Transcriber: Delia Cohen Reviewer: Ellen Maloney
Infinite incarceration.
What in the world
does infinite incarceration have to do with infinite possibilities?
The irony this term emphasizes is the reality
our nation and state is facing with this incarceration epidemic.
And my personal, daily reality inside these prison walls,
serving a sentence of 85 years to life.
Infinite incarceration.
My name is Steven Vincent Price.
On July 5, 2000, I was arrested and subsequently sentenced
to 85 years to life under the Three Strikes Law.
May I first say that I am terribly sorry for what I put the person through
in my case.
Please forgive me.
I wish I could go back and change what happened on that day,
but I cannot.
Secondly, I'm sorry for letting my family down
and crushing their hopes for me.
I just wanted to curl up and go to sleep and never wake up.
While I was housed at a facility called Wayside SuperMax,
I met an instructor there named Hal Kemper.
Over the two years I was there, we became very close friends.
I learned a great deal of wisdom and discipline from him,
which changed my life forever.
I was amazed that many of the textbooks I read were being quoted by him,
right out of his heart.
I found this very honorable, and I was inspired to emulate it
in my own life.
One particular time Hal came to visit me
and was excited to hear of my progress.
But that week, I failed to practice,
so I had no new information for us to review together.
That broke his heart and I could feel his disappointment with me,
which in turn broke my heart.
From that time on, I never failed to have the lessons completed
or the memory portions for us to review together.
Hal said the joy he received was from experiencing my progress.
That was his reward, which in turn prompted him
to work harder on his own goals and pursuits.
Hal used to come and visit me, right from his work, wearing his uniform,
which oftentimes was saturated in manure and smelled ripe.
His business was a soil service.
To me, it was beautiful,
and I appreciated this man for such a commitment to me.
Hal passed shortly after I came to prison from county jail.
I'm 55 years old,
and I was recently diagnosed with cancer and suffered a major surgery.
The way the Strikes Law stands now,
and my case factors being what they are,
I will die in prison unless the statute is amended.
The profound impact
that folks like Hal Kemper have made in my life
have transformed this prison reality into an infinite possibility
for my continued growth and positive change.
Now, I'm reaching out
with all that I am and all that I have,
and I'm thankful for every opportunity
that presents itself, including this TEDx event.
I realize that I do have value,
that I do have a voice with much to say,
along with many other inmates.
We've been hearing a lot about The Three Strikes Law
in the news media.
When you folks are thinking about these things,
please be thinking about the inmates and their families
who are directly affected by these prison sentences,
and the profound impact
that education and relationships can make in their lives.
You have the answer.
You are the answer.
Be Hal Kemper to an inmate serving a jail or prison sentence.
You will have a profound effect in their lives,
just as Hal's was and his memory is even today in my life.
You will be surprised and enriched by this relationship,
and there is a real possibility of your relationship together
becoming closer than that of a longtime friend or family member.
Thank you for allowing me to share.
(Applause)
Thank you.