Christina Duncan’s world was upside down. At 25 years old, she was imprisoned at Alderson Federal Prison in West Virginia for three and a half years. Thanks to completing a residential drug and alcohol program, she knocked some time off her sentence.

“I always say that was probably one of the best experiences of my life because that’s what turned my life completely around,” shared Christina Duncan, a 2015 Hand UP for Women graduate.

She was locked up for federal drug conspiracy charges, something she doesn’t deny.

“My life before that [going to prison] was so crazy and so filled with chaos. It’s hard to see the entire circumstances while we’re in the midst and it was a breath of fresh air to see my life for what it was.”

One of the hardest parts about the prison sentence was being away from her two young children. But Christina recognizes that she had to get away from the toxic life she was leading before her sentence.

Finding Faith and Purpose Behind Bars

Duncan hated her life, but she didn’t see other options to overcome cyclical despair. That is until she came to the Lord. While in prison, Christina could spend time in the Word of God without being bombarded by the world. In addition to classes and working with the community center, she began restoring her life.

Upon completing her sentence, she went to a halfway house in Knoxville. It was there she went to work at Duncan & Sons Building Maintenance. Her now-father-in-law introduced her to Eva Pierce, Executive Director of Hand UP for Women.

Christina said she wanted to be a part of Hand UP for Women right away.

Rebuilding Life After Release

“Eva for sure compelled me,” said Christina. ”I came to Knoxville and I didn’t know anybody and I was starting all over again and was trying to build a community and figure out life.” Having turned to God while in prison she envisioned a better life for herself and didn’t desire to return to where she was from.

Bettering her life and starting over in a new place helped. But Christina’s federal charges remain on her record like a lifelong scar.

Christina had her civic rights stripped including voting and jury duty as well as her right to own a gun. She’s faced obstacles in obtaining employment and securing housing. But in 2019 she earned her voting rights back after a lengthy application process. For the first time ever, she voted in the 2020 presidential election and plans to vote again in this year’s race.

“I feel like it’s a civic responsibility to vote and try to help lead our country in the right direction,” Duncan said.

Pursuing Presidential Pardon

Naturally Duncan wanted more than voting rights, so she applied for a presidential pardon.

“It’s all about perspective. My fear is that I’m always worried about if I’m around someone who I don’t know has a firearm on them,” Duncan said.

She submitted her presidential pardon application in October 2020. It took years to get all the materials together since it’s an extremely thorough and meticulous process. Christina reflected on  details of her past and requested character affidavits from Eva Pierce and Steve McNish, a board member at Hand UP for Women. In the beginning of 2023 a retired FBI agent who conducts interviews for these pardons completed interviews with her, her neighbors, friends and employer.

“I have a lot of people in my corner thankfully,” Christina said.  “Obviously I would love to be granted the presidential pardon, to me just to be able to share the story of a complete Earthly restoration and all of this is in the Lord’s hands is amazing.”

Christina doesn’t know if or when she’ll receive the pardon but she and her family remain prayerful and hopeful.

To learn more about how a Hand UP for Women helps women restore their confidence, career and calling to follow in Christ footsteps click here.