Category: Piece of the Week

by Daniel My name is Daniel and I’m about to be 17 years old. I’m facing 12 years for aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon. You guys really don’t seem to understand the bad decisions you are making. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects the others that are around you; your family and friends to be speci c. It’s disappointing to see these kids that are fteen and sixteen years old serving life sentences without chance of parole. Think of how your mom feels about you being locked up. Think about the bad example you are setting for

by Reaper I was born in Mexico but moved to California when I was seven months old We settled in the Canal (near San Rafael, CA) for about three years, then moved to San Pablo. In San Pablo we had two houses, a block away from each other. We lived in the smaller one at first but then decided to move to a bigger one as our family germinated. Meanwhile, we rented out the smaller house. I went to school every day K-5. I used to receive perfect attendance awards ever year as well as my siblings. I have a two

by Ryan Dear Me, I really hope you found what you’re looking for: love, happiness, and success. I hope you stay clean and sober. I hope you find a good twelve-step program. I really hope you stay sober, you need to. Your mind works better while sober. You’re a lot smarter when you’re sober. You need to finish school or go get your GED. You need to study hard and pass. I know you want to get into the coast guard. They wont accept you if you’re not fit and haven’t finished high school. If you want the home and car

by Lacey In my special window I see my family all together for once. Happy, filled with love and laughter. One day I’ll be on the other side of that thick piece of glass looking out into the street looking at all the gorgeous people smiling. No one knows how they are. No one knows if they are fading away inside. As for me and my happy little family look out the window I see crushed dreams under glowing smiles. Out my window I see dogs wagging their tails even though their feet are burning. Through my window I see the

By Chapo I grew up really fast for my age because I didn’t have any other choice.  Let me just tell you a little bit about my situation,  in my midteens, coming up in the war zone I call home (Vallejo, CA.).  It was hard for me at a young age. I was pretty much bouncing around city to city due to my family’s situation.  Really, I’m not making this a sad story or make it sound like some dumb movie.  All I’m trying to do is share my life experiences with anybody younger or older who wants to change and

by Frank The last time I had a real meaningful conversation was with my teacher, Mr. Cannister. Cannister made me realize that I had to get my life on the right track. Being here in juvie makes me angry with myself for being a mess up in my past. Talking with my teacher gives me motivation to want to do better. Not only for me but also for my family and those around me. I know I messed up but I can choose to correct my wrongs and myself. I can keep messing up, but so far that hasn’t gotten

by Wester Mi pobre madre.  I’m sorry for all I’ve done to you.  You don’t deserve a thing that my brothers and I have put you through.  You deserve nothing but the best.  You’re the strongest person that I know, by far. I know it wasn’t easy raising three troubled boys all alone.  I remember those long days waiting for you to come home from work as a little kid.  Now I wait for you to come visit me from this institution.  I’ve put you through a lot since I was a little kid.  Always going to school meetings and picking me

by Snoopy I hate waking up in this cell knowing this is not a dream. I hate having the same damn food every day, even hearing the same ignorant voices and seeing the same faces. Drives me crazy, I feel like beating their heads, especially the ignorant ones. Knowing that I’m going to be here a while sucks. I wish I can go home. After they find out that I’m innocent, I will sue them for everything they got, this shhh is so stupid. When I get out, I plan to make some money, get the things I want and

by Destiny I have learned that being disrespectful gets me nowhere. I have learned to respect and love my parents for what they have done. I don’t want to live life hating them for all that they weren’t and lacked to do. I want to live life loving them for all that they did do. I thank God for them. I have a mouth, and before I got locked up I did not give zero to one hundred shhhh’ about how I talked to my elders. Now I know that shhh talking them gets me nowhere. Communication will get me farther

by Adriana I would have to say the dumbest thing I have ever done was start- using meth. Now I crave it every day. When I was on it I would act erratic and out of control. Now that I am sober it really sucks, since I started at such a young age I don’t really know what life is like or how to act. I struggle with more simple tasks because of the constant drug abuse. I am behind in school because I was such an addict that I would just get on one and nothing else. My eating habits