Translator: Delia Cohen Reviewer: Ellen Maloney
(Applause) (Cheers)
Thank you guys for coming out to the TEDx event today.
My topic today is going to be basically about the bridge
between inmate, staff, and the public.
The faces that you see in here today are the faces you'll see in our future.
I wanted to talk to you and tell you a little bit about myself.
So, how did I become a correctional officer?
My mother and my father put me in situations where I could be successful,
and they always bred that into me.
You need to strive to do better each day.
I started my career off
with approximately 16 years doing armed security
within the housing projects within the Bay Area:
Acorns, Oakland, Geneva Towers,
San Francisco, St. Johns, Crescent Park,
and Richmond, just to name a few.
I started off as a child,
wanting to be a part of some major law enforcement agency,
and today I've fulfilled that by joining the California Department of Corrections.
In my 14 years here, I've learned quite a bit.
When I arrived here, I assumed that I was going to see the "worst of the worst"
from all the inmates that I've seen here, so I came in with that attitude.
They've got nothing coming; I'm not going to give them anything.
And at the end of the day, my job is on the line every day I come in here,
and my life is on the line every day I come in.
I want to go home the same way I came to work.
So, I worked everywhere in the prison.
Anywhere from AC, North Seg,
and these are all death row areas,
and they're the worst of the worst except for North Seg.
That's like your premier inmate that knows how to program,
no problems.
And I'm now down in Education.
I've been in Education for the last four years,
which brings me to say
I've seen quite a few people come in on the bus.
I was in Receiving and Releasing one day, working overtime,
and there was an inmate, he was pacing back and forth profusely;
he was just nervous.
Came from a level three pen; didn't know what to expect.
So, I walked up to him and I asked him, I said, "Hey, are you okay?"
He said, "Yeah," he said. "I just want to know what the programs are."
I said, "Well, what you do is tomorrow, I work in Education.
You come see me tomorrow,
and we'll see if we can get you on the right track."
So, he came over to me.
He seen me around about 1:30; I show up at work around 1:30.
1:30 to 9:30, and he beat me to work.
And he was standing right there, waiting patiently.
So he says, "Hey, you told me to come see you, you remember from yesterday?"
"I remember. I've got a good memory.
I said, "Let me turn you on to somebody."
So, that particular day, we had PUP, and we had Miss Jody that was in.
So, I turned to him onto Miss Jody,
and today he is a successful journalist with The San Quentin News.
(Applause)
I would like him to stand up.
That would be Ross, Tommy Ross, stand up.
(Applause) (Cheers)
Take the applause for yourself.
I just want to say I've gotten the chance to view these guys come in,
and they put the work in.
I see them go to class.
I see them come in asking questions on how to be better.
I see them striving to be better.
I see them put together self-help groups.
I see them put together work groups.
I've seen some of these guys start up programs,
and one of the guys that started up programs is here today, Troy.
He helped start a program.
He also got out after being incarcerated after about 20 some odd years.
That just shows that these inmates can rehabilitate themselves
and put themselves in a situation to be successful.
Likewise, I've not always been viewed prior to coming here as a good person.
I've had my own issues
but life has revealed to me
that everyone has a chance,
and it's what you make of that chance.
And I try my best to implement that with all of the inmates that I talk to.
I don't treat no inmate the same.
I treat them on an individual basis.
That way when you deal with an inmate you know exactly what you're coming from
because that's what they deal with, respect.
And they honor you when you are real.
Don't turn around and give them a fake answer.
You know, "Hey, can you tell me what time this class is showing?"
or "Are they going to have this class this evening?"
"Aw, no, no, no, I don't know."
But instead if you tell them "Hey look, I don't know right now but I'll find out."
They respect that; before you were just leading them on.
But I also wanted to say
being here with the California Department of Corrections
over the last 14 years
what I've realized is
that we have totally made a transformation
from the California Department of Corrections
to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
I see the rehab.
(Applause)
And I say again, these faces that you see today
will be the faces that you see in your community.
You know, I just ask that you also extend your hand when these guys come out
and show them the way to jobs, shelter,
a way to get finances,
so they can stay out so the recidivism rate stays down.
And also one last closing word from me.
As of when I retire,
which is a few years, maybe six, seven, eight years from now,
I'm a little, young guy
(Laughter)
Hopefully, I can set up a transitional home
for the incarcerated when they get out and point them in the right direction.
And that's my story.
Thank you.
(Applause)