Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Dan Gumm.
Hi Jay Dan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up in a Christian household that but I was a rebellious kid and at 13 tried alcohol for the first time. Shortly after that, I tried marijuana. I got kicked out of two Christian schools my sophomore year. I went to college where I began drinking more. I dropped out of college after two years.
When I move back from college I began drinking heavily and started getting public intoxication and minor in possession charges. I was losing my identity to Jack Daniel’s. I ran away from home and lived under an overpass for a few weeks until my friends started allowing me to live with them.
After turning 21 I got my first two DWI’s within five days of each other. I got the third one less than a year later. I got time served for the first two after serving a few months in county jail, and probation for the third. My life was spiraling out of control and I had no direction. I straightened up for a couple of years and didn’t drink at all while on probation, but my heart truly wasn’t changed. After a couple of personal trials, I was back drinking again with a vengeance.
Five years later, in Sept of 2002, I received my 4th DWI and in Feb of 2003, I received my 5th. April 9, 2003, I reported to Felony District Court for the first time in my life, had my bond revoked, and was put in the Ellis County Jail. At a bond reinstatement hearing the Judge said to the court that he “didn’t see a bright future for Mr. Gumm” and set a higher bond. On May 21, 2003, I was sentence to five years in prison for each of my 4th and 5th DWIs. As the judge read the sentences my dad and sisters sat in the courtroom with tears streaming down their faces.
July 17th, 2003 I was transferred to the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice to begin my five years. My head and heart were still not right. On September 18, 2003, I got into a fight while working out in the fields. I was sent to solitary confinement to await my sentencing. That first day was quiet. I went in at 9 am stripped of every right, piece of clothing (except boxers), and any dignity I had left. I laid there quietly until 10 pm. Then I heard crying. My own. I’m not sure why I was crying but something was going on inside my heart and head that had never happened before.
The cell filled with a presence that seem supernatural. I felt exposed and loved all at the same time. I felt scared and like it was going to be ok, all at the same time. After 8 days, and 8 conversations, I came out a new man. I began going to bible studies and church in prison and before I got out, I was leading them. I also learned to type in prison. While in prison I saw a need. Two men who helped me got out and were back in prison before I made parole. That made me mad and scared at the same time. I witnessed recidivism close up and personal. I wanted to be a part of the solution to this problem.
A dream was planted in my heart to have a transitional house to help people get out and stay. After I was released on April 18, 2006, I started living that dream. We began Forgiven Felons in 2007 and began helping people stay on the right track as well as encouraging families who had loved ones in prison. In 2012 we opened the transitional houses in a duplex in Northeast Dallas.
Since the opening, we have served over 300 men and have a 7% recidivism rate which is significantly lower than that that of the state of Texas or the national recidivism rate. We help men reintegrate back into society successfully by showing them how to do all the things they may not know how to do once released. There’re no classes in prison that help prepare you successfully so that’s where we come in. We try not to do everything for them but we show them the way. We connect them with resources they need to find employment, clothing, job skills, recovery classes, financial classes and more. We recently had to residents buy homes. This seems to be the best way to go since the Dallas area has become really hard for men and women with felonies to find landlords/apartments who will rent to them.
We are planning to open a Resource Center in the Dallas area which will have vocational training, OSHA certification training on warehouse equipment, social entrepreneurship opportunities, and more.
We go back into the prisons to share our stories of hope and encouragement. There’s documentary on ROKU Tv, Tubi Tv, and YouTube about Forgiven Felons.
Jay Dan is also the host of Background Check Podcast where he interviews people who have risen above their background have successfully reintegrated back into society. He also interviews guests who help others navigate life after a challenging past. You can find Background Check Podcast on all your favorite podcast platforms. Jay Dan was also featured on The Mike Huckabee Show as one of Huck’s Heroes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because of my family and church, it was pretty smooth for me. One of the challenges right out of the gate was the parole restrictions. I had a valid driver’s license and was able to drive, but the local parole officer decided they didn’t want me to drive for six months. We lived in a city that didn’t have public transportation so this made it so hard to get a job. My mom worked full time and my dad was retired and didn’t get around well. After my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and had to have chemo five days a week, I asked parole to let drive him to chemo and they said no because it had only been four months since I had been out. I had to talk to supervisors and provide proof my dad had cancer to get them to let me drive.
Operating the houses has been a challenge as well. I had my own parole headaches but now I’m trying to help other men navigate their headaches. I’ve noticed that parolees with ankle monitors aren’t set up for success due to the heavy restrictions put on them. They recently have made some positive changes but still do not set these men up for the best chance at successful reintegration.
Other challenges are city codes and zoning. Some code interpretation is causing trouble and the city is trying to relabel some of the smaller houses who are doing great stuff, burdening them with paperwork they won’t be able to do so they’ll have to shut down. We need to take a look at some zoning changes that will help these great smaller organizations keep doing what they do.
Other obstacle and challenges are just landlords and apartment complexes saying no to people and families with felonies. Job opportunities are great but the pay is not enough to make a living. Companies who tend to hire felons will generally pay them lower wages.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In addition to running Forgiven Felons, my wife and I own a small business. We integrate it with Forgiven Felons to provide part-time job opportunities for the men when they get out. My wife Jessamy works for Trinity Oaks Mortgage which is in the John Houston Family of Companies.
I’m also a speaker available for retreats, church services, companies, conferences, and panels. I’m also a certified Peer Recovery Coach.
One thing that sets Forgiven Felons apart from others is that we build the relationship and not just collect money. A lot of halfway houses and transitional houses do it for the money. We do not. We do it because our motto is Helping People with a Past Realize their Future. Our approach is a balanced approach full of practical and spiritual guidance.
We don’t boast about ourselves, but we do boast about how these men, when given the proper tools, are able to rise above their past, society’s restrictions, paroles restrictions, and become the best version of themselves. That’s what we are proud of. And to have a small part in their success is humbling and fulfilling.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
None really, I call it favor of God, and it play a huge role.
Contact Info:
- Email: jaydangumm@forgivenfelons.org
- Website: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgivenfelons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forgivenfelon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/forgivenfelon
- Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127
- Youtube: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1
- Other: https://youtu.be/OOLe-rlVk8c
Image Credits
Mike Barber Ministries
