Five Minutes to Count — A True Story from Behind the Bars.
Lisa Purtue
Author, Counselor, and Storyteller
About the Author
Before becoming a counselor, Lisa served for seven years as a corrections officer at two maximum security prisons, where she witnessed the human condition at its most vulnerable and most resilient.
Today, she is a licensed mental health provider in training and a licensed clinical substance abuse counselor, drawing on her lived experience to help others heal.
Lisa is happily married, living with her husband, their cat, and dog. Her family continues a proud tradition of service — her husband and two sons are veterans, and her daughter is a nurse.
Writing is healing
Through years of personal growth and self-discovery, Lisa found that writing became a form of healing — a way to process and release the weight of her experiences. She believes deeply that putting difficult emotions into words can be a transformative act of strength and recovery.
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About the book
Five Minutes to Count
In the harsh, often dangerous world of corrections, few have the courage to reveal what truly happens behind the bars.
Five Minutes to Count is Lisa Purtue’s gripping, first-hand account of her life as a female correctional officer in some of the toughest prisons in America. Through her eyes, readers are thrust into a world where the lines between law, survival, and humanity blur — and every decision could mean the difference between life and chaos.
A fearless correctional officer’s memoir, revealing the tough, emotional challenges of working in some of the hardest prisons.
This powerful memoir exposes:
The emotional toll of working in a male-dominated, high-risk environment.
The moments of compassion and courage that shine through even the darkest circumstances.
The inner battles of balancing duty, empathy, and survival.
The Heart Behind the Story
Lisa’s story is not just about prison life — it’s about resilience, courage, and redemption. It’s a rare, unfiltered glimpse into a world most people never see, told by someone who lived it and found healing through the act of storytelling.
Listen to Lisa’s Podcasts
Lisa shares her insights on mental health, trauma, and resilience through her podcasts — honest conversations about healing, self-awareness, and finding purpose after pain.
“Our stories don’t define us — they remind us that we’re still here, still healing, and still strong.”