News FeedGang Banger and Lifer Show Model for Reform
I met Walter Jones at Taft Prison Camp. Many of the prisoners at Taft were serving time for white collar crimes. They were well educated, serving sentences that rarely exceeded five years. Walt was different. He was a former hardcore gang banger with more than 12 years of incarceration behind him. Walt’s time in prison was coming to an end, and he had made the most of it.
Walt did not begin serving his term with thoughts of reforming himself. He had grown up in the crime-infested community of Watts, California. By the time he was 12, Walt had committed his life to the Grape Street Crips. He began carrying guns, knives, and any other type of weapon that would help him further the malicious interests of his gang.
Walt’s role models in Watts were the “big homies” who hustled all kinds of drugs. He had grown up in Jordan Downs Housing Projects. By the time he turned 15, Walt was running his own crew of thugs, scheming money through drug rackets and robberies.
An unplanned pregnancy led Walt into marriage at a young age. His wife joined Walt’s drug dealing crew, and the two were arrested in May of 1996. His wife received a sentence of more than 10 years, and Walt’s judge hit him with 18 years.
When Walt was first locked into the gates of the medium-security prison at Phoenix, he couldn’t read or write. Those educational deficiencies didn’t faze him. He had a long sentence to serve, and perceived no hope for a better life. Without the possibility for parole, or any mechanism through which he could earn his freedom, Walt felt as if prison was going to become the pit in which he would live the rest of his life. His adjustment reflected such perceptions.
Walt immersed himself into the gang life that thrived in prison. He strapped up with knives, hustled drugs, and provided support for extortion crews. Walt felt well suited for prison life, and he devoted those first years of his prison term to shoring up his criminal skills by networking with other felons.
Walt’s wife was serving her sentence in a minimum-security camp. Her mother was responsible for rearing the two children that were left behind when the two gang members were hauled off to prison. While Walt’s wife served her sentence, she realized that a better life existed. She began to educate herself, and through their correspondence, Walt’s wife urged him to do the same.
Being illiterate, Walt couldn’t even read the letters his wife wrote. He would ask his homies to help him correspond. One of the leaders inside the Phoenix prison joined Walt’s wife in urging him to change his ways. The prisoner went by the name of Tommy X, and he was serving a life sentence.
After four years, Tommy X and Walt’s wife finally persuaded Walt to change. He was growing older and the message began to sink in that being a man meant a lot more than being willing to take a life. Instead of contributing to all the negativity that thrived in prison, Tommy X convinced Walt to educate himself so that he could contribute and live as a better husband, a better father.
Walt moved into the same cell as Tommy X, and the lifer became a mentor to Walt. Walt began following the teachings of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and committed himself to abiding by the strict rules of personal conduct and self-empowerment. Tommy X worked with Walt every day, teaching him how to read and write, to speak with more confidence, and behave. Walt quit using profanity. He addressed others in a respectful tone. For the first time in his life, Walt began to feel as if he had something higher for which he wanted to live. By devoting his life to God, Walt felt as if he could prove himself worthy of being a man, and of his wife’s love.
Tommy X, a prisoner who served a life sentence, was responsible for leading Walt into a more responsible life. Under his tutelage, Walt became a devoted disciple of the Nation of Islam. Up until that introduction to discipline, Walt could not envision a life other than gang banging, drug dealing, and prison. Yet with guidance from a man he respected, and a desire to earn respect from his wife, Walt found hope. That made all the difference.
Since joining the Nation of Islam, Walt led a life that suggested he had completely reformed his ways. His disciplinary record was free of any infractions since he made his change seven years before, and administrators responded by lowering Walt’s security level. Walt developed powerful oratory skills and began ministering to his brothers on the power that came through a disciplined devotion to God. As Tommy X influenced Walt to reform his life, Walt began contributing to the making of a better society by sharing his story of transformation.
Judicial changes resulted in Walt’s receiving a sentence reduction, and he is scheduled for release in the summer of 2009. Upon his release, Walt intends to continue his efforts to spread the message for positive change. He has a unique gift with his powerful presentation skills. As a former gang banger and as a man who had grown up through more than 12 years of prison, Walt has the street credibility to convey his message effectively.
Inner-city communities need leaders like Walt Jones. He can reach into the heart of housing projects where gangs, drugs, crime, and apathy proliferate. Walt is not so far removed from street life, and young people will identify with the experiences he has to share. Walt can talk about walking through puddles of blood, about being shot at and shooting others. He can describe the consequences of bad decisions because he made plenty of his own. Besides the bad, however, Walt can lead the way to the good.
Through his leadership and example, Tommy X saved Walt from a life of crime. Walt is ready to pass on those lessons upon his release from prison. Corporate citizen and community leaders should consider sponsoring Walt’s efforts, as he can succeed in reducing crime by spreading hope. That approach to community investment would prove far more effective than extinguishing hope through long-term imprisonment.
Mr. Santos, I ran into your blog this morning while I was getting some information on FCI Milan and I am hooked. For some reason your writings made me feel at ease and gave me hope that my brother who is in prison is “ok” he is the first in our family to ever be in prison (and hopefully the last) and it has been extremeley hard on our family and on him. My family is not a family anymore, we have all drifted apart, it will be 2 years on May 10th that my brother has been away and it feels like its been 5. On the other hand, I am very, very happy for Mr. Jones I personally love to know of people who choose to make drastic good changes in their lives, I just hope my brother can choose to do the same. Thank you for making my day a more delightful one this a.m. My regards to you and your wife Carole, we remain.
Kara
Hi Kara,
We’re glad you found our site and that it helped to ease your mind and heart about your brother. Family connections play an essential role in making a positive adjustment to prison, and in a prisoner’s ability to serve the time productively.
Michael has been blessed with a loving and supportive family throughout his 21+ years in prison. His sister, Julie, has been a constant and continuous presence in Michael’s life, and she continually reaffirms her love and support for him by sharing her life and keeping him integrated into her family’s life.
A broken family is painful to endure. Your brother needs you, so if you can keep in touch with him through letters and visits (if possible) it may help you both. Michael writes daily content on our Blog, and you can also read more of his articles and content on http://www.MichaelSantos.net. You can print and send your brother those articles. Especially the page on values and goals – http://www.michaelsantos.net/Values-and-Goals_2009.html
Take good care!
Carole Santos
Feb 12, 2009
Mr. Santos:
In your article entitled “Gang Banger and Lifter Show Model For Reform,” you mention that Mr. Walt Jones had an entire life filled with drugs, gangs, and being in prison. You also mention that with help from at least one mentor can drastically change the lives of some individuals. My questions to you are, how has jail and leaders in jail such as ‘Tommy X’ influenced other people who are similar in ways to Walt Jones? Do you think Walt Jones will continue his old ways when he is released from prison or do you think he is confident enough to continue life on the good road? How has jail affected/changed you? I enjoyed reading your article on Walt and has give me some insight as well as hope of criminals turning around to become a better person. Morals and values in society have diminished greatly but as for yourself and Walt, there remains hope. Thank you for taking the time in helping other such as myself and other students who read your work. It makes me feel better that someone like you has taken time to devote yourself to individuals who need your help.
-Brittny.
Hi Brittny,
Thanks for visiting our site. I’ve mailed your comments/questions to Michael and he’ll respond back. I’ll post his reply as soon as I have it.
Best,
Carole Santos
Hi Brittny,
Michael responded to your questions here:
http://prisonnewsblog.com/2009/02/prison-policies-ought-to-encourage-positive-leadership/
Thanks for writing!
Best wishes,
Carole
Mr.Santos,
I am currently taking Professor Torres class at Cal State Long Beach, and i would like to thank you for giving me an insight on what life is like in prison. In your article “Gang Banger and Lifer Show Model for Reform” you have indicated that after four years of imprisonment Tommy X was responsible for leading Walter Jones into a more responsible life in prison and once he gets out of prison. My question to you is in prison did you encounter anyone who you looked up to as a mentor? Is there anyone who you have mentored?In this article you also mentioned that once Walt Jones gets out of prison he is planning to continue to send a message for positive change; once you get out to do intend to do anything similar to what he is going to do? I really enjoy reading your articles and also your Book, I hope you continue writing. Thank you again.
Danielle