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Introducing

John, 26

Incarcerated:
2 years
Housed:
Reception and Treatment Center
Located in
Lincoln –– Nebraska
John, 26, a man with glasses and tattoos on his neck and arms, stands against a white cinder block wall.
July 24, 20252 min read

This is my way of turning my wrongs into rights and providing opportunities for those who want to better themselves, including myself.

Coming to prison this time made me realize how many people in here would love to learn and study auto mechanics but don’t have the chance or opportunity to go to school for it. I’m currently working on a plan to provide teaching or classes, either out of my own shop or possibly by bringing a program into the facility. This is my way of turning my wrongs into rights and providing opportunities for those who want to better themselves, including myself. I’m currently incarcerated on my second term. During my first sentence, I learned a lot about myself and what I wanted to do with my life. When I was released the first time, I started a high-performance auto shop in Omaha, Nebraska. I now own two. A few months after that, I founded my own car club. My father was a rally racer, so I’ve always been in love with motors and rally cars.

I was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico. My parents were divorced by the time I was two years old. Life in Caguas and Puerto Rico in general was tough. Poverty was a serious issue. Eventually, my father moved us to Miami, Florida. Fast forward, we ended up in Nebraska. It was hard. I was the odd kid out: small town, thick accent, no friends. The language barrier made things really difficult. Right now, I’m in super-max, so we have little to no communication with the general population or administration. I’m grateful for any help or support that can guide me in the right direction. Thank you for listening to my story.

Three people, a woman and two men, standing together on a tiled patio with lush greenery in the background.
A man with tattoos on his neck and arms stands against a green wall, wearing a grey tank top, grey sweatpants, and white sneakers.
A young man in a blue shirt and red pants sits on the roof of a house, with a blue Toyota car parked in front.
A mirror selfie of John, 26, wearing a white graphic hoodie with a leopard and crown design.
Portrait of three young boys in matching cream-colored outfits, one holding a baby in a matching bonnet and dress.
A young boy with light brown hair wearing a grey vest over a white shirt, featuring a yellow and blue name tag, sitting in front of a yellow background.
A man named John, 26, wearing sunglasses and a red shirt, with a tattooed hand resting near his chin inside a car.
A man with tattoos and sunglasses stands in front of a large eagle mural.
A man with sunglasses and tattoos rests his chin on his hand, wearing a black Polo shirt, a thick silver chain with a diamond-encrusted teddy bear pendant, and a gold watch.
John, 26, wearing a white t-shirt and blue pants, leans against a blue and white wall in an indoor skating rink.
John, 26, smiling and wearing a yellow and black camouflage jacket over a blue graphic t-shirt, stands next to an elderly woman in a blue and white patterned shirt.
A young man in a yellow and green camouflage jacket sits on the front of a silver Acura NSX parked on a roadside.

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