Title: Second Chances: Yes or No?

March 8, 2013: As I sit in my cell remembering my Justine on our 16th anniversary, I think to myself, do I deserve to die in here? That's my fate. I'm 36 years old and I am sentenced to be here until I die. Maybe I do deserve that fate but I have met some really good people in prison who do not deserve that fate. My only real friend in here, Paulie.

Yeah, another Italian. Paulie has life but he is one of the most remorseful men I have ever met. If I chose anyone in here for a 2nd chance, it would be him. Without him, I would not be the man I am today and I am proud of who I have grown into. I am a much better man now than I was when I came here at 21 years old. But I ask you, do people who kill deserve to die in here? I believe some of us do, but not all. I have seen so much good in here in these men. And I think some of them deserve that 2nd chance. So I attach this website to my letter: "PAsentencing.com".

Anyone interested should check it out. I would love the chance at life again. I could be with my daughter, Krista is 15 now and I have never been home with her. And she needs me so badly. I could be a better son. I could move on in my life and be the man that I have grown to become. But in this state, PA, that's not an option. Life is life, until the day you die. So many states offer the chance of life with parole or a certain amount of years. PA has over 4,000 lifers and we will all sit here until we die. The Philadelphia area produces the most lifers in this state. So let me ask you this, I came here at 21, I was not a good person. I had good intentions but I was not a real man yet, so should I be given a chance at parole when I am 46 years old? 25 years in here, if that doesn't rehabilitate me, nothing will. Not 30 or 40, 25 years is the right number. So many people believe in this, even our elected officials but without a voice from society, we will never have that chance in here. I met a man from Pittsburgh named Nicodemus, I don't know how he's here. How did he take a life, his whole existence in here revolves around being friendly, working, and worshipping God. But as a young gang member, you get sucked into a life you don't want. He deserves a chance at freedom one day. I'd bet my soul on it than he or Paulie would ever take a life again. So for any who read this, I ask you to just keep an open mind. I have met some good people on prison, black, white, Asian, Native American, Spanish, people from the country, the city, I've met the rich, the poor, and a lot of them can prove to be worthy of a 2nd chance. So you read & you decide. But please give us your support. Remember one thing, prison has stopped being about rehabilitating & turned into a warehouse that makes billions of dollars. Tune in next week for more writings on prison issues and other stuff from Prison Dad. Ciao.

PS. I'd love to hear your thoughts, leave your comments, write a letter, tell us how you feel. We are listening.