by Hieu “Rocky” Nguyen My name is Hieu Nguyen. I am writing to you this letter in regard to my sinful involvement in the death of your beloved son. I must tell you that I am filled with worry at this moment. I am afraid that this letter will only serve to remind you of the loss of your son, and so it could bring you more pain. But yet, I believe that the greater wrong would be to fail to confess the harm I have done to you all, and to express my own grief and sorrow at the
Continue ReadingMonth: June 2020
The One Thing I Fear the Most
by TL The one thing I fear the most right now while I’m in jail is the Coronavirus messing up court. I heard that the Governor might shut down all prisons and youth detention facilities in California. So, I don’t know what that means for kids who haven’t been sentenced yet, like someone such as myself. I don’t know if I will be able to get out before that happens, or if I will be stuck here until it opens back up. My entire life, I have been in control of what I can do or what times I can
Continue ReadingA Visit By My Guardian Angel
by Jacob In my cell I’m praying to God that I want to changeTurn around I hear a voice it’s my brother baby JHe tellin’ me stop messing up before it’s too lateHis hand is reaching towards me saying it’ll be okThen I turn around and cry can’t look him in the faceAll I say maybe it’d be different if you was here todayMaybe mom and dad would be together and it wouldn’t be this wayTurn around I tell him to stay don’t leave me in this cageYelling that I’m losin all hope he said you can’t lose faithThen he
Continue Reading
Dear Beat Community
June 2020 The Beat goes on, even during California’s Shelter-In-Place order! The Beat Within continues to ensure that incarcerated youth & adults across the country receive this one-of-a-kind publication every other week. The Beat has responded to the COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place order, by holding space in our pages for folks to voice how this pandemic continues to impact them, their loved ones, and their world at large. We are also providing more magazines than ever as the demand for reading material increases in every location! Our writers – young and old, alumni and supporters alike – were able to share updates,
Continue Reading