CLEVELAND — Michael Swiger, who was once incarcerated at the Grafton Correctional Institution, now returns often to put on events for inmates.

What You Need To Know

  • About one-third of those released from state prisons are rearrested within three years, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections

  • True Freedom Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit that aims to lower that number by preparing inmates for reentry into civilian life and showing them that people care

  • The organization provides more than 200 classes, services and programs to inmates across Ohio each month including Rock the Yard, a concert series with rising country star Tyler Conti that's stopping at eight prisons across the state

  • True Freedom Ministries believes by showing these inmates that people do care and providing them with resources for reentry, they’re less likely to commit more crimes

“What we’re doing here today is very unusual,” Swiger said.

About one-third of those released from state prisons are rearrested within three years, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

After serving 17 years in prison, Swiger founded True Freedom Ministries.

It’s a faith-based nonprofit that aims to help prepare inmates for reentry into civilian life and prevent them from getting back behind bars.  

“In Ohio, about 20,000 prisoners get released every year. They’re coming back to our communities. So we believe it’s better if they come home transformed, redeemed, educated and prepared for a career that we’ve helped them launch," Swiger said.

True Freedom Ministries provides more than 200 classes, services and programs to inmates across Ohio each month.

One of those programs, Rock the Yard, is a concert series featuring rising country star Tyler Conti.

He’s performing at eight prisons around the state. 

The series is funded by TMG Companies and Impact Records, where Damon Mintz is CEO.

He said many of the people he’s spoken to in prison come from environments that didn’t support them.

“You got to give them an opportunity,” Mintz said. “So we feel that this is an opportunity for us to start that music is a great way to break down walls. It connects you to people.”

One inmate, John, whose face Spectrum News 1 is not showing because of prison guidelines, is serving a life sentence there.

He said it’s encouraging to have events like this hosted by people who want to help set inmates on the right path. 

“A lot of people that are in this environment are here for the food and to hear the message,” he said. “And to see people coming in here, eventually they realize they genuinely care. That’s something that some of these guys have never had in their life, that somebody that really, genuinely care.”

Swiger believes by showing these inmates that people do care and providing them with resources for reentry, they’re less likely to commit more crimes.

“It is in society’s best interest for us to treat them humanely,” Swiger said. “We’re not soft on crime. You need if you do a crime, you have to do the time. The punishment is to be here, not be tortured while you are here. And so for us, helping people not come back is the goal.”

Rock the Yard will make its next stop at the Dayton and Warren Correctional Institutions in late August.