A Plight of One Father (1st Installment)

In 1999 I was convicted of larcenous crimes in a court of law and sentenced after a jury trial to 10 years determinate sentence of imprisonment. During my incarceration I took various measures to attempt to ensure a better life for my son Elijah who was born mere months into the 8 1/2 years I would ultimately serve in debt to society. On the most simplistic level my endeavoring meant our conducting visitation and my phoning when possible so that he could hear his dad's voice on occasions. The first near to 3 years of my sentence was spent in a State facility less than 2 hours away by vehicle and so visiting was not too inconvenient. In the end of 2001 I was transferred to a different facility near to the border of Canada which was more than an 8 hours drive. Visitation occasions dwindled down to zero. Elijah's mom Rose began to assert that due to our son's health conditions that the long trip it would now take to visit would be impossible to take. Her judgement was viewed as questionable to me in this regard and I initiated a Petition for an Order of Visitation Proceedings which brought me to New York City on several occasions from 2002 through 2004. Although the petition did not avail in the Family Court providing us with any assistance for the cause of enhancing our son's growth and development, the orders to produce me in court for the proceedings brought us together a few occasions on Riker's Island until I was sent back upstate each time. We could have continued the fight which could have eventually availed or at least kept me being brought to the city where Elijah and I could enjoy the opportunity of seeing each other, however Rose soon grew tired of my campaign and so insisted that I leave it alone and do my time and that was the end of that.

For the next 3 1/2 years Elijah and I would have to rely upon letters and an occassional phone call in suffice of a father and son relationship. Meanwhile, on a more expansive level, I always continued my progression in education, training and overall maturation in pursuit of becoming a better man for my son and family, and my self. On the inside, I took programs but mostly through personal dilligence advanced my knowledge and trained my self in computer technology and business, also for awhile studying HIV and AIDS education, but mostly, perhaps out of my personal necessity and the environmental demand, my primary study found focus in the law. Before any of these subjects, and indeed before coming to prison, I was and am by nature a writer and so the forming of motion, petition and appeal papers, etc., became second nature for me, so to speak. Also, just as I had on ocassions, I had did some teacher's assistance work as well. In whatever study I took on for myself I was always quick to share what knowledge and skills I obtained with any fellow inmate who would seek me out or who was receptive. This was the mode in which I did my time from the beginning up until over 8 years later when I was transferred to the Queensboro Correctional Facility for my initial re-entry phase into society. The way I conducted myself did not phase out because I was on the way out the door and I spent the last month of my committment helping men on their way back to society prepare their job resumes.

On August 7, 2007 I was released on parole, having reached my Conditional Release date with earned good time.