Todd and Julie Chrisley Open Up About Emotional Reunion and Prison Reform Fight

After more than two years apart, reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were finally reunited—and for the couple, it was nothing short of transformative.

In a candid new interview, the Chrisleys reflected on their first moment back together after serving separate sentences in federal prison. The emotional reunion came after 28 long months of separation, stemming from their convictions for bank fraud and tax evasion. Despite the legal drama and time behind bars, both say their love has endured—and deepened.

“It was surreal,” Todd said of the moment he first saw Julie again. “But people have asked, ‘Was it weird, was it awkward?’ It really wasn’t. Because I think for me, I was never away from her—she was in my spirit the entire time. I thought of her every second of my day. When I hugged her the first time, it was like I was home.”

Julie echoed that sentiment, explaining that while the experience had changed them both, the bond they shared remained intact. “We’ve changed. And if we hadn’t changed in those 28 months, it would’ve been a waste,” she said.

The couple, known for their USA Network reality show Chrisley Knows Best, are now speaking out about the prison system, which they say is in desperate need of reform.

Julie described meeting a 77-year-old inmate who, barring divine intervention, is expected to die behind bars. “She could be any of our grandmothers,” Julie said. “The best lady you would ever meet.”

She also highlighted what she sees as glaring injustices within the system, particularly regarding the sentencing of young, first-time offenders. “There are so many young women who are young mothers who got these crazy sentences—never been in trouble in their lives,” Julie said. “I’m not walking away from that. That’s a pledge I’ve made to them and to myself.”

Julie’s commitment to advocacy didn’t end with her release. She says she remains in close contact with many of the women she met in prison, even adding herself to the visitor lists of those she left behind. “Those kids deserve a second chance,” she said. “You’ve got kids in prison for selling marijuana, and now it’s nearly legalized everywhere. But we don’t make those changes retroactive for these young men.”

Todd voiced similar concerns, particularly about the lack of opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration. “You’ve got young men still in their 20s or early 30s. Let them come home, let them get a job, pay taxes,” he said. “And if they mess up again—well, the prison doors are wide open.”

Their perspective is shaped not just by their own incarceration, but by the stories and struggles of those they met on the inside. Now out, both Todd and Julie are positioning themselves as unlikely but passionate advocates for criminal justice reform—a cause they say they can’t walk away from.

The Chrisleys were initially sentenced in 2022—Todd to 12 years and Julie to 7 years in prison—after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans, among other charges. However, both sentences were later reduced, and Julie was released earlier this year. Todd is expected to complete his term sooner than initially scheduled as well.

Their legal saga garnered national attention, drawing scrutiny and media frenzy. But with their reunion now a reality, the couple seems determined to shift focus from personal redemption to public advocacy.

“I stay in touch with the ones I helped get out before I left,” Julie added. “And now I’m helping the ones who are still in there.”

As they rebuild their lives, the Chrisleys say they’re carrying forward the lessons learned from their time inside—and turning them into action. For them, it’s not just about picking up where they left off. It’s about making sure others get the second chances they believe everyone deserves.

Whether their voices will gain traction in the national conversation about prison reform remains to be seen, but their message is clear: incarceration changed them, and they intend to use that change for something bigger than themselves.