My Prison Wife Journey
I am an average American woman and come from a middle-class single parent household where my mother struggled to put me through private school and then on to building a career for myself in "Corporate America." Surrounded by lawyers and some of the elite in the industry my entire life, I never really paid much attention to the DOJ/BOP etc., until I found myself on the "front line" as a prison wife. I have never been in any legal trouble in my life, so this was all a very eye-opening experience.
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My husband, Don V. Pirtle, is currently serving 78 months in a federal prison for possession of marijuana and felon in possession of a firearm. Enhanced to a federal charge, it resulted in a much harsher sentencing than state laws would have dictated and 2-3 times what his PSR recommended (that is a story in itself). Having witnessed the harsh realities of the prison system and injustices firsthand, I felt I could no longer stay quiet and not seek help on behalf of him, other adults in custody, and their families. Therefore, FIRST-Network was formed.
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Had I known then what I know now, I would tell people it is better to be proactive versus reactive. Educate yourself and learn as much as you can before anything happens. As a matter of fact, I believe "Prison Reform" should be on the agenda of every person running for government office. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 Americans have a close family member who either is or has been incarcerated. The injustices within the system affect far more people than most realize, including me.
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Honestly, I hadn't been very engaged in politics until recently. I feel obligated to stand up, mainly because I was one of those who used to say, "They have 3 meals, and a cot, cable, gyms, etc. - so what's the problem?" I realize now that my understanding was limited to what I had been exposed to and what is presented to the public. Most believe when a policy/law is created/enacted, it is implemented and being followed; however, that is not the case. It has become clear to me that the situation is much more complex than it appears. Therefore, I find myself advocating not just for new legislation but for the enforcement of the existing bipartisan laws. I truly believe that if these current policies were enforced and accountability and oversight were in place, you would see INSTANT CHANGE. It's important for us to all work together. Change can happen and positive results will prevail. Please join me in the movement to #BeTheirVoice.
~Heather Pirtle
Career History
Heather Pirtle is a dedicated advocate for prison reform, currently serving as the President and Founder of FIRST-Network, a nonprofit organization committed to prison advocacy. Under her leadership, FIRST-Network has been instrumental in promoting significant legislative changes, including the successful passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act (2024). Heather's unwavering commitment to justice and reform continues to drive the organization's mission to improve the conditions and oversight of federal prisons.
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FIRST-Network was formed in August 2023, and in less than a year, it has made major strides. The organization has built a network of over 1,500 members (growing daily), created the infrastructure to collect data across the entire Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and orchestrated a campaign that sent out over 2,800 emails to Congress nationwide to help get the oversight bill passed in record time.
Prior to leading FIRST-Network, Heather gained extensive experience in management and strategic planning across various industries. For the past 11 years, she has worked for a premier software company, managing over 700 global customer accounts, leading project management initiatives, and maintaining strong customer relationships to ensure retention and expansion. She also provides critical financial forecasts contributing to consistent year-over-year profit growth.
Before this, she worked for 10 years at a top-rated airline. Heather was responsible for device management, logistics, and inventory control, successfully implementing major projects such as the deployment of over 17,000 point of sale tablets. She also played a key role in uncovering fraudulent activities and leading investigations in collaboration with the airline's Corporate Security Department. Additionally, she was responsible for overseeing the configuration and inventory control of over 50k onboard sales recorders and diagnosing device issues to ensure smooth operations.
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In her early career, Heather worked in a myriad of different jobs, from being an office manager for a residential and commercial construction company, a bail bond agent, a manager for medical practices to roles in the aerospace and automotive industries. She has worked with most of America's top-tier companies not only nationwide but globally and still maintains a great network and good working relationships throughout her 30-year career.
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Now, she is one of the founding members and President of FIRST-Network.