You have joined us. Was democratic with Democratic Candidates for the United States senate. Senator ed markey. It is the oldest continuously operating free lecture series in america this evening Sussex University continues to honor the storied legacy of the forum by preventing programs. That illuminate key issues facing our country and the world today i wish to thank joe kennedy and ed markey for participating in this important exchange on Justice Reform also think you to the Justice Reform coalition in the member organizations for your impactful advocacy around Justice Reform. And for inviting Sussex University to participate in these important public forums. Thank you to Sussex University social apology. The assistance and wisdom that made this Evenings Program possible. To the Lowell Institute for the generous support that makes programs like this possible into our longtime partner is now my pleasure to introduce jennifer love williams. She serves as the cochair of the working group
Selected inmates shared their experiences with teenagers who had already had runins with the law. What we need you to understand, you are in san quentin this morning. You are in a place that no kid should ever want to be in. You should be out playing somewhere in the park. You are here because of something you did. Whats your first name . Angel. Angel . Yeah. How old are you . 13. Im 16. Jonathan, im 16, too. What you want to know, that this is your life, man. You have an opportunity to leave out of this place and never come back. Let me introduce myself to you guys. My names david. Im about to be 25 years old in a few more months, but i have been in prison since i was 15yearsold for murder. David monroe is serving a 15yeartolife sentence after having pled guilty to Second Degree murder. I banged before. I have been on the streets before. Im from stockton. I done did it before, all of it. Everything you guys say you did, everything you guys think that you didnt did that we aint did, we
Through the program, they shed their experience with teenagers who already had run ins with the law. Close the gate. What we need you to understand, you in san quentin this morning. You are in a place no kid should ever want to be in. You should be out playing in the park. You here because of something you did. What is your name . Angel. Angel . Yeah. How old are you . 13. 16. Jonathan, im 16, too. You have the opportunity to leave out of this place and never come back. Let me introduce myself to you guys. My name is david. Im about to be 25 years old. I have been in prison since i was 15 years old for murders. David monroe is serving 15 years to live after having pled guilty to murder. I banged before. I been on the streets before. Im from stockton. I did it all, all of it. Everything you did, everything you did, we did it. Its just about us not scolding the kids. Its not a scare straight, but we try to give you the communication like look thrks is what i did and this is where it got
How much [ bleep ] got a problem with me, ill go to the hole every i dont give a [ bleep ]. [ bleep ]. David. You see it in every booking department of every jail we visit. You done fighting . No. Newly arrested men and women, so drunk or high, theyre a danger to themselves or others. Somebody gets drunk, theyre more aggressive. They think they can do anything. Theyre strong. You cant stop me. And you got to deal with that. You dont know how theyre going to act. They can be dangerous, real dangerous. You feel suicidal, to harm yourself . [ bleep ]. Ill take that as a no. Addiction leads to serious crimes in order to support their habits. For others, it means a revolving door for jail with seemingly no end in sight. The Sheriff Detention Center in South Carolina, Eugene Foster fell into the latter category. Have you been arrested before . My rap sheet about as long as your arm. Just a drunk [ bleep ]. Foster says his rap sheet dates back 30 years to when he was 18. Hes been convicted of
Relationship with his daughter and her children. So now when am i going to get some pictures of the kids . Approximately 10 00 inmate gomes urinated out of his cell door. And deputies take steps to contend with an inmate. Theyre going to transfer me out of here or take me out in a body bag. One way or the other. Inmate gomes, are you going to comply . Theres a certain anonymity among most people in big cities, but boston is a city of traditionally tightknit neighborhoods where it really does seem like everyone knows your name. Even behind the walls of the citys primary detention facility, the Suffolk County jail. I grew up in the south end, part of the city of boston, which is our neighborhood, not far from the facility. Within seven years of this job i found i knew most people that i should know from childhood, from high school, and just from the neighborhood itself. Inmates, too, often find themselves among friends and relatives. Were brothers, thats right. Though not all inmates are