Julian G, 51, was sentenced to 25-35 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping. “The
day before I was arrested my codefendant and I robbed a supermarket. We used the money to buy cocaine. We cooked the cocaine and smoked it all night long. Then, we got in a stolen vehicle and went to McDonalds. I robbed them at gunpoint.”
“The day before I car-jacked the vehicle, we used cocaine… I was high on cocaine when I jacked the car and robbed McDonalds. Cocaine made me feel bold, daring, and euphoric… but only for a minute.”
“When I was 12, my family went to church 3 days a week. I got interested in street kids when I watched them from the window while doing homework. I used to sneak out to be in the street. I thought that I hated my father. He worked and I wanted to steal. Now, I realize that I was a coward.”
When he was 12, Julian and a friend robbed a convenience store at gunpoint. His friend used the money to buy heroin; he shot-up Julian. “I was strung out from that day… I wasn’t afraid of my father any more… nothing bothered me. I used the next day and kept using for the next 4 or 5 years, until I got dope sick in jail. I never 
messed with dope again.”
“I smoked weed for about 10 years… then I ran into a lot of money and a lot of cocaine…. While in prison, I got involved in a program called ‘prison voices.’ I have spoken
to about 3000 students… I found that through doing that I learned who I was.”
“At first, I had been using drugs in prison… cocaine, weed, crack. I have been clean for 14 years… I don’t want to do that anymore.” “I see myself as a negative role model…about what not to do with your life.”
“I have been out of prison for 90 days as of today. In 90 days, I have done things I never did before.”
“I am alive… I am living 
for the first time.”
Recently, Julian was talking to high school students about his life; he brought his father and a friend to the talk. “When a student asked what my father thought about me, my father just walked to me, hugged me and said he was proud.”