[7] Subsequent escapes led to a life sentence as well as years of emotional and physical abuse within the prison system.

[10] Based on Berland's assessment, the court allowed DeFriest to stand trial and he accepted a life sentence.

[11] Today, professionals think DeFriest's behavioral problems are likely associated with autism spectrum disorder,[12] which may impair the development of social skills and cause an inability to judge the emotions of others.

DeFriest got over the fence, hot-wired a car, and made a successful escape before being recaptured and sent to Bay County Jail.

[14] He has made use of various creative inventions and methods throughout his various escape attempts, such as replicating keys from any available material after memorising their patterns and fashioning a zip gun out of a toothpaste tube.

Ron McAndrew, who served as warden from 1996 to 1998, described the northern Florida prison as "ungovernable",[5] describing situations where squads "composed of correctional officers roamed the cell blocks, beating and degrading prisoners with impunity", with these officers additionally turning a blind eye to violence between inmates.

[5] He was a target of abuse due to his character: according to Bill Cornwell, DeFriest was a "walk alone", refusing to align with any gangs in the prison and mostly keeping to himself: "Anyone familiar with the inner workings of a penal institution will tell you that an inmate who stands out, who is a loner, who is troubled and vulnerable, is imperiled.

There, prison officials deprived DeFriest of books, magazines, radio, TV, windows, sunlight, water and toiletries for 11 days.

[18] In his review of the film, The Washington Post's Michael O’Sullivan wrote, "London turns the portrait of an escape artist into a powerful indictment of the American prison system, which many reformers, London included, argue merely warehouses the mentally ill."[19] In the Miami Herald, in November 2014, DeFriest's attorney John Middleton was quoted as having said "we’re punishing him for being mentally ill. That's what's happening here.

[16] DeFriest's parole hearing on 19 Nov 2014 in Tallahassee saw the unprecedented reduction of his potential release date from 2085 to March 2015.

[20] This would have made a possible release date of March 2015, but additional outstanding sentences for cocaine, marijuana, contraband possession, and armed robbery were not first considered.

DeFriest was finally granted parole on February 5, 2019,[22] with one of the conditions being that he spend 12 months in a mental health and substance abuse treatment facility.

Community Outreach, Inc. in Corvallis, Oregon was agreed upon due to its proximity to Bonnie's (his wife) home.