🔵 By Mark Mey. Photo by lauragrafie.
Hi. I am Cambodian, was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. I am 33-years old and have been incarcerated since the age of 16. So I have been gone for 17 years and counting. I was convicted of 3 counts of attempted murder, use of a firearm and 3 counts of reckless endangerment, use of firearm. The judge sentenced me to 24 years in prison and 9 years on extended supervision.
Why is my story unique and different? Because I had to literally grow up in the prison system. I witness things that a teenager should never witness. When I first walked through the gates of a Maximum security prison I was petrified. I didn’t know what to expect. I was locked up with killers, rapists, robbers, and drug dealers etc.
Here I am at 17 years old thinking that I knew it all. But I found out quick that I had no clue. Through my years of incarceration I’ve come across some real brothers who taught me how to conduct myself in this prison setting. I will never forget them. I am progressing with my life. I’ve finally made it to a minimum security prison and hopefully within the next few years I’ll be at a work center so I can make some money working a real job. Yes, I’m in prison but I make it how I want to. I choose to be happy because what’s the point of being miserable. That does nobody good.