TaShena, 31

TaShena, 31

Meet TaShena…

In order to stay peaceful, strong, and spiritually centered, I use visualization. I also remember my Native American Culture. I choose to be better. I choose to go home. I choose to be free.

TaShena, 31
Incarcerated: 2 years
Housed: South Idaho Correctional Institution, Boise, Idaho

The most beautiful place on this Earth is my grandma’s reservation. The drive is a long two hours on a single lane highway. It has dangerous winding turns, and free-range live-stock. However, once you hit the clearing there lies a small valley nestled between majestic mountains. The air is fresh and crisp. It’s not something you get in populated towns or cities. It’s so quiet in the valley you can hear the morning dew dripping on the cold hard ground. I can feel the warmth spread across my body. The sun is slowly rising; shadows of night are dancing on the mountain wall, and the valley slowly awakens. I can feel my heart beat faster, chills run throughout my body, and I’m at peace. I’m home. 

Losing focus is easy to do, especially behind bars. The walls around me can be very hard, and I could either change for good or bad. In order to stay peaceful, strong, and spiritually centered, I use visualization. I also remember my Native American Culture. I choose to be better. I choose to go home. I choose to be free.

Sara, 21

Sara, 21

Meet Sara…

I’m trying to use this time to learn about myself and better myself. I am an addict. 

Incarcerated: 1 year
Housed: Southern Idaho Correctional Institution – Boise, Idaho

I’m trying to use this time to learn about myself and better myself. I am an addict. I grew up with my dad and two brothers, they are my best friends. I dropped out of school at 15 to help my dad. I was blessed with a great stepmom and five bonus sisters and brothers. They are my favorite people. I’m very family oriented. I have two and a half years left in here. Prison sucks and I’m trying to put a smile on somehow to brighten someone’s days.

Kylie, 33

Kylie, 33

Meet Kylie…

The images of my helpless baby keep me awake. I don’t like to get into relationships. I push people away. I’m still afraid of being hurt again.

Incarcerated: 4 years
Housed: South Idaho Correctional Institution, Boise

I gave birth to a beautiful premature baby girl. I was in a very bad relationship. A custody battle began between me and her father, Fernando, three months into her life. She had spent the night with him. We had court the next day to finalize custody. She was brought to me three hours before court. All but dead. We called 911. My older four kids were freaking out. She died in my arms seven times before the ambulance arrived. She was life-flighted and put in the ICU. She could no longer fight. X-rays and a toxicology screening said she had heroin, meth, and Nyquil in her system. Every bone in her body from her collarbone to her tiny toes was broken. She had crack pipe burns on her neck and was bleeding internally. That was when I literally lost myself. I stopped taking care of my kids and myself. I started working for really bad people. I became known as a Tax Collector. People who didn’t pay their debts got to meet me. I was a mean person. I was eventually caught with stolen items. I’m here on a burglary charge. The images of my helpless baby keep me awake. I don’t like to get into relationships. I push people away. I’m still afraid of being hurt again. I am ready to make friends and socialize. I hope to meet new people.

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