A Question of Freedom Audiobook By Reginald Dwayne Betts cover art

A Question of Freedom

A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

A Question of Freedom

By: Reginald Dwayne Betts
Narrated by: Sean Crisden
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

At the age of 16, R. Dwayne Betts - a good student from a lower-middle-class family - carjacked a man with a friend. He had never held a gun before, but within a matter of minutes he had committed six felonies. In Virginia, carjacking is a "certifiable" offense, meaning that Betts would be treated as an adult under state law. A bright young kid, he served his nine-year sentence as part of the adult population in some of the worst prisons in the state. A Question of Freedom chronicles Betts's years in prison, reflecting back on his crime, and looking ahead to how his experiences and the books he discovered while incarcerated would define him.

Utterly alone, Betts confronts profound questions about violence, freedom, crime, race, and the justice system. Confined by cinder-block walls and barbed wire, he discovers the power of language through books, poetry, and his own pen. Above all, A Question of Freedom is about a quest for identity - one that guarantees Betts's survival in a hostile environment and incorporates an understanding of how his own past led to the moment of his crime.

©2009 R. Dwayne Betts (P)2018 Tantor Crime Criminology Penology Political Science Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination Memoir Inspiring

Featured Article: Listening Recommendations to Pair with 2020 Prime Film Releases


There's no shortage of exciting films being released by Amazon Studios this year—and we've found just the listens to pair with them while you wait, based on your favorite genres. Whether you're on the lookout for a new listen to add to your library or a new movie to add to your watchlist, we've compiled a handy guide sure to help you find just what you're looking for. Discover a Prime Video recommendation—or a new listen to get lost in!—with this list.

Featured Article Listening Recommendations to Pair with 2020 Prime Film Releases
All stars
Most relevant  
Betts provides an insightful view of prison life and how it influenced him and many others. Check it out!

Institutions Matter

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Almost every sentence was read like poetry. I never stop listening…I just fell asleep. A thousand, maybe ten thousand stories in one book. I know I will read again.

Totally enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book provide insight into the mindset of a teenager, making a bad decision that led him to prison and left him “marked” for the rest of his life. It is also a story of hope, encouragement, and possibilities. It is a reminder that we are our only limitations.

Story of Hope

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
thank you Mr. Betts. you have put into words my feelings. simply a masterpiece

outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
what is the cost of walking away from a bad idea a minute too late?
the answer lies within...

a poignant & powerful answer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Powerful story, this is one of those books that I wish someone would of gave to me when I was a kid

Powerful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Betts’ narrative about his experience in prison is incredibly moving and heartbreaking. It shines a light on the trauma of incarceration, and through his words allows the reader to meet the the man he becomes in spite of this experience. I am thankful he shared his story and powerful perspective.

Moving and Beautifully Written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.