Keep an open mind.
That was the message on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the “Planet Prison, Understanding the Life of an Ex-offender” program held at New Jersey City University in Jersey City.
At the event, three former prison inmates, including Richard Brent, 29, of Jersey City, talked about their life experiences before, during, and after incarceration. The three ex-convicts, including William Manley of Newark and Frederick Ludiver of West Orange, had a combined time of about 50 years behind bars.
The three talked about what led them to prison, at what point they decided to turn their lives around, and how they hope now that they have paid their debt to society that they will get a second chance in life.
“The program is an educational and entertaining perspective on what it means to be unlocked,” said event organizer Corrado DeVincenzo of Bayonne, a social worker at a Newark halfway house.
Mainly, the evening was about not judging the men on what they have done, but rather on what they can do, especially if they find gainful employment.
“I’m a father, I’m an uncle, I’m a husband. I’m a pretty good person,” Brent said. “Except for a little I did wrong.”
Home for 16 months now, Brent considers himself one of the fortunate ones. He was able to get a job as a laborer with union status and good pay and works regularly in New York on projects.
“I’m here today to show you there are two sides to the coin,” Brent said.
“I’m here today to show you there are two sides to the coin.” – Richard Brent
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Manley lamented losing so much of his time to prison.
“What is insane is I lost 23 years out of my life. Twenty-three years out of my kids’ life,” he said.
Ludiver said that when younger he was a tough guy out of the “Tony Montana”-mold. He was sent to prison for 40 years on a variety of charges, including carjacking and attempted murder.
“Prison was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Ludiver said. “Why? Because it was the opportunity to introduce me to myself.”
DeVincenzo said that the entertainment industry focuses too strongly on the violence of prisons, but not the positive things, like inmates working toward college degrees and bettering themselves for the time when they leave.
Law enforcement view
Bayonne Mayor James Davis, a retired Bayonne police officer, attended the event and thought the program was a step in the right direction for the men assembled there.
“I liked the program. I thought it was very good,” Davis said. “The biggest thing I took out of it was when one of them said that at one point during their prison sentence it clicked.”
The realization by that prisoner that he could and should turn his life around was the start of his return to society.
Davis said a weak economy is not helping former prisoners attempting to reenter the general public. He also said he thinks there should be more of an emphasis on educational and training programs.
For more information about the program, contact DeVincenzo at (551) 221-7983.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.