My name is Latoya Jenkins, I’m 31 years old, and I was born in Oakland, Ca. I’m the oldest of 10 children. I was raised by a single mother because my father passed away while serving in the U.S. Navy when I was 2 months old. That was very hard on my mother and she did the best that she could to raise us alone. When I was 15 years old, my mother passed away of Cirrhosis of the liver and that left me responsible for my younger siblings. I started to sale drugs to support us because I did not want us to be separated and thought that I was making the best decision at the time. That only lasted a while before CPS found out and we were separated. I was lost and didn’t know which way to go in life. I had no parents and after my siblings and I were split up, from the age of 15 to 23 years old, life was really dark for me. When this crime was committed, I had no intentions of anyone losing their life. I’m sentenced to Life without the possibility of Parole (LWOP) for first degree murder, first degree robbery, and first degree burglary I wasn’t present in the room at the time the shooting took place and I didn’t intend on Sam losing his life. This is my first arrest but it took me no time, once incarcerated to realize the seriousness of this crime. Every day I make amends to Sam. I’ve been in prison 8 years and it’s been a wake- up call for me. I have changed, grown, and educated myself on being a better me. I am active in my rehabilitation dong all that I can to be a changed woman. I found healing and forgiveness in prison. I’ve used this time to help other women avoid making the same mistakes I have. I have developed insight into my life’s events that eventually culminated in Sam’s death. Today I am motivated to continue on a path of change and constant growth so that I can be a benefit to my community and myself. Today I take full responsibility for my involvement in my crime but if given a second chance, I will be a positive and productive, law abiding citizen.