Category: Feature of the Week

by Isela My older cousin Mikaela was planning to overdose on a bottle of pills if she didn’t get the attention she was seeking in our group-chat. Mikaela has suffered from depression for three years now. She’s attempted suicide repeatedly. Mikaela has sent me pictures of her arms right after she’s just cut the surface flesh in attempt to bleed herself dry. In an attempt to kill herself, she takes a chance; a chance that she might live. But how many chances will life give her before death finally decides to claim her? She’s called me saying how much she

by Kenneth Harris Everybody deserves a second chance and my view is that second chances should be first initiated by the individual. Your second chance is to challenge yourself with an honest inner appraisal and recognition to aspire beyond your present circumstances, environment and intellect. We know the system does not work unless you make a personal effort towards transformation. Crime and punishment, be serious! I spoke to you last year how important it is to settle your mind, take a real good look at yourself, the entire landscape of your dreams and goods, family and the chance you have been forced into. Today let’s call

by David Stanton Jr. (I) Once was a baby, then a small child, and then a young teen, as well as a young adult, but now I am a middle-age elderly adult (being) 60-and-a-half years old, but basically that makes me part of all of you, which is human. Living in this great big world of humanity. And whether you are “male” or “female” sometimes words of Wisdom, can help you change your lives for the (better) especially if you’re going down the (dark roads) of life, and to continue going down the dark roads is, (insanity) so please listen

by Jeremiah I don’t remember being born, but I do remember my birthplace, Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City, CA. The first house I remember living at was in Oakland, CA, where I had my moms and pops, and an older brother. Before me, they lived in San Mateo, CA. I have dull memories at the Oakland house, but major events took place. A man laid in the street dead, I was about three years old when I seen that. I split my head open on the corner of marble stairs, leaving a permanent scar on my forehead.   Think that’s harsh? One

by Donald “C-Note” Hooker California has a whole host of criminal statutes in which if found guilty of violating does not determine if a person has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. These crimes are called Wobblers. Only at the time of sentencing, and depending on how the court chooses to administer the sentence, will the violation be determined as a felony or misdemeanor. Any non-state prison sentence makes the violation a misdemeanor.  When California passed the Three Strikes law it allowed persons convicted of a Wobbler’s low term prison sentence to be put away for Life. As a

by Jorge  Many people but not all people should get the chance to get a second chance or many chances. People should get an opportunity for a second – chance on success on school, a good job and just in life in general. People could get a chance to do what they really want to do in life. When people get a second chance and really think about it, they’ll show their true colors and put a piece of mind in to what they doing in life.  Also, people should get many chances but only if they are worthy for second chances. They could’ve not

by Jesus For day after day  They seek me out  They seem eager to know my ways  As if they were a nation that does  What is right in their ways  You can’t even pronounce my last name  What a shame  Man, get out of my face  You look at me like I’m the next corruption  All you can do is pull nothing but   Judges and grudges  You look at me like I’m nothing  But I really am something  You have no one else to blame  So you blame it on my father  Like if he really wanted to hurt ma and his

by Larry Hernandez Not long ago walking back to our housing unit, fresh from a lifer group meeting, a friend of mine asked a very serious question. He wanted to know, “How do you do it? I mean forgive after that?!” You see, we’ve all got a past. Unfortunately, mine defined me for most my life. But not anymore. In response to the homie’s questions, I had to first understand where he’s coming from. Like me he’s been incarcerated for nearly 25 years, was arrested as a teenager and spent the majority of the years on level IV prison yards. We share

by Morgan DeLange Second chances, at one point or another we’ve all been given a second chance. The question is, did we utilize it or abuse the generosity of it? Generally, regardless of the answer, we are given a second chance, eventually anyways. Whether it be a second chance at life, a second chance at freedom, or a second chance with a friend’s/family members’ trust is still a second chance we generally do not deserve.  My first second chance, a memorable one not just something small, happened when I was fifteen. I ended up in juvie for assaulting my step-father and causing a serious

by J We live in a world of chances. Day by day, we all make mistakes. Nobody in this world was born to be perfect. Our mistakes are what makes us the strongest. We learn from our experiences, failures, and our past. We also have the power and choice to use the knowledge of our experiences to better equip ourselves to face the present and the future. The real challenge is change and adjustment. Some become so used to living a certain way and can’t change, and won’t change. We must learn to do our best, no matter where we