JANUARY 19, 2025
Strategy 27:
Own Your Past
Before you can move forward, you have to stop running from where you’ve been. Strategy 27 focuses on one of the most powerful turning points in the parole process: full ownership of your past. This isn’t about shame—it’s about standing in truth without justification, excuse, or denial.
Strategy 27 – Own Your Past encourages a mindset of radical accountability. It emphasizes that growth begins with honest reflection on past choices, without minimizing the harm caused. This strategy teaches that owning your past is a form of leadership—it shows emotional maturity, insight, and a readiness to accept the consequences of one’s actions. The more clearly you face your past, the more credible your rehabilitation becomes.
Notes
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The Board wants to see that you fully acknowledge your role in the crime, not just the facts of the case.
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Minimization, deflection, or blame weakens your testimony and suggests a lack of insight.
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Full ownership includes accepting the impact your actions had on victims, family, and community.
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Owning your past doesn’t keep you stuck—it sets you free.
Recap & Takeaways
Strategy 27 is a call to stop hiding behind old defenses and instead step into responsibility. True insight requires looking back honestly, even when it’s painful. The ability to articulate the “why” behind your actions—without excuses—tells the Board that you’ve done the hard work of change. Owning your past builds trust, opens doors, and lays the foundation for a credible future.
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Each week, we break down a chapter from 36 Strategies of Suitability and explain why it matters.
