Michele Scott
- PausePlay Childhood: “From six to fourteen, I was in and out of nine foster homes.”
- PausePlay Crime: “A bad childhood is never an excuse.”
- PausePlay Prison: “I’m never going to leave except in a body bag.”
- PausePlay Turning Point: “It wasn’t an overnight process.”
Michele Scott is an advisor for Insight Garden’s Workforce Development Program, a member of the CROP Organization Ready4Life program, and a fellow of Haymarket Books 2024 Writing Freedom Fellowship. While in prison, she was involved in peer education, restorative justice, spiritual groups, and work that focused on the impact of crime on victims. In 2014, she co-founded the first life without parole support group in the world’s largest women’s prison.
In 1991, Michele was convicted of murder and sentenced to two life without parole sentences. “I had been incarcerated for nine years when I decided to actively do something with my time other than just do time.” Michele invested in her prison community and chose to seek purpose in helping others.
In December 2018, Michele’s sentence was commuted by the California governor in recognition of her commitment to self-improvement, giving back to the community, and serving as a positive role model. She was paroled in June 2021 after 30 years in prison.
Michele’s thoughts about leadership are interwoven with her life philosophy: “Life is about doing one small thing with great love.”
