I Thought I Was Tough : Then I Went to Prison

I Thought I Was TOUGH… Then I Went to Prison is a raw, unflinching memoir by Dr. Jason Pfledderer that exposes the brutal reality of life behind bars—and the inner transformation that saved him.

Pfledderer once thought he was invincible. High on meth, armed with homemade bombs, and running from the law, he found himself at the center of a full-blown manhunt. His arrest marked the end of one life—and the terrifying beginning of another. As he’s shuffled through county jails and state prisons, Pfledderer gives readers an unfiltered look at the daily grind of incarceration: the volatile fights, racial divisions, gang-controlled black markets, abusive guards, and the emotional toll of being caged like an animal. In a place where showing weakness invites danger, he quickly learns that being “tough” in prison isn’t about swagger—it’s about survival.

But amid the darkness, light breaks through.
In a solitary cell, with nothing but a shower shoe and a Bible, Pfledderer hears a question that cuts deeper than any razor wire: “Who are you?” From this spiritual reckoning emerges a new man, transformed by faith and grace. No longer chasing escape or vengeance, he begins seeking redemption, purpose, and a deeper understanding of himself and others. The chains that once bound him begin to fall—not from his wrists, but from his soul. With honesty, grit, and hard-won wisdom, this book challenges the reader’s assumptions about incarceration, justice, and personal change.

Told with gripping honesty, unexpected humor, and unwavering conviction, I Thought I Was TOUGH… Then I Went to Prison is more than a prison memoir. It is a wake-up call for those who believe they’ve got life figured out, a warning for anyone flirting with self-destruction, and a hope-filled invitation to those who believe change is impossible. This is a story of justice, mercy, consequence, and grace—a reminder that no matter how far we fall, we are never beyond the reach of redemption.

By the time Jason Pfledderer had graduated from high school, he had been to boys' school and prison, and he had fathered my first child. From there, he spent the next 12 years circling in and out of incarceration across America. He couldn't escape his own depravity. No matter where he ended up, I was again facing time in the penitentiary.