Hard Time: The Law Inside The Walls
by Jon and Jake Welder
To get ALL the NEW episodes, become a paid subscriber with this link:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtime/subscribeThinking about a career in corrections? Thinking about committing a crime? Correctional Sergeants Jake Welder and Jonathan Bates talk about life and the law behind bars, the challenges facing America's Forgotten Cop-- the correctional officer. The first responders on beats made up exclusively of our communities' most dangerous people. MERCH https://my-store-108c6f6.creator-spring.com/
Episodes
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226. Nidal Hasan: Firing Squad, Live Streamed
The liberal are going nuts. They cheered for Charlie Kirk getting shot-- but to them, this is barbaric. But is it? Historically executions were a public event, and you could argue a part of transparent government. Will this spectacle just be used as recruitment propaganda? Will it restore faith…
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225. All-Female Hit Squad Misses Big Time
The execution of Christa Pike failed—and now everyone is fighting over what it means. An all-female Tennessee execution team couldn’t carry out Pike’s death sentence, handing death-penalty opponents a powerful new argument and raising serious questions about the DOC’s preparation and all-female...
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224: THE DRONE BREAKOUT: The Super Criminal Who Tried to FLY Out of Prison
This sounds like something out of an action movie. South Korean “super criminal” Park Wang-yeol allegedly planned an extraordinary prison escape: use a massive drone to lift him over the walls and carry him to freedom. The plot involved outside accomplices, testing, careful preparation—and a…
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NEW SHOW, MORE OF THE SAME. EVERY DAY
Starting today there's a new episode of COMM CENTER TRUE CRIME-- on The Comm Center With Drew Breasy. It's more of the COMM CENTER you love: 911 calls, compelling stories and Jon's takes. Starting June 1 it's subscriber only content, so check it out while you can.
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223. Josef Fritzl's Do It Yourself Prison
In this true crime episode, Jon—a former corrections officer—dives into the horrifying case of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian monster who imprisoned his own daughter for 24 years beneath his family home. Joined by a special guest who jokes she’s lived her whole life like a prisoner—and who happens to...
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216. Corrections Officer Jeremy Hall Died Because DOCs Don't Care
A Virginia correctional officer saw it coming — threats, warnings, even a weapon with his name on it. He went to work anyway. Months later, he was dead. Now his widow is asking the questions the Department of Corrections won’t answer — and exposing what officers already know: the danger isn’t...
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214. Absolute Monster Inmate Funston in CA Eligible for Parole?
Subhuman David Alan Funston a convicted serial child kidnapper and molester was eligible for parole under California's new Elderly Parole Program. Jake breaks down the heinous crimes, how the fuck this happened, and what the current result is. It doesn't end up as bad as you'd think, but...
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210. Historic Jackson State Prison W/Allie
In this episode of Hard Time, Jon is joined by Allie Siebert from Allie in the Archives to examine 19th-century crime and punishment through her tour of Jackson State Prison. Michigan rejected the death penalty, but prison life was still defined by overcrowding, forced labor, corruption, and…
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208. Robert Brooks: You Forgot You Were Mad
JON RETURNS to talk about the death of Robert Brooks-- it sparked widespread outrage when the story first broke — headlines, social media fury, and demands for accountability. But when the sentencing of the prison guards responsible finally arrived, it barely registered. In this episode, we…
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206. Test Episode. Will trump Pardon Diddy?
A bonus episode where Jake tests out some new equipment and covers the latest Trump and Diddy News.
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202. Ho Hum Drones From Above!
Drones! The bane of this podcast are back. Humming into action for the good guys this time! But the Cartels and criminal organizations are continuing to adapt them into new roles. A bold prediction from Jake. A tale from across the pond. And a few Jake Jokes as well. Enjoy!
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201. The Haunting of Pennhurst Asylum — Paranormal Encounters and a Dark American Past
In this episode of Hard Time, Megan takes us inside one of the most infamous abandoned institutions in America: Pinehurst Asylum in Pennsylvania. What begins as a tour quickly becomes something more unsettling. Reports of paranormal encounters, unexplained sensations, and an atmosphere that feels...
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200. Port Arthur: A Prison, A Tragedy, and a Nation Rewritten
In this episode of Hard Time, Kristy and Jon reflect on her visit to the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, a place where Australia’s national identity was forged—twice. Port Arthur began as part of a vast experiment in punishment. As England deported its most hardened and unwanted convicts,...
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199. "Celebrity" in jail
What does "Celebrity" get you in jail? Harassment? An extended sentence? Bodyguards? An early release? In this episode of Hard Time we discus cases from the US, France, and Belgium of Celebs in trouble with the law, incarcerated at federal jails and imprisoned for Political reasons. Updates on...
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196. False Prophet
In this week's Spotify exclusive episode, we discuss Ian Watkins formerly of the band The Lost Prophets. The disgraced and disgusting singer was in prison for drug charges as well as a host of sex offenses that will shock even the hardest of consciences. I will cover his multiple attacks in HMP...
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195. ¡Imanes Potentes! Barrio 18 Gang Escapes
20 of the world's most dangerous men just escaped prison, and the FBI is going to help find them. You will find none of this in the mainstream news, but you will find reports of human trafficker Ghislane Maxwell received special meals and time spent with a puppy while in prison. The news loves…
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191. Ghislane Maxwell's Move To Federal Hilton Hotel
She helped Jeffrey Epstein traffic women and boys to a secret island to cater to the prurient desires of the world's rich, powerful and elite. Now she's going to Camp Bryan, a minimum security detention center. The news says it's compensation for not naming the President as an Epstein Client....
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190. Africa's Poo-Powered Prison: A Woman's Idea
The United Nations is recognizing Olukemi Ibikunle for all her hard work to make prisons in Nigeria/Congo/Etc a nice place again. Women get beans there now. Heated by human fecal matter or something. The whole thing is a strange thing to even talk about and yet here we are, both Jon and Jake.
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189. The French Laundry Connection
The French prison system is le' fucked. They have dangerous prisoners going out with the wash, the "fly" getting away on transport and inmates throats getting cut. To solve their many issues, they built Lyon-Corbas-a new shiny facility to house France's worst organized criminals, but four walls…
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188. It wasn't me it was my doppelganger
It's summer 1999 and event's that may have inspired Shaggy's "it wasn't me" have been set in motion. A man is arrested for a crime he says he did not commit; he has an alibi but is convicted of a purse snatching. He spends 17 years in jail before he meets his doppelganger-the purse snatching son…
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187: Should We Execute Tyler Robinson?
The State is pursuing the death penalty for Charlie Kirk's murderer. Is it the right thing to do? The answer may seem obvious but the truth so rarely is. This episode is an absolute sermon on what it means to approach the death penalty legally, spiritually and practically-- but you won't get a...
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184. Decision Making: How To Be A Correctional Officer
Every day as an officer you will face a thousand battles. Will you say yes? Do you have the courage to say no? Can you back it up? And are you smart enough to talk yourself out of a situation? Former CO Jon and current SGT Jake will talk review an every day problem in a jail, and what went right...
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183. Brian Kohberger Complaining In Prison
The killer of four students in Moscow Idaho took a plea to avoid the death penalty. Now he is finding out what the life penalty means: spending time inside J-Block, where the worst offenders in Idaho are held. What can he expect out of his daily routine? People say he is cracking under the...
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182. Visiting Diet Satan Wade Wilson
He was an asshole who killed two women for the sake of killing. His own father turned him in, knowing the death penalty was on the table. Now these trashy ugg boot oatmilk true crime women-- the 'wade wilson wives' are crying out. Some for leaked phone calls, others for wade having a bad time in...
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181. Alligator Alcatraz: The Prison Liberals Don't Want You You To Love
Trump is doing a thing, so how could it be good? The BBC teams up with Floridian Native Americans and The Swamp Defense League to say that putting some tents on a tarmac is the same as building an Auschwitz that also dumps pink slime into a public pool. They decry overcrowding, they decry efforts...
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I Stand Correct | Jon's Solo Show
Check out the I STAND CORRECT PODCAST for more Jon.
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180: Georgia (The Bad Russian One) Prisons
Bleeding heart human rights groups uncover the brutality of the prisons in the failed Soviet cast-off state. But how bad is it really? BBC, the same new organization that decries conditions in the US describes them as having unbelievably low violence. The lesson? Everybody's got an agenda and...
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179. Donna Adelson Requests Bond: Cuz Jail is Hard
She hired the Latin Kings to kill her ex-son in law. She was arrested at the airport about to fly to Vietnam-- where there is no extradition. That's the main thing you need to know about her. She comes from privilege, wealth and entitlement, and she got overinvolved in her daughter's custody...
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178. Before Alligator Alcatraz, There Was Alcatraz (Regular)
A new detention center in the heart of the everglades evokes the imagery of the most famous prison in US History. Erstwhile, the law and order president talks about re-opening the island prison in San Francisco bay made famous by movies and it's inmates. Should we dispose of its legacy in favor…
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177. Adam Sheaf Crucifies Innocent Man, Seeks Media Glory
He was on a mission from God, he says. Well so were those 9/11 guys. Sheaf felt like crucifying 76-year-old Pastor Bill, who was a real threat to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the planet earth. In reality he's just an asshole-- not crazy, not a true believer. Just some guy who's sole...
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175. Hanging It Up Down Under
Dubbo is a place in Australia, that kookie kontinent down south. It's been 120 long years since they last let out the rope for a dastardly dude down there. To mark that milestone, we will recount some of the stories of the last wild weirdos force to bite down on the bitter end for their crimes. A...
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174. Devil In The Ozarks; Cool Guy In Washington
Today we review a couple massive changes of fortune-- a former federal inmate who racked up felonies like they were going out of style was pardoned by Trump years ago. Now he's the top dog at the US Bureau of Prisons. Meanwhile, a small town cop who liked to abuse power, as well as killing and...
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173. Will Trump Stop The Plot To Kill R. Kelly?
This asshole thinks he's important enough not only for the prison to kill, but to conspire with the Aryan Brotherhood to carry out the hit. He's been watching too much Mayor of Kingstown. Now his lawyers appeal to the top dog-- Donny J. Wallbuilder himself-- to save the day. That and all the…
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172. Slang: Prison's 'Secret' Language
Yo, in dis episode we go rap 'bout how folks in the joint talk real differnt, all tied to that prison vibe know what I'm sayin', and how that slang's evolved over time, shaping they whole culture. Jon, this educated white dude, gon hustle to stay on top of what’s being said while Jake holdin'…
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171. Cheering Up Jon
The Louisiana Ten was just another case of corrupt officials setting up COs to look bad, and the professional takes another beating. In this episode, Jake attempts to cheer Jon up. Attempts being the operative word. Here are some low profile stories of COs that really turns into sort of a mixed bag.
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170: Well, Shit: Louisiana 10 Escape
Ten inmates escaped f rom the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office law enforcement center. They ripped out the toilet with some help from a maintenance guy afraid of taking a shank, and ran across the interstate to freedom. 5 have since been recaptured but everyone in the jail looks like a big jabroni...
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169. Mega Jail: Is It America's Answer?
Nayib Bukele scares the left. He cleaned up the murder capital of the world-- El Salvador-- and he did it with a tough on crime approach that would that would shock our 8th Amendment. He's a Trump acolyte to boot. Does his record of success down south have something to teach us about restoring…
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168. Lobotomies for Criminals: Worse Than Death?
Today we look at Rickey Ray Rector, who killed people. Then, refusing to go to jail, he stove his own brain in with a .38. He survived of course. His lawyer said he was like a 4 year old. Bill Clinton, trying to look tough on crime in 1992, put him death as the governor of Arkansas. Erstwhile in...
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167. Death By Restraint Chair
In Montgomery County, Christian Black stole a car, crashed it, went to jail, banged his head against the wall, fought the officers, despite tasing a pepper spray, and managed to put himself in the restraint chair. Well he ended up dying, and now the cause of death is that ol' chestnut 'positional...
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166. No Beautiful Way To Kill
Dying is ugly. Killing someone is even uglier. Nitrogen asphyxiation is being sold to us as the new, easy and painless way to put people to death. But are we finding that it isn't easy for the condemned, or not easy for us? Out of the woodwork come the critics, all tacitly concealing their...
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164. No Moral Code: The Gentlemen Stranglers
Hijinks in Britain, Jake and Jon discuss. First thing you must realize is that the cocoa powder is not water soluable, it's fat soluable. Use whole milk if available or half and half, as a decadent philistine would. If the powder just clumps or won't get "wet" by the milk, you are not using an...
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162. Cats: There's Something Unseemly
Blame Sillimander for this episode about the Pendleton Maximum Security Prison which has partnered with the Animal Protection League to start a new cat-based FORWARD program which imports cats into the prison behind the walls. Proponents point to relief for animal shelters and rehabilitation...
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160: The Kid With The Penis Tattoo
A documentary made in 2017 paints a picture of a facility in Gainsville Texas as made of caring people who are making a difference in the lives of at risk kids. As it turns out the school has critics at all levels-- the State Senate, non-profit advocacy groups and the United States Department of...
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158. The Little Longest Yard: A Great Idea
In Texas' Gainesville State School, a juvenile detention facility and not-traditional school has a great idea: high school athletics. Half school, half prison, a small group of people dedicated to reforming kids-- a superintendent, principal, coaches, correctional officers-- set up organized...
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156. Terror To Evildoers: Polk County CO a Hero
In Polk County Florida, an off-duty Correctional Officer saw a suspicious male near children waiting for the bus. The stranger grabbed an 11-year-old girl, kidnapping her. Cops run towards danger when others merely dial 911: he ran after him, rescued the girl, and performed an arrest until police...
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154. Operation Night Drop
Jon returns for a solo episode-- that's right, it's full divorce and it's split custody and this is your weekend with dad. In this episode Jon talks about the 23 indicted in OPERATION NIGHT DROP, a federal investigation into drones flying in and out of Telfair and Smith State Prisons. Also in the...
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152. How Pakistan Puts 'Em Down
Jake and Jon take down an informative article about Pakistan that India-toucher in the Indus Valley region of the far east-middle east, or western far east, or whatever, and talk about how the Islamic Republic puts down their bad dogs. But in a country that executes blasphemers of the Islamic...
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151. San Diego's Secret Sex Offenders
It calls itself "America's Finest City." Hidden away in San Diego is the brig at Naval Base Miramar and it has a dark secret: they ship in all the sex offenders from all over the military to serve time there, then they cut them loose into the community. Through a quirk of the law Jon can only...
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Live 6
An impromptu live with Jake with news, updates and of course Jake Jokes.
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149. The Real Shawshank Escape
Richard Matt and David Sweat were discovered missing during a morning bed check at the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. The two had tunneled out, and exited through a steam pipe, and disappeared like farts in the wind. Instead of taking twenty years, it took...
About this show
To get ALL the NEW episodes, become a paid subscriber with this link:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtime/subscribeThinking about a career in corrections? Thinking about committing a crime? Correctional Sergeants Jake Welder and Jonathan Bates talk about life and the law behind bars, the challenges facing America's Forgotten Cop-- the correctional officer. The first responders on beats made up exclusively of our communities' most dangerous people. MERCH https://my-store-108c6f6.creator-spring.com/
Hosted by
Jon and Jake Welder
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