The Beat Within

by Nephew  We give second chances in hopes that one would get it together. That piece of humanity within us seeks to pull it out of others. With tough love that shouts louder than for those whose team is losing, we yell:  “God, if you give me a second chance I promise I won’t do it no more!” And if not yelled, then whispered to yourself… For a second I ask that you imagine, using your imagination will take you there and beyond.  The youngest of eight boys, no father figure, so I mimicked everything that I found to be

by Matthew Feeney Restorative Justice is an age-old philosophy which is more recently being applied to the Criminal Justice System.  Based on traditions of the Original Peoples, Restorative Justice is the belief that harm was done, so healing must happen in order to restore things closer to where they were.  Restorative Justice also takes into account that there is always more than one person affected by a single crime.  Friends, families and people in the community are all affected and need to be involved in the healing process.  One of the amazing components of Restorative Justice involves a “Healing Circle.”

by Jazper Everyone has that one person they wish they could forgive, but they don’t know how to do it, so they never bring it up until it’s too late. For me, the was my Uncle Polo.  When I was younger, my uncle would buy my cousins candy or ice cream and buy me nothing just to make me upset. He would pick on me all the time when we were around each other — even when I was with my family or by myself. He would also call me names like sissy, snitch and cry baby. That made me feel like everyone was better than

by S Are we judged in life? I say we are, they look down on us for mistakes young people do. That’s not right in my way, nobody should in anyway. We’re still kids. Sometimes we forget about it because the system gives us time that makes us think we ain’t kids no more.   The only punishment we should get is by the ones who care for us and love us not the system. The system judges us, they could care less about us and have no hope in us. We give up on things. It’s no more happiest being judge it holds onto you. No one can see it, not even you. Sometimes deep down inside

by Robert Barnes The way we look at life, it should not matter that 95% of live in a fantasy world, surrounded by things we feel matter to us the most with vain attempts to replace our yesterdays and tomorrows with today, although today will forever be yesterday’s news, on the views, on the way we look at life. Scientifically speaking, I have the brain of Albert that comes with a kite. This is the way I look at life because in all honesty my perception becomes only what I perceive as the way things should be. The beat within me never just plays one tune.

by Bryant Harrison To reserve the theme, “Rehabilitation Versus Punitive Punishment, Accountability, and Forgiveness”, for myself conveys my efforts and desire to change my old ways of thinking and perspective.  During my twenty-five year journey here in prison, I have become more mindful and resort more to patient thinking before I act. To remain focused, I pray and give thanks to God, I redirect any distractions of anger, boredom, or negative thoughts into constructing positive endeavors.   As a writer, I take blank sheet of paper, then convert the emptiness into compassionate, heartfelt filled inspiration and encouragement. This craft brings about