Avoiding prison

By Nick, Alameda County Juvenile Hall
The Beat Within/NAM

Although I am back in juvenile hall, I am going to make sure I avoid going to adult prison. The last time I was here I spent a year here. I completed a life skills class that has helped me, and I have a lot of lost time to make up for.

But the last time I got out, I hadn’t learned my lesson yet. I committed a string of robberies. I also decided to get my hands in the drug game a little bit to make some extra money.

Everything was going good. I was living on my own, paying for rent and food. I had my lady and I was just having the time of my life. But then I got kicked out of my place because the landlord found out I was selling drugs. I was homeless for a while, but I finally found a new place to live.

My mom wouldn’t even let me use the toilet, let alone live with her. So it was all on me. I continued to conduct my illegal business and use drugs myself.

All of the robberies caught up with me, though. The police came to my place looking for my girl, who was on the run, and they found the stolen property. I wasn’t arrested, but I was given a notice to appear for court. I was left only selling drugs, but that brought in just enough money to buy food and drugs, not pay the rent.

So I continued to rob houses. But after coming out of one house one night, I was stopped by a cop. He searched me and found some rare coins on me and he knew it was strange for me have them, so he kept snooping and eventually found out I had just robbed a house. He brought me in and fingerprinted me, interrogated me, and honestly, I was ready to get locked up because of all the stress and guilt I was going through for committing those robberies.

I just wanted to get away, and now I realize it’s because I wanted something different for myself but did not know how to get it. I was not arrested and locked down though, due to my mom kicking me out, which is illegal. Child Protective Services got involved, and the focus was shifted off of me and onto my mom.

I got house arrest pending court, and they told my mom to let me move back in. So, I moved into my pad, vowing to not commit any new robberies. Before that I had given up on the idea of going to college, but now I was recommitted to the goal.

I was finally locked up for the robberies. So here I am now. I turn 18 years old in a couple of months and I should be starting college in September.

I am honestly through with the criminal life. I have an opportunity to go to college, and I will be 18 soon, and I never want to be in the adult system.

Originally published July 30 – Aug. 5, 2008