Content warning: This story includes reference to a suicide attempt.
The Foundation of HOPE pod in the Allegheny County Jail does not look like a typical jail pod. The murals on the cell walls, painted by people incarcerated there, each feature a different value of the organization: peace, perseverance, integrity, hope.
“If you get the bad side of the coin, flip it,” reads one mural with a painting of a bronze penny. “Choose respect over disregard,” reads another. On the other side of the room, a bookshelf with romance and mystery novels allows participants to grow their literacy skills while incarcerated. Next to the bookshelf is a bulletin board featuring job postings and information about getting a GED…