Expressive Writing with Incarcerated Youth

These are the voices of adolescent male residents on the high risk unit at a juvenile detention center*

"My people try to succeed by making it out of the same trenches

where they breed single mothers and troubled kids

in search for a loyal husband and father, that's what they need

I try to give the mother's advice and hope, instead they buy tickets of DOPE!

Then wonder why their kids run with their crew and carry not 1 but 2

twenty-two's held tight by the waist of their true's

Where I reside it's "ride or die"

Some say I'm just another victim of the streets

I say I AM THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE!"

Age 16

"This is a goodbye letter to my impulsivity and violent behavior. I have to let this go because I want to move forward in a positive way and prove to the court and my community that I can solve conflict without fighting or assaulting people. This is goodbye forever." Age 16.

"If I could change one thing about the criminal justice system it would be to not let family members reputation contribute to the judges' decision. I think this because just because one family member did something doesn't mean you will do the same, you could be the one to break the chain." Age 16.

"One of the best things that has impacted me positively, believe it or not, is becoming incarcerated. I grew up in an alright home, but it's what was outside that ruined me.My father led me to into thinking justice and the department of corrections were bad. I guess you could say I've followed in his footsteps so far. By the age of 9, I had my first charge. By 13, I was selling drugs. Now, at 19, I've spent nearly five years locked up. It definitely sucks not being home but I think if I didn't come here, I'd for sure be dead. I did all my growing up here and it was a reality check I needed. No matter how bad I don't want to say it, being locked up helped me in a way I can never repay back. It made me the man I am today and I am thankful for that. This is by far the most impactful time in my life." Age 19.

"I'm not a bad person, I just made some bad choices. People get a clouded perception of me because of my actions and choices in peers. I feel misunderstood by most people. Sometimes I do good things for people but no one notices and no one asks me how my day is or what's going on in my life so when I'm upset and lash out they don't know why so then they classify me as a danger to others. I need to pull my head out of my ass and get a leash on life. I need to get my priorities straight and avoid negative situations." Age 18.

"An impactful moment in my life is when one of my best friends died and I just lost al care for everything and grew angry and hateful." Age 18.

"I think the criminal justice system should have more options for adolescents who are getting in trouble instead of locking them away for years." Age 18.

"My life is misunderstood. Each time I try to do nice things, it's perceived to be otherwise. That is my whole life." Age 18.

"I think I would be picked on if I showed my true self." Age 18.

"How can you love when you are locked up and rotting away? It has changed me." Age 18.

"It feels stressful to be incarcerated. You have to constantly be looking over your shoulder and worrying about the person next to you." Age 18.

"I don't feel misunderstood but people don't really know me. That's by my own choice though. I think it's easier if people don't truly know you because it's harder for them to hold you accountable or expect things from you that you cannot give them. I wish my reputation was different but in order to change that I have to let people see who I really am and once I do their expectations change. So I have to let people think negatively about me to hold me less accountable." Age 19.

*All participants signed a release to have their writing published on this website as long as their identities remained anonymous.

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