Susan Burton is the creator of the A New Way of Life Reentry Project and a supporter of criminal justice reform. Her work focuses on assisting women who have served time in prison with reintegrating into society. The quote you cited emphasizes the challenges people face even before they come into contact with the legal system.

Among the many hardships Burton faced as a child were the early death of her son and the physical abuse she endured. In an effort to deal with these traumas, she resorted to drugs, but she ultimately fell into addiction cycles that resulted in her being imprisoned. Her story is not unique; a lot of people who deal with the criminal justice system have experienced similar difficulties long before they started having legal issues.

Think of these early hardships as a bulky backpack full of stones, each of which stands for a different personal struggle, such as abuse or loss. People frequently search for ways to lessen this burden as they go through life, sometimes resorting to drugs or actions that could land them in legal hot water. A cycle of hopelessness and incarceration might be avoided for Burton and others in comparable circumstances if they had access to services that assist in managing these burdens, such as trauma therapy or grief counseling.

By offering housing, job training, and emotional support to address the underlying issues that frequently result in criminal behavior, Burton hopes to assist women leaving prison. Her strategy goes beyond simple rehabilitation; it recognizes the underlying issues people deal with even before they come into contact with the legal system and looks for solutions to help them deal with their burdens in a more healthy way.