SCOTT FRIEDMAN State prison inmates (from left) Anthony, Erika, Kami and Nurdeen get ready to address the audience during the recent “Straight Talk” program held at the East Brunswick Public Library. EAST BRUNSWICK – Four state prisonersmetwith a group of local youngsters recently, telling themto “choose freedom.”
During a “Straight Talk” presentation sponsored by the East Brunswick Police Youth Services programNov. 19, the inmates, all in their 20s, chronicled the decisions they made, small and large, that led to their incarceration. They painted a dark picture of their lives in prison and spoke sadly of the pain they caused their families, and the opportunities they had lost.
RoseMcNamara, office coordinator at the EastBrunswickPoliceDepartment, organized the event at the township library. She noted that “Straight Talk” differs from other programs where young people visit the prisons.
“With this program, the prisoners come out andmeet the kids in their own communities. This way they can reachmore kids,” she said. The programtargets juveniles ages 12-17 who are at risk for becoming involved in criminal or delinquent behavior. The program is run five days a week throughout the state, with visits to schools and various kinds of community groups, according toMichael Ritter, coordinator for the Office of Educational Services at the state Department of Corrections.
“Straight Talk” is part of Project PRIDE (Promoting Responsibility in Drug Education), which is a major initiative of the state Department of Corrections. Minimum custody offenders share their stories with young peoplewith the primary goal of reducing drug use. The prisoners, inmates at state correctional facilities, are recommended for the program, carefully screened and closely monitored at all times.
“Anthony, Kami, Nurdeen and Erika are all trying to keep young people from making the same mistakes they did,” Ritter told the audience in East Brunswick. “Inmates get nothing out of this. They are volunteers. Their sentences are not shortened, and they don’t get any extra benefits or privileges. The only reason they do this is to help other people.”
Wearing orange jumpsuits, the prisoners shared their stories to the young people sitting in the front rows of the audience. Illegal drug use played amajor role in all their lives.
With his boyish good looks and charming personality, it’s easy to imagine Anthony being the popular kid he describes in his early high school years.
“Iwas a Region I championwrestler and I loved all kinds of sports.When I started getting into smoking weed, I thought it was no big deal because it was pot,” he said.
Eventually, he started doing more drugs and wound up robbing a gas station.
Now, with the holidays approaching, he noted that unlike those in attendance, he wouldn’t be spending time with family and eating nicemeals.
“I won’t be seeing anyone frommy family, and I can’t tell you howbad the food in prison is, especially for the holidays,” he said.
“Be smart and choose freedom,” he concluded.
Nurdeen paced up and down the aisle, talking about a typical day in prison.
“Everything I wear is from the prison … my uniform,my socks,my underwear. I have to get up when people tell me, go to sleep when people tell me. I don’t have my own phone, and I have to share my cell with whomever.And those guyswho Iwas so tight with, I don’t even hear fromthem,” he said.
Kami explained that she came from a good home.
“My parents were very strict and they were very good to me. But when I went to high school, I started dealing drugs. I made so much money that I could afford an apartment at 16, and I justwouldn’t listen to them anymore,” she said.
Kami is serving a 12-year sentence.
“I missed my prom, I missed my graduation, and I caused a lot of heartbreak and expense formy family,” she said.
Erika talked about her battle with depression and increasing drug addiction that led her to jail.
“I never thought of what it was doing to mymother,” she said.
Ritter said the program is very effective, and that his department receives “hundreds of letters” fromstudents and parents who attend.
The prisoners told Greater Media Newspapers that they feel they are having an impact.
“I wouldn’t listen to my parents, or the principals, or the coaches, but I think Iwould have listened to someone like me,” Anthony said. Nurdeen added that, as aMuslim, he believes “it is important to give back, to help make up for what Imessed up.”
“I hope I’m helping them,” Erika said, “and this is helpingme too.”
Kami recalled that one girl came up to her after the prisoners spoke, and started to cry. She said she wanted to change.
“That’s why we do this,” Kami said.
Likewise at the Nov. 19 program, some of the young audience members went up and talked to the prisoners.
“We always get positive feedback about this program,”McNamara said.
East Brunswick Police Youth Services sponsors the program twice a year. Those seeking more information can contact Rose McNamara at (732) 390-6990.