Several years ago, I stood with an inmate during an event at a prison—and this man is one I’d gotten to know during several such gatherings. I’d not ever asked or pried about what brought him to prison. But on that day, he shared his heart with me. “I’m in here for a long time.”

“A long time?” I asked, wanting to press in, and then did. “I know this wasn’t your dream as a child. You hadn’t planned to make prison your home.”

“No, I didn’t. I did a horrible thing. Horribl...