• Henry Steele 

 

GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS 

 

I AM INCARCERATED NOW FOR THE BETTER OF 33 YEARS. IM NOT PROUD OF THIS FACT BUT ITS MY CURRENT CONDITION IN THIS LIFE, UNFORTUNATELY. I OFTEN WONDER WHY THAT IS SO. ESPECIALLY WHEN I KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH SEVERELY. FROM THE AGE  OF ELEVEN YEARS,JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS WHICH MERELY SERVED AS A PLACE TO HOUSE ME, AWAY FROM SOCIETY AND IN THE PROCESS STUNTING MY EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.

 

IN 1991, I WAS SENTENCED TO A 1 YEAR TO 3 YEARS SENTENCE FOR ROBBERY, HAVING SERVED THE ENTIRE TERM. I WAS RELEASED IN THE SPRING OF 1994 AND ONLY ONE MONTH AND 28 DAYS LATER, I WAS ARRESTED AGAIN. I WAS CONVICTED OF WEAPONS POSSESSION AND SENTENCED TO 1 YEAR. I ALSO WAS ON PAROLE WHEN THIS CRIME HAPPENED. ULTIMATELY, I HAD TO SERVE 21 MONTHS ON RIKSRS ISLAND. AFTER HAVING SERVED THE TIME , I WAS RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION ON NOVEMBER 20th, 1995 AND ON NOVEMBER 27th, I WAS BACK ON RIKERS ISLAND, YET AGAIN.

 

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT ME DURING THOSE TIMES I OFTEN WONDER ? YES I GREW UP IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND WAS EXPOSED TO SOME OF THE HARSHEST REALITIES OF URBAN LIFE. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE EAST TREMONT SECTION IN THE BRONX, EVERYTHING WAS THERE TO BE EXPERIENCED. I WAS A TRUANT AND NEVER ATTENDED SCHOOL. ITS NOT THAT I DIDNT WANT TO , ITS THE FACT THAT I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY. SO, AS A RESULT ALL THE UNBRIDLED RAGE WITHIN ME, I HAD TO MEET REGULARLY WITH A ( COURT APPOINTED) PSYCHIATRIST. MY HOME ENVIRONMENT WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME AS A YOUNG IMPRESSIONABLE CHILD. I REMEMBER THE TOUGH TIMES WITH JUST MY MOTHER AND I. THIS WAS BEFORE SHE GAVE BIRTH TO MY SISTERS AND BROTHER. FOR WHATEVER THE REASONS WERE, MY FATHER WAS NEVER ACTIVE IN MY LIFE IN ANY POSITIVE WAY. HIS TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP WAS NOT AT ALL PLEASANT. DESPITE THISE HARSH CONDITIONS, MY MOTHER DID THE BEST SHE COULD AS A YOUNG MOTHER. HOWEVER, IT WASNT NEARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT ME , A HARD HEADED ADOLESCENT FROM RUNNING THE STREETS.

 

MY YEARS OF INCARCERATION HAS BEEN A LIVING HELL. I MUST ADMIT ALTHOUGH , IT HAS HELPED ME MATURE IN MANY WAYS AS IVE GROWN OLD AND IM READY TO LIVE PRACTICALLY. TAKING THE TIME TO HONE SKILLS THAT WERE DORMANT. SEE MYSELF AS A WHOLE NEW PERSON, BECAUSE LIFE IS REALLY WORTH LIVING. THE ERRORS OF MY YOUTH DOES NOT DEFINE ME SINCE IVE LEARNED TO OVERCOME MY IGNORANCE. THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE THAT IVE HURT DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY STAYS WITHIN ME ALWAYS. WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO MY HUMANITY AND TO THOSE LOVES I OFFER A SINCERE APOLOGY. 

 

PEACE , LOVE , AND BLESSINGS 

 

HENRY STEELE #99A2558

SHAWANGUNK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 200 QUICK RD

WALLKILL , NY , 12589