kelly never thought she would be living in a room with 20 other women, no privacy, and very little access to her family.
Locked up for attempted robbery, Kelly worried that when she was released, her best may not be good enough and she may not be given a chance to prove herself. Kelly explained her struggles not being able to connect with her young children while in prison and having to have her mother raise them. Feeling sorry for what she'd done, Kelly knew that she had hurt a number of people and wanted to apologize for her poor choices. Leaving the facility without a job or money, Kelly understood she would have work ahead of her to start over.
Kelly Returns Home:
Walking out with hope for a new beginning, Kelly boarded a train for home at 7am to be reunited with her mother, Lorri, and her 3 children ages 2, 4, and 6. Even before Kelly saw her family, she was realistic about the reunion and knew that she would have setbacks and make mistakes from the start, but held onto the goal of staying on the right track. When Kelly saw her family, she embraced her mother, but had to work a little more for her children to warm up to her. 6 year-old John didn't want to hug his mom, and Kelly assured him that it was ok.
Back home at her mother's house, Lorri shared that she was glad to have her daughter back - while it was never her dream for Kelly, she felt that she got what she deserved and hoped she used her experience as to open her eyes up to making better choices.
On the show, Kelly shared with Oprah that she was experiencing a power struggle with her children going to their grandmother, but that she was trying to ease into their lives as the role of their mother. Having a support system, a realistic look at how life will progress, and giving her children time to transition are all steps for Kelly to adjust.
Kelly's Mother and Fellow Inmates Speak:
On the show, Lorri shared that she forgives Kelly and knows that she is working hard to change. While Lorri doesn't love Kelly's choices, she stated that she does love her daughter unconditionally. Lorri has given Kelly an ultimatum to clean up and stay in line or she would take the children. With everything that has changed in her life to raise her daughter's children, Lorri shared that she wouldn't change anything because her grandkids deserve to be taken care of.
3 of Kelly's former co-inmates (Jessie, Joanna, & Tina) appeared via satellite to share their thoughts on Kelly's release.
The women shared their hope for Kelly to take advantage of her opportunity to make the right decisions and stay out of jail for good. Kelly's release was also bittersweet for the inmates who are still counting down the days, or even years, until they are also released.
Oprah mentioned to Kelly the feeling of a sorority at Lincoln which Kelly explained as a lack of judgment on the inside because all the women were there for committing crimes. The judgment of Kelly, she felt, would come from outside the prison walls, not from within.
Kelly shared with Oprah that her goals from here include going to beauty school and becoming a hairdresser. She also wishes to continue to build her relationship with her children one day at a time. Using Kelly as an example, Oprah hopes viewer will see Kelly's story and be able to put a face to the 700,000 inmates that are released a year.
Lisa Ling Inside a Child Pornography Bust:
Oprah moved on to a special segment with Lisa Ling and Florida law enforcement showing a child pornography arrest. The police wanted viewers to see the truth about those who download child porn and the reality that it could be happening in your neighborhood.
Lisa met with Chief Chuck McMullen in Milton, Florida to follow along with the arrest of a 39 year-old man who had downloaded 50 pornographic images and videos of children in the last 3 weeks. The cases are considered emergencies when there are young children in the house, and the arrests have the potential for danger not knowing what they will find in the home.
When they arrived at a typical home in a typical neighborhood, Lisa waited across the street as multiple agencies made their plan. When a man was brought out of the house in handcuffs, Lisa was told that child pornography was being downloaded as they entered the house. The agents then discovered upon looking at the multiple computers, that the father was not responsible, but the 18 year-old son. The evidence was removed from the home and the boy was sent to jail; later released on bond with a trial set for the coming summer.
Lisa was later shown some of the evidence confiscated which was extremely graphic. The officer wanted to show Lisa what some people find entertaining or sexually stimulating for the purpose of helping viewers understand the need to help as many kids and possible and get the users of such material out of neighborhoods. Seeing that people who purchase these materials have a deeper problem than porn, Chief McMullen wanted viewers to see that the issue is not just pictures, but forced rape on children with the cameras rolling.
Oprah had Maureen Horkan and Chief Chuck McMullen describe the footage confiscated for the viewers. Oprah stated that viewers should hear what is happening and be aware enough to work for change. Saying that it is one thing to see, but another for a child to endure, Oprah wanted those listening to first think about the child who is experiencing such horrible abuse.
How Parents Can Protect Their Children:
The parents of the boy arrested obviously faced a difficult decision that day to either protect their son being charged, or protect the other children living in the home. It is estimated that 5 million pictures of child pornography are shared every day. With many having a misconception of what child pornography is, it is hard to get parents to understand the threat of predators in neighborhoods. With only 1% of children being rescued, officers are driven to find and help as many kids as possible.
Parents can help by always knowing what sites are being visited on the home computer, finding websites from state departments and national organizations for advice on protecting your children, and knowing the technology your children are using.