by Efren Bullard, Centinela State Prison in Imperial, CA
My name is Efren Bullard and I use to write to you guys about 20 years ago. I know that the youngsters back then are no longer incarcerated in your system, but I found your address and wanted to share my life story again with the youth of today because it’s important for them to hear the truth about the path their taking…
”I was arrested November 6th, 1993 at the age of 18 for two first degree count of PC. 187, plus 23 counts of Robbery. I was looking at the Death Penalty. I knew that my life would never be the same from that point on.
In 1996, I was sentenced to two Life’s Without the Possibility of Parole, plus 22 years. Now, before that happened to me, I want you to take a look at how it all began.
In 1987, I became a member of the 83 Hoover Criminal Gang located in South Central, Los Angeles. I started to get arrested for selling weed and carrying guns and then robbery. I was arrested so many times that I couldn’t even count them if you ask me. I was sent to Camp Miller to do time but before I could complete my sentence I was refiled on and sent to a lockdown camp for fighting and getting another inmate’s address from the Rolling Sixties and telling him that I was going to get him when I get out.
I was sent to Camp Holton. I did nine more months and then I was released. I was picked up again about three months later in a raid and sent back to camp. At the that time, the judge sent me to Camp Challenger. From there I went to a Boot Camp called Camp Mendenhall. I stayed there for about a month and then AWOL-ed and stayed out for about five months. I was caught and then I was sent to CYA.
I went to Paso Robles. I was there from 1991 ‘till 1993. I was released and went on to kill two people and rob more people then I can count.
Since I was thirteen years old I may have been free for maybe two years.
I’m now 46 years old and I’ve been down going on 28 years. When I got to prison I did what most people do. I got a lot of tattoos all over my body as well as my face. I started to get into fights and that led to me stabbing people, getting into riots, two attempted murders, once on an inmate and one on an officer, weapon charges, cell extractions, and that led to me doing a little over 16 years in the hole (SHU).
I did my hole time in Pelican Bay SHU, Corcoran SHU and Tehachapi SHU. Life has been very long and hard for me, but I did it to myself. I had choices like we all did. I made the mistake of not thinking nor using my head.
I came from a single parent home where my mom had three boys and three girls. There was no man in the house to teach me how to be a man. No one told me that the best thing in life would be an education. My mom didn’t use drugs and she didn’t drink. She worked hard for nothing because she had to spend her money on my brothers and sisters as well as myself. Her money was gone as soon as she got it. She always came to visit me when I was in the halls and camp. I never needed for anything. I always had soap, deodorant, lotion, grease, paper, envelopes, magazines, new shoes and everything else we could have.
My mom really only knows me from being in jail. I call her all the time and she always picks up. She still comes to visit me. (SHOUT OUT TO MY MOMS) Gotta love Marie.
I spent all my time on level 4 yards and I’m still on a level 4. There’s two kinds of level 4 yards. Maximum Security yards and minimum Security-270 yards. I spent all but 18 months on Maximum-180 yards. I’m up for transfer to a level 3 because I started to do good in 2016.
This isn’t just for the young men. I hope the young ladies read it too. Check it out. I have life without parole and anyone who doesn’t understand what that means let me school you. Life Without Parole means, (No Chance of Parole). I used to have the attitude that, life didn’t matter anymore. I never thought about the people I killed or the people I robbed. Those are my victims.
The two people I killed can never have children. They can never watch another Basketball game. They never got to see KOBE BRYANT play a single game. Imagine not seeing KOBE play? The people I robbed can never go to the store without thinking that some dude is going to stick a gun in their face and take what’s theirs.
Imagine that. We only think about ourselves. You and me. All we want is what someone else has. Imagine that. Now, imagine someone killing your mother or robbing her for her money? How would you feel? Really, think about it. I have. It don’t even feel good.
Even if you sell drugs, you have victims. If you’re on lockdown for not going to school, you are your own victim. Right now I’m at Centinela State Prison General Population B-yard. I will continue to write and share with you all what prison is like with hopes that you all learn something from me so that you don’t end up like me.
If I knew that this would have been my future. I swear I would have taken another route. I wish you all the best. Until next time, each one teach one. Take care brothers and sisters.