Humanity & Incarceration Project

My story is most likely similar to the other stories of men who have experienced, or are now experiencing, years and years of incarceration. All of us have traveled various roads to get here, but we have all landed in the same place (“Prison”).

 

I was born in Brooklyn in 1954, into a family that couldn’t even afford a crib for me, and raised in a home with two God-fearing grandparents and a father and mother who were die-hard alcoholics. Growing up, I felt as if I was being pulled in two separate directions: toward the right way, courtesy of my grandparents, and being exposed to a different way by my parents.

 

Then, when I was just 9 years old, my mother died.  This devastated me. Death was new to me, and I didn’t know how to handle it. As a result I withdrew from everyone and started acting out. I rebelled against everything. I got into fights, and ended up pursuing the streets with a vengeance. My friends were the only thing that meant anything to me. Little did I know, the same friends and others would change the course of my life for the worse.

 

I continued to run the streets and started getting into trouble. First in school (fights, stealing, etc.). Then I finally got arrested, and I was placed in juvenile detention. When I got out, I was worse.

 

After my initial brush with the law, I continued to act out and get into trouble. As a consequence of my behavior, my career of incarceration began taking root. Over the span of my turbulent life, I’ve been through over 50 years of incarceration, most served in the NY State system.

 

I am now 69 years old and serving a 16-years-to-life sentence for burglary and attempted robbery. I never thought I would make it this far. I’ve seen death up close, experienced prison riots, fights, lockdowns, and everyday verbal abuse and lack of concern for human decency. My health deteriorates each and every day. I have battled with hypertension all my life, as well as hepatitis C, (which was treated successfully), back issues, and heart problems. 

 

Finally, in August 2021, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I felt like my whole world had exploded. After hearing the word "cancer" nothing else mattered. I wanted to crawl up in a corner and die. After shedding many tears, I finally got myself together, prayed, and let God lead the way. As a result, my radiation treatments (28) proved to be successful. Now I am on a six-month follow-up regimen.

 

I have no idea what is lined up for my future. I have roughly two-and-a-half years before being considered for release, with a parole board appearance in October 2025. I am cautiously optimistic about being released. My whole life has been spent behind bars but I have a sufficient amount of education to prepare me for the workforce, including a GED (New York State Education Department), an associate’s in science (Corning Community College), a bachelor of arts (St. John’s University), and a master’s of professional studies (New York Theological Seminary). I do feel handicapped because I’ve been out of touch for so long but as I previously stated, my faith is strong. I’ve come this far, God will take me the rest of the way.

 

I’ve learned many years ago that life will deal you a hand that you didn’t bargain for, and you have to scramble just to stay on track. But no matter what road or roads you decide to travel on, it is the sum of those experiences that determines your future and outlook on life. Every day is a new day and an opportunity to discover new things about yourself, and a chance to make the world a better place.