When a 16-Year-Old Is Locked Up in a Supermax Prison | Stickup Kid | FRONTLINE
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 12. 2014
- What happens when a juvenile offender is locked up in a super-maximum security prison?
"Stickup Kid" tells the story of Alonza Thomas - who, at age 16, was sent to adult prison after being charged with armed robbery shortly after California enacted a new tough-on-juvenile-crime law.
Alonza went on to spend more than a decade behind bars.
Learn more about Alonza here: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontli...
Viewers like you help make this journalism possible. Support your local PBS Station here: www.pbs.org/donate
Follow FRONTLINE:
CZcams: bit.ly/1BycsJW
Twitter: / frontlinepbs
Facebook: / frontline
FRONTLINE is streaming more than 200 films online, for free here: to.pbs.org/hxRvQP
Funding for FRONTLINE's CZcams channel is provided by the Knight Foundation. FRONTLINE is made possible by PBS and CPB. Major support is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Park Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation and Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.
Did that guy seriously just say that an armed robbery is the worst crime one could commit outside of murder? I mean, it's a pretty serious crime, but what about rapists? Pedophiles? Child abusers? Stalkers?
The fact that this was a minor being coerced by an adult never factored into this?
Donald duck supporter guaranteed horrible person maybe they should put his kids their too
hes the kinda guy to give the judge/court 1million to get his son out of a rape charge.
Alonzo used a gun, guns kill people, and his was discharged during the robbery, fortunately no one got shot. The use of a gun makes it aggravating.
@@tudorme7680 guns dont kill people do
He said dangerous. And yes armed robbery is quite possibly one of the most dangerous crimes one can commit in terms of morbidity. The risk that someone dies Is pretty high. Is it the most henius of crimes? No it is not considering the position this 16 year old was put in and the state of desperation most people are in.
Any kid committing an armed robbery should be punished by the law. However, sending a 15 yo for a 1st offense to a supermax prison is overkill.
Would you have the same opinion if the shop keeper was killed by the bullet that came out of the gun the 15yo was holding?
@@larealidad6695--There's enough crime going on that I don't have to imagine a different scenario. You're moving the goal post. He didn't kill the shopkeeper. In USA there are kids in juvenile facilities for killing their parents.
@@koolhandduke4087 a person does not point a gun at another person, unless they intend to shoot and harm or kill them. That is the first and number one rule you learn when you get trained in how to shoot a gun. NEVER point a weapon at another person, unless you intend to kill them. This "kid" took a gun and pointed it at a shopkeeper. That person will never live the same way again. His life is forever altered. Just like a rape.
@@msvitles --Linda you make valid points. Are you assuming he had weapons training? My guess is; he hadn't. The store owner's life altered, but not dead or shot. That's not an excuse for dude's actions, but as I stated before, his sentence, overbearing. I'm not opposed to punishment for his crime. In fact, I'll do you one better, had the store owner killed him during the robbery my feeling is he would have brought it on himself. There are juveniles in juvenile prisons for killing their parents. So either those kids belong in max security or this kid should have seen the same discretion in punishment, juvenile lockup. I recall a case in which 2 brothers (12 and 14) killed their father while he slept, then set the house on fire. Juvenile prison. Am I outta line to expect fairness and consistency from our justice system?
@@msvitles --Btw, your quotation marks around 'kid' suggest you don't feel he was a kid at 15. Is there a reason you feel he wasn't still a kid at 15? A grown up crime I'll agree, but 15 is still a kid nonetheless.
I watch documentaries like this a lot but… wow this one wrecked me. I actually cried. You can hear the pain and confusion every time he talks. They completely broke him.
Me too, I cried.
@@mariaashley87 you two need to stop being so fucking soft. he could have killed someone, and people that do that are not fit to continue living in society. I'm sure he feels bad for what he did but that doesnt change what he did to his victims. does anyone give a fuck what they think or are we going to continue "crying" for a criminal? I certainly am not nor ever will
He altered someone else's lifetime of peace and mental health. Get some perspective
I agree but that’s not what this comment is touching on. I think this comment is more directed to the fact that he was sent to an adult prison at such a young age and that broke him. Not that he didn’t deserve to be locked up, but that he didn’t deserve to be locked up in that magnitude which ended up having lasting effects on his undeveloped brain.
I'm sure the store clerk got over this in a few months, and sleeps perfectly fine now. Yeah it's needless trauma, which is sad. But in this specific circumstance, the punishment really didn't fit the crime.
Justice is not supposed to be so black and white. this boy was victimized himself.
Mr. Alonzo, you still look so young. I cried when I saw this. Then I saw what you did. They changed the law in several states because of you. You saved some children. Don't give up hope. I just saw that this was downloaded on Dec 17 2014. I pray you are well and happy.
I went to prison when I was 16 years old I did 6 years it was a dramatic experience it change me for the best and the worst but I understand what this dude is going through. I hope he gets it together. It was hard for me to readjust back to the real world but having family support or any type of support is helpful and a blessing. Now I’m doing good for my self and I have my FREEDOM
Traumatic experience for you*, I pray you are able to heal from your old journey into a beautiful new journey.
Omar Playa sending you love and encouragement young King. Keep that same mindset.
Great to hear that things are going well for you. Stay strong.
Salute your Atonement
God bless you buddy
At 15?? He did NOT have to do Federal time in Supermax!! He's from Cali, they could of just sent him to CYA. I have a friend who did the same thing at the same age. Did 6 years at YA, came out and now is one of the most successful and respected people in the community. Prison is no place for a kid. Period.
Right
Latlles Allen
My kid of 17 went to prison yrs ago for car theft it was called brockhill England tough jail shit in bucket no TV he later
Went to eight to eight dif prisons didn't learn him Winson green ramby glen parva eastward park etc
@@brendadrumm9708 wow man hope he’s doing better
He was in state prison which is arguably much worse depending on where you're at. (He was not lucky in where he landed)
I love how wonderful his family is and that they supported him and one another all through this time
He is truly BLESSED to have them
Bakersfield Police arrested three people Wednesday afternoon following a ShotSpotter activation in the 200 block of V Street.
Officers responded to the scene at 3:06 p.m., and a city of Bakersfield code enforcement officer saw an individual firing a handgun at an unknown target, according to a department news release.
The suspect, Alonza Thomas, 35, was followed by officers to a nearby residence. He then fled the residence on foot with Justin Griffin, 20, and a 16-year-old male juvenile, BPD said. All three were apprehended, according to BPD.
Thomas was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, resisting/delaying an officer and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Griffin and the juvenile were arrested for unrelated arrest warrants and resisting/delaying an officer.
While no shooting victim was found, several bullet strikes to a nearby building were, police said.
Sept. 24, 2020
Wonderful family. Yeah. Where was all the 'love and support' from this 'wonderful family' BEFORE he became a criminal?
@@djf0716 Some people never learn
@@yesthisisvic There was no money involved before
There's a lot about his time in prison, that isn't touched on. He was in prison for 13 years. He seen a lot and he did a lot. He had no business in a super max at 16 y/o. Very sad story.
Do the crime, do the tike
The lack of compassion of that prosecutor is beyond words...
Emir Osmanovic prosecutors District Attorney’s and judges don’t care about people they only care about convictions and win regardless if you innocent or guilty all they care about is the W to make their professional jacket look good
In case you've forgotten, the seriousness of crimes committed by juveniles and rising, lest you've forgotten Columbine and other school related shootings, the only difference those guys were never caught because they committed suicide. What's even worse is that many of these perpetrators in the court room lack any remorsefulness for what they've done.
Just suppose he shot and killed someone because the gun went off, maybe he never intended to kill but someone is now dead.....a husband, a brother, father, best friend won't be going home tonight.
Whew I thought it was just me he’s trash 🗑
Emir Osmanovic prosecutors never have any compassion
Ma1nguy Just stfu your comment was dumb asf school shooters MASS shooting compared to a armed robbery stfu
And the adult who scared him into committing the robbery should have been charged as well.
juanita mitchell makes me wonder if that was true.
We aren’t given any evidence only buddy’s word. So. I tend to not believe everything I hear. But that’s just me .
It's completely believable the kid did it out of fear. He probably would have ended-up dead, or being forced to do murder if he didn't change his mind. The funny thing is he would have likely gotten away with if he did kill the clerk.
Gang initiation I’m sure
Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He sounds like he is mentally delayed as well. I believe he was prayed upon
It's heartbreaking that Alonza is now on medication to help him cope, and he truly isn't himself after this unfortunate ordeal. This really has you appreciate life and how precious having a supportive loving family is. This tramatic experiences has scared him for the rest of his life, which all stemmed from a bad decision he made as a 16 yr old. I hope Alonza finds peace and some positive non threatening coping mechanisms so he can prosper as an adult.
hope this man is still doing good, that poem at the kind literally made me cry. shit was well structured too, clear message, full of emotion/experiance.
Today June 1, 2019 Saturday, May Father God Almighty, bless this man.
Came here bc of Ava Duvernay's When They See Us...thinking in particular about Corey Wise...
Having empathy for your fellow man at his lowest point, especially your enemy, is key to true inner peace.
That includes people like Donald Trump.
I pray that our Father blesses this man and Korey Wise. For I am not built to withstand the test they endured.
JoAnn Mendez Amen
@@R-Will very well spoken
Today August 17th, 2019 bless this man. May God forgive him, may he forgive himself and find the love and support he needs.
13 years and then sent to a Max at 15? I seen grown ass men check in at those facilities smh Shit is a zoo. I pray this brother is doing ok. These judges and prosecuters are out their minds 🤦♂️
They racist asf
@@princeolowu3992 Don't play race card. Don't be stupid. They just don't give a F -- gotta go play golf at 2 pm.
@@princeolowu3992 Yeah, the democrats have been holding black folks down for decades. Hillary Clinton loved using "super predator" to describe them and Joe Biden was responsible for the crime bill which led to accelerated mass incarceration.
Lmfao, I pray he's taking it up the ass every night by big Bubba the cell boss
Those 13 years of torture has permanently scarred this young man....no matter how many years he is free.....he will never ever adjust to society....the one thing you can never regain is time....those child hood years is what shapes and molds you into an adult...it's what creates your character.....and the mere fact that the system really put a 15/16 year old kid in an adult max security prison with his first offense is beyond me.....he didn't kill anyone or even get anything and the fact that he was forced to do it! What happened the person who forced him to do it? Man this is a cold CRUEL world....
Don’t commit crimes
It was probably a family member and they are probably in jail now too or dead because these people are fucking incapable of functioning in society and can only cause pain and suffering theyre lucky they are allowed to live in prison with the percentage of crime committed by that demographic.
It’s also possible that if he didn’t go away he could have eventually killed somebody. No one knows. But if you commit a crime you must pay the consequences
Dude. He was ALREADY MOLDED. BY SHITTY PEOPLE AROUND HIM INTO SOMEONE THAT IS IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN ACTIONS,HE WASNT GONNA SUDDENLY BE AN ACADEMIC IF HE DIDNT GO TO PRISON AT 16. HE PROBABLY WOIODVE ENDED UP SHOOTING A BOY HIS AGE WHO LOOKED JUST LIKE HIM AND LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. THATS HOW THE STORY USUALLY PLAYS OUT. Only a fucking moron believes this myth of "kids"(teenage ACTUAL FULL TIME GANGBANGERS!!) Who could've been anything if they hadnt heen locked up by "the man". No they wouldnt have, they were raised and influenced by shitty people around them in a shitty culture,to BE SHITTY. Maybe if people are willing to discuss the SHITTY,SHITTY,WICKED SHITTY CULTURE that makes kids into people that end up in prison,that might change,but it wont change until then. Be a grown up.
@@john22jade Wow what a stupid and asinine comment. Yes people shouldn't commit violent crimes, no one here is saying they should. But a 15 year old shouldn't do 13 years in an adult supermax for his first offense, that's absolutely insane.
Him running away from home cost him 13 years in jail. I feel so sad for what happened to him
Seeing that after so many months of being out he didn't resort to crime, and not in prison again made me really enjoy this young man's story even more. Thank you for not losing hope.
Seeing the family eating shrimp cause he wanted it made me cry. The way they just made it seem like he never left. We only saw a bit of it too…that’s love. ❤
He definitely has a good and loving family looking out for him.
This was heartbreaking! He needs therapeutic help to detox from whatever meds they pumped into him!!! So damn sad!!
Sorry to say there is no real help for him. He went to prison as a kid and they abused him physically and mentally. I know i better never go to jail, i am not made for that.
This is there response to how they feel about anybody who becomes a victim to the system in place. Medicate & hope he returns so they can keep there jobs.
Andrea White I cried like a Baby watching this😢💯.
Yes AW..he has to do it slowly reduce bit by bit so he don't suffer acute side effects..n get himself w nice lil girlfriend lol..
Hes lucky he has a good family..I must say that's a blessing..but how can he not be messed up?
That was wrong..he made a mistake yes..but that was too harsh..you wouldn't keep an animal like that
The people that put his ass there need medication. They need to get him off that shit. His answer to "Are you taking your medication?" wasn't where I saw a problem, it was that sad, heartbreaking look in his eyes. Kid looks like he literally just wants to scream out loud and have a meltdown. I say get him off all that shit and let him get it out, then focus on keeping him on the positive. This makes me so angry.
To put a young man like this in Super Max where he automatically has to check in is incomprehensible.Most guys in SuperMax have been in and out of many prisons and are usually violent,to put this young man in a SuperMax prison is like putting a jr high school football player in the NFL, he will get crushed.The high and mighty judge would sing a different tune if the young man was his son!
Don’t commit crimes
Yes indeed they would be behind the scenes with other drugs and prosecutors cutting crazy deals! I think all judges should have to spend a week in a supermax or even a regular prison to see what they're putting people into! I bet the sentences would change after that experience! Especially in today's realm of psychology and mental health
Yeah when you are good, you are good. Age is just a number. Look at Messi at the age of 16 he was playing in the champions league. Or Max Verstappen at the age of 16 he was driving a F1 car.
@@kennyhardy1884 dont commit crimes
@@onthat07 yea,and don’t be accused of committing crimes,remember every one that’s locked up isn’t guilty,but some people have no sympathy at all for a situation until it involves them or someone they care about!
Welcome Home Alonza. This made me cry for you and your family. Nothing but peace and love... You belong here! Stay strong.
He's been touched and traumatized about something. The lawyer was foul for ruining his life
I totally agree. It seems he was raped in prison. His childhood was destroyed. I pray he doesn't commit suicide later in life. He needs help.
@milkmandan77 bahaha in my country some kid robbed the same store like 5 times and a different one two times so he got caught hmm he got like 5 months because first timer, he didn't have gun but he had a knife, he was 19 years old, and this is like from a month ago...
@milkmandan77 don't procreate jackass!
@@trevorlefiles8633 You can't even write proper sentences. Go back to school before trying to be a smartass.
Trevor LeFiles how are you trying to check someone, but you can’t use proper english or grammar?!! However, if I’ve deciphered your poorly written comment correctly, you said if your told to be a monster...... you become one. Well what do you think happens when a CHILD goes to prison? They’re treated and programmed to be like animals, soooooo.......? I’m pretty sure your dumb smart azz can figure it out the rest. 🤦🏽♀️
He was basically taken advantage of
Japaulus Hall right bro so sad
He lucky he still alive. Kid pulls a gun on me and I have one......he is dead
Wow what a heart breaking case. No way in hell did he deserve to spend all those years in a cage in an adult prison. I hope he finds peace and I hope we correct our "corrections" system
_"When the gun went off it slapped me to attention."_
You mean you weren't paying attention while attempting to pull off an armed robbery?
"Why is it important to give other people hope?"
"I told you, because i don't have any" Damn bro hope you doing good
That comment almost broke my spirit.
right? that shit hit HARD
Losing hope is like waiting on a slow death. That’s not good
AMEN!!🙏🙏🙏
He is an adult but he is still a kid, just imagine how his mentality was when he was 15... this system is no good..
His high school education should've continued while incarcerated so at least he would've had a high school diploma even though locked up and the years would've gone by faster
@@Ma1nguy 😂😂they couldn't care less about the education you receive insidd
“Goodbye to that soul, that never was a kid” some hard words
Glad to see a prison documentary about how difficult it is, especially for young men who find themselves in that environment. Unfortunately America has made incarceration a business so people profit from every aspect of it and no politician would ever want to be seen as going soft on crime. Rehabilitation is frowned upon!
Why is rehabilitation frowned upon in America though and not other developing countries ?
@@flamingforce5130 Because we have privatized prisons. The companies that run them only profit when the beds are full. The US has the highest recidivism rate of felons of any developed country because it's soley about punishment and not rehabilitation.
@@B_Bodziak interesting thanks didn’t know that . I’m from Australia
Well not everyone can be rehabilitated especially when they're in their early twenties....
The lives they take away when they kill, are those lives reinstated ??? Criminals must be executed period..trial must last 2 months max, and immediately sent to heaven to face divine charges..
That man talking in sitting in the chair needs to be locked up to see if he would still say what he says after spending time in there
Or even better, one of his juvenile relatives... See how fast he would back track in that situation. He is a prick, no doubt.
They were supposed to send him to juvenile authority until he hit 18 and then send him to the adult system at least to a medium facility
Look what they did to Korey Wise of exonerated Central Park 5. I think he was 16. For false rape charges
Korey wise trail was a year after he was falsely charged with rape ete...a yr after that he actually was 17yr when convicted for those crime he had nothing to do with
I was locked up for a few years when I was young. Now its 25 years later- all 100% crime free- and I'm still institutionalized. I recently bought my own house and I live alone. It has a nice living room, dining room, kitchen, etc. But I put a chair in my bedroom where I also have a tv, and now I spend 95% of my time at home in my small bedroom instead of on my nice couch in my large living room. I just got so used to being in a small, enclosed area that I'm much more comfortable in my little bedroom than anywhere else in my house.
Whatever you went through young man I am privileged to hear your story in your strength to speak freely again. I can see many things you've been victimized by and with but no young soul that your heart is still gold.
They broke his spirit may you find peace
His spirit was evil so it needed to be broken.
@@alisondenu5317 fuck you he wasnt evil every man deserves mercy in this wicked life
You do the crimes you do the time Good for you You got caught Cry like a baby cause you can't go home Get a fuc ing job
@@alisondenu5317 He was a 16 year old who had a gun pulled on him after eating food offered to him by an adult I truly don't think he is evil he just had no other choice😣
To hell with him
This is totally sad. I have done time. A few times at that, I could not imagine doing 14 years at the age of 16....16? Are you SERIOUS!!!!!
Tim Pande This Cory I'm sorry that you had to endure that and I hope that you've come out better though... Just because you've done time DOES NOT make a person always horrible and that pisses me off... ❤️❤️
God bless you. Im getting to the point where i don't think anyone deserves to go to prison. Its hell on earth. Unless u just get off on hurting innocent people and its been proven without a shadow of doubt then thats the place for you but other than that nah. ESPECIALLY kids. Craziest thing ever!
black man in america..its what it is
Racist ass shit
Marquita Shiver what is u talkin about prison is to hard and cruel ??
God please bless this young man with peace.
Dear Alonza, Your story touched me deeply. I hope you know that you are not alone and that any feeling that comes from within, it is ok to feel. Life is hard, but the way I see it, you will ultimately have to decide if it will make you stonger, or if it will make you weaker. I hope your story inspires others to make better choices when they are confronted with a life changing decision. I hope you are inspired by your own strength. My heart is with you, take care of yourself; mind, body, and soul. - Daniela
This shit sad...im just now seeing this in 2019..i hope u doing good bro 🙏🏾
This* you fucking moron
@@adventureswiththecrazyvet "grammar"
An idiot correcting another idiot 🤔
Chris grammAR you’re an idiot. You’re trying to correct somebody.Learn how to spell
@@InspiredxxJazzy or better yet, on social media... why is he even trying to correct ANYONE? Oh! I know why... it's to deflect from the message! I'm glad you guys got on his butt!
More like corrupting service, instead of Corrections services. He's stuck in time, he'll forever be 15. I Pray he breaks through🙏
Watched this in college my opinion is he never even made it to 15, did you see how he wrote that letter, in my opinion he’s clearly mentally handicapped and was taken advantage of by the system. Obviously he did something wrong but he clearly what’d the mental comprehension of like a 2nd grade.
I went to prison at 16 for murder in corpus Christi tx. Got ten years on my seven year feds came and got me. They gave me twenty years for organized crime. I've got out at 42 years old. I'm 43 years old an out doing good. I look at life totally different now.
This was so heart-breaking. I feel like Im going to throw up.
When he said his mom was about to get a writeup for the knife, that shit made a tear come out
Mannn..REAL SHIT
Institutionalized at its finest.
Broke me all the way up!!! 😥😥😥
That smug man, sitting in a room full of books. The irony.
A whole 💩
i gotta hand it to you.. this is probably one of only a few occasions where someone actually used the word irony correctly and to great effect. nice job!
and i also agree with frog fur. judges, prosecutors, cops.. they should all spend at least 3 months in jail or prison as part of their educational training. they need to understand what they're punishing people with. they need to understand the treatment they're inflicting upon their patients. the way it is now, it's like a doctor prescribing a medicine to someone without ever understanding what that medicine really is or does. it's barbaric. it's alchemy. it's stupid. there is no science in it. there is no structure to it. there is no meaning in it. it's just savagery.
@frog fur yeah you're probably right. i say three months because it's long enough to make a serious impact in their life and give them real time to think about what it really means to be incarcerated. the first month is the hardest, but the second month is when it really starts to sink in.. the third month is when you begin adapting to it and it begins to change who you are deep down inside.
a single month just isn't long enough, in my opinion. not for them to really get a feel for what they're doing to the people they shove away into a cage.
it changes the punishment from just being another random name for some random amount of time on another list, to it being a real person locked away in a real place. i feel like there's just a disconnection between prisoners and prosecutors.. like they just don't really feel what they're doing is real, you know? like they're just playing a video game or something.
@@flappy7373 try 6 years man it was hard time
Smug white man.... let’s be truthful- I’m a white housewife who has just found out how ducked up America is and the court system against young black men. I have a 17 yo son.... Why are we doing this to such promising youth?
This is one of the most inspiring documentaries I have ever watched. No matter what happened in your life, you can still start over and re-build yourself.
Bakersfield Police arrested three people Wednesday afternoon following a ShotSpotter activation in the 200 block of V Street.
Officers responded to the scene at 3:06 p.m., and a city of Bakersfield code enforcement officer saw an individual firing a handgun at an unknown target, according to a department news release.
The suspect, Alonza Thomas, 35, was followed by officers to a nearby residence. He then fled the residence on foot with Justin Griffin, 20, and a 16-year-old male juvenile, BPD said. All three were apprehended, according to BPD.
Thomas was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, resisting/delaying an officer and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Griffin and the juvenile were arrested for unrelated arrest warrants and resisting/delaying an officer.
While no shooting victim was found, several bullet strikes to a nearby building were, police said.
Sept. 24, 2020
i myself went through similar experiences as brother Alonza Thomas Jr , it is a constantly battle between you and behind those walls to keep your sanity at 16 years old who was pressure into a adult world. He still a child no matter what he did. Now maybe he will be guided in the right path and be able to have a prosperous life . May God continue toi look over this young man. I wish you the best Mr Alonza Thomas Jr.
My nephew is in supermax been there since he was 17 he is 26 now I pray he gets parole when he goes up next year. This shit is sad
@@kirk4156 shit I hope not fuck the statistics
@@kirk4156 Not a fact. That's your prediction.
@@LOUISVILLECARDINALS Thats messed up. What did he do >> I mean what was he convicted of?
@@landychapman3 he has robbery charges like I told him you do the crime gotta do the time but the guards have beaten him up bad a few times I'm just scared for him he has epilepsy real bad
@@LOUISVILLECARDINALS That is some messed up shit. I know once you are inside there is no justice - warden controls everything and act like they didn't know people getting beaten, stabbed, etc. You gotta do a gofund me; high power lawyer is only way to get him help...
Alanza your story touched my heart. I pray you are well now & forever
Tonia Renee thank you 🙏🏾🥰
@@alonzathomas4992 this touched me also, I'm happy to see you free. Just shared this on fb too. This system is corrupt. Praying for your future! ❤
Latashia Brown thank you 🙏🏾 🥰🥰🥰
Alonza may you continue to heal....get the help you need and whoever did you wrong will pay in their own way. I'm glad your ok. I Love you♥️if noone has told you lately. Keep your head up. I've been there.
It’s a miracle that he is alive...
Armed robbery is one trigger pull from someone being dead. "Get me out of this and I promise I will be a good boy". You are lucky you aren't dead. Your cell is better than a coffin.
4 years later .. I hope your doing good bro
He's mentally different. but, he made it. and..... he has a Great support system. he didn't come out homeless like most. he was released into Love.
Nicole Voorhies
Are you family?
Yea , I agree.. I thought the same thing
You made me think about my nephews and they are your age when u went in and this story scares the hell out of me! Thank you for your story and I wish u all the best! Stay strong
What a loving and understanding family.
They messed him up.thats a crime also!!
He needs to be reprogrammed. Smart young man, but he's in shock & needs to come off them meds.
Just Ty If the meds are helping I see no need. Meds can be a great tool to use for mental illness. Not forever, but for a while, until he can get balanced. I have severe manic depression and before meds all I could think about was killing myself. After the right meds I'm now stable, working, and excersising.
SlipperyDavid I can agree w/ your opinion
I think he was molested in prison.
You know it was your protectors the democrats that created and profited from these laws right?
Just Ty you need to let me come home
Made me cry. I know the torture of being locked up. For a child that’s just too hard to take.
So sad seeing him broken to pieces..hope he get it together..his movement and those eyes says it all..he got great family tho..
That guy that sent him to the store should have also gone to prison.
Years ago a man who was the stepfather to his girlfriend sons. This happened in New York he forced her and her sons robb people. After he caught when the cops talked to the children they found out that the stepfather was abusive .
Absolutely 👍
If the guy is real .
That guy who allegedly “made him do it” probably doesn’t even exist, tbh... I still think they sentenced him too harshly given his age, but I doubt that excuse is legitimate and I doubt that guy he’s talking about is a real person or that his excuse about being forced is the truth. He’s trying his best to create sympathy for his situation with that part of it. He certainly knew what he was doing with the robbery and the motive was money
@@cootycatcher6608 Yep finally someone else has a little sense to not just swallow his excuse whole without suspicion about the existence of this alleged other man. People who get caught by the cops in an armed robbery will often be terrified and try claiming that some other person “made them do it” usually entails a story of some other person who apparently pulled a gun on them and threatened them into committing the armed robbery for them... right before they allegedly hand over a loaded firearm to them to commit the robbery with... make any sense??? “Do this armed robbery or I’ll shoot you dead!!! Ok now here take this loaded gun and do it!!” .... it’s quite a far fetched unlikely excuse that is pretty common in cases like this. This other person almost certainly doesn’t exist... he just did the armed robbery trying to make it on his own and wanted to get easy money. Still he’s a kid but the fact that he’s lying about it still and not owning up to the responsibility is troubling.
The damage the system has done to this man almost had me in tears. He's stronger than most people running free in this world, honestly.
Exactly. Those judges and prosecutors made that little black boy rob someone at gunpoint!!! Maybe a little timeout in the corner should be the proper punishment.
rofl
Lebogang Ramasodi
And this man was in jail only for farting in church? Absolutely not. This "the system hurt this poor prisoner" is so damn lame, he was a criminal and that is why he went to jail, he was not an innocent angel that the system forced into jail. If he did not go to jail he would have been a preacher at a welfare institution today? Very little sympathy for people like him.
Philip Koen But the story is about the justice system, and him being tired as an adult.
Devon Warren
Robbing someone at gunpoint, let alone firing a shot, is an adult or a kiddie's crime? He did not steal a lollipop, he was very close to kill a man.
The only important thing is to get people like him off the street so that law abiding citizens can be safe. It is because every criminal wants to dictate how they want to be treated that crime is so damn high. Time to stop handling people like him as if they are fairies with satin wings.
Most of the hardened criminals started their criminal activities when very young yet they never learned their lesson.
Powerful. I pray he is doing well
There is a 64 year old man that has been in jail in the state of Connecticut since he was 9 years old. Please, world we can not forget him.
THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF TORTURE BY SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND HOW LONG UNTELL SUBJECTS GO MAD AND OR COMMIT SUICIDE
I agree
I absolutely agree to this comment
Yes, that's the truth.
WHO NEEDS CRIMINALS ANYWAY?
My brother that is exactly what it is
Kids should never be locked up in prison unless the word murder is somehow involved
David Bailey stupid to say
Yeah nah just let them rob and shoot up stores, that's reasonable.
And what do you call pointing a gun at a person? I believe they call it attempted murder. You should never carry a gun unless you are of sound mind with the reason to protect your life or the lives of other people. When you pick up a gun and aim it at someone who is not threatening you, that is attempted murder.
pointing a gun is just holding someone at gun point or armed robbery, not attempted murder.
If you have ever had training in gun safety, the first lesson you learn is you NEVER point a gun at someone unless you intend to kill them, hopefully in self defense. Pointing is indication of desire to kill, or attempted murder.
I'm so lost for words. This is truly sad. I would love an update on how him & his family is doing.
Woow I'm in tears. I hope he does well with the rest of his life.
I'm straight crying.. My heart goes out to him so sad hearing these stories. I can't even imagine. Teaches me to be more mindful of my blessings and things I complain about. He will be apart of my prayers.
This is a disgrace! You don’t put a misguided kid in a supermax prison for adults and cage him like an animal.
His suicide attempts, high levels of anxiety and panic attacks were treated with a handful of pills. There was no real help for this child. He wasn’t a hardened criminal or gang member. He did not have what it takes to survive in that environment. He was a child! And this was child abuse.
But he can make it. He can defy the odds set by the system that set out to break him down- by treating him like a caged animal. By the grace of God he can make it!
He's black.
Child abuse indeed.
We can only hope & pray that he has enough support to overcome the obstacles in life he will face.
I notice a pattern here: zero sympathy for the actual victim and an over abundance of sympathy for the perpitrator, even calling him "the victim". Let me guess, all of you self identify as liberals?
@@nicknack8459
Mane ish real out here & if you never had to survive in a beast of a system & an environment thats harsher than being born with cancer, than dont pass no judgement bout a life you know nothing about. All of us have certain things we go thru that we have to face & may or may not be able to overcome. This life is as uncertain as death & no pun intended but this was not about the victim or playing the victim. Ppl die everyday & in a messed up way for reasons we cant explain. Sometimes you gotta play the cards you were delt, sometimes you win, sometimes you fold. Some ppl die early for others to be taught a lesson. Its a cruel world & there is no sympathy for the weak & only the strong survive when push comes to shove. If the world went to hell today would you be strong enough to survive & protect your family from insurmountable threats that may come your way. If you consider yourself a God than pass judgement, if not than consider yourself being judged.
Hope you are doing well Alonzo. Praying for you. You are a good man with a great family
I feel you man. As a young man I was arrested at 18 and spent 12 years in and out of prison. The counselors don’t realize that even though the sentence stops the feelings it created keep snow balling on. I’m almost 40 now and have ptsd, anxiety problems, I have trouble talking to people and being in groups. I have nightmares almost every night about being arrested or trying to get out of jail or use the phone.
You made your choice to comitt crimes. Not once but on several occasions. Obviously you don't learn. And now your complaint you have nightmares and PTSD. What about the nightmares and PTSD of your victims. You made your bed!!!
Not all crimes involve other people or victims genius. Not complaining trying to relate. I served my time and am now a better person. It’s part of my life story and am not ashamed!! Piss off
I hope Alonza is doing well and healthy and happy. He is amazing and what happened is unfair. I hope is adjusting to life outside with his family ok now. Thanks for sharing your story Alonza.
Sabine Lena 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
What happened to the clerk was unfair had he been over 18 he would've done at least 20 because of the stolen firearm and use of a firearm to commit the crime so 13 was a good deal
I wish I had family like that. I’m happy he still has His smile.
more powe 2u alonzo, we all make mistakes in life and some of us pay dearly for those mistakes but not only did you learn from those mistakes, you became a better person not just for yourself and your family but for everybody that has gone through what you have lived through, you try to educate inform and warn others especially the youth from making the very same mistakes that made your life a living nitemare, believe it or not you encourage me todo better in life even though im 44yrs old. GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER, I PRAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE VERY BEST. THANX ALONZO GOD BLESS
🙏❤️ for this young man
He's got a real great mother, that's the real thing about him
my heart Cry's for this young man
mines too 😢
Jan Hill thanks 🙏🏾🥰 I’m much better though 💯
I just hope he be ok i swear he seems like he was a gud young man
God bless you Alonza. Hope you're doing well and keep ya head up bro.
Being a store clerk is always a risky job.
Prison can really mess you up. This dude spent time in the box.
13 years is extremely excessive for what he did. Shouldn't been more than 3 years in my opinion.
yeah armed robbery and discharging the gun and possibly shooting someone, lets make it 1 1/2. the bullet didnt land.
I recommend community service at the most !
@@galdionite123 he was forced to do a robbery he wasn't bad at all, 3 years in juvenile detention what he should have gotten... In my country under 15 years wouldn't even get charged... 16 year old would do probably 9 months after he would be 18 years old or maybe that's too harsh
Yeah....if he'd of raped a toddler....they would've high fived him....oh no wait....that was an older well known rich guy...my bad....🙃
How exactly did u calculate 3 years?
Respect to you young man.
Keep learning and surround yourself with those who love you.
It doesn't matter where you start it's where you finish that matters.Jules
Uh so we just gonna watch this like he isn’t mentally challenged?? He shouldn’t be there , he has the mind of a child, he is gonna be lost in system. His speech isn’t even all there...
I thought he was. Thanks for confirming it, I'm like is this dude slow?
The speech and mouth rolling is a permanent side effect of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. He is forever damaged by that incarceration.
@@mizantoinette73 OK, thanks for clearing that up!
His gun ain't slow
GMG true that. He clearly isn’t all there mentally
The prison system is sickening. To lock a child away in self confinement for half of his life, then say here you go, you’re free without any type of rehabilitation or adjustment to the outside world is nerve racking. It’s painful to watch . I hope he is doing well and continues his poetry.
This is so messed up, I hope he is able to turn his life around and be happy
What he did was wrong. Thank God he did not get killed by the store clerk. It’s a tough place to put a kid in though. The support system in place by his family, is priceless.
I see no rehabilitation, just torture. No wonder most become recidivist
his poem was really powerful👏👏👏
Very, if I could help I would give him some music to write to just to help him vent. I saw this documentary where in Jamaica they have music programs in prison and the inmates have a studio and instruments and all. I feel like it should be apart of our prison systems art classes more schooling like a normal life but behind bars to help them still hold some sense of being a human.
shifu splinter, if you want to act like a "gangsta" rap artist do your time. we don't do enough for the kids that stay out of trouble. why special treatment if you go to prison? go to prison, get free college? f*ck that !!! don't believe every "story" criminals come up with. done time myself. so ya, i know.
1105kevin his poem if you wanna call it that was fuckin dumb.
1105kevin I agree cool and peace to him x
I don’t know what prison is like, but I completely understand the isolation Alonza talked about. When I was growing up my very paranoid mother seemed to think every non-Chinese adult was Ghislane Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, if you get my drift, and my father was distant and basically bowed and scraped to her. Was practically a prisoner in my own house until high school. Most kids outgrow invisible friends by the time they start preschool or kindergarten. I was still talking with mine at 11. Full fledged conversations exactly like he described, so I can understand how isolation can cause one to go crazy. FWIW, it did help me cope
Poor baby..blessing to you n fam
Those prosecutors are very aware and conscious that they are sentencing little children to a life of rape and I believe they get off on that. They are the real criminals. They are derelict if they don't know this
It's sad bro but can happen to anyone.
The very real monsters of the world indeed. And will pay a bigger price in the end to the most high who holds all power. So sad that people don't fear the lord.
@beverly ledbetter when they are children of a different racial Community they are considered babies yet when within other communities they are considered criminal masterminds with the foresight to know all sorts of things including what they think they can get away with or not. Let's not forget most of them are living within a demographic that was destroyed by narcotics strategically placed in their communities by government agencies which is all a matter of public record now to continue the assault leftover by Jim Crow laws and slavery. This is an ongoing oppressive assault. These children are raised by parents who were raised by parents who were raised by parents who strategically suffered oppression for over a century that still goes on literally to this day and thus these 14 year olds who practically raised themselves I not mentally developed beyond the average 7 year old. They are not emotionally and or socially intelligent enough to understand the world outside of what they've been force-fed. And now that you know the truth I employ you to go do more research and possibly write a book or create a documentary about this. Those who know and do or say nothing are co-conspirators
Yes it part of the plan to turn young boys out
Yes they are fully aware you would be suprise who is involve in this scheme to turn young black man into punks
I really hope he's doing good now
Same
frontline needs to do an update
jay r looks like they might have broke his jaw
agree
jay r Seems he was gay before he attempted the robbery, at the big homies house.
My heart goes out to you Alonza
I admire his mom. She’s a strong woman. 🖤
Scott Gilleland you’re a piece of sh*t. 💩
@Scott Gilleland absolutely correct
What happened to this young man was a living hell on earth, a nightmare that you cannot wake up from. I cannot even imagine how he suffered for 13 years in solitary confinement. Let's not for a moment forget the victim in this story and what he had to indure. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. A lot of heinous crimes committed by juveniles before him led up to California to change the laws to reflect the new reality of juveniles committing serious crimes and not be able to send them away. He was the first one under the law to be sentenced and I wish him a good life but let this story remind people that they will face some very serious time if they commit crimes against humanity!
+James Farrell Amen!
People in cages is either for the worst or for the worst nothing good ever come out of it now I agree people should be punish but this systematic system has to change on how we punish people
@@ezequielmartinez2772 had he not used a gun and shoplidted food or clothes he'd have got probation and returned to the family he loves but ran away from because he wanted to be a man before he was you don't think that clerk was traumatized
@@davidwoermansr This is a 15yrld genius!! You must have been raised by a bunch of hyenas. Damn how pathetic you must live to feel a child should be locked up as an adult!
I hope he reads this. "Im proud of you getting out the belly of the beast" go forth and do great and wonderful things
With all the sadness behind this young man's story, with all the so-called unfairness, THESE are the examples we should show our children, especially when they are of teenage age, so it can affect them into knowing, second chance are rare, consequences are real, THIS REAL!!!... I hate it for him, but I have young sons, who sometimes think I talk too much, because I care to not see them in these circumstances, we would be doing time together, and knowing that they possibly could be in there without me helping them, man that would break me down in EVERY way... so as a society, we need to imprint these stories in their minds...
Damn , this story rekindled me of Korey Wise, I'm praying for you young Brother, these devils will pay dearly ALL OF THEM.
Remember kids: 13% = 52%
I dont think that's working out to good for this devil,and it wont work out for you to good either,hopefully you will test us devils and find out for your self and society dont have to pay for you in prison for the rest of your life!
Not really korey wise never did the crime this guy did
Rashad Brown probably just got out of the joint. just another lowlife blaming the white man for his poor choices. Don't worry Rashad soon you'll be back in prison with all your relatives. We are laughing at you
Lol another black mad at the white man. Its all you think about : how are you going to get us back. Why not get away from us forever and go back to Africa?
Doing two years straight was enough for me. So I can imagine how 13 feels
I hope you stay out Bro
Thank u
come to the UK dude, you would of got a $50 fine, our justice system is a joke
Wish you the best brother! Prison is a nightmare
Im a HUGEEE introvert. Id take solitary confinement EVERY DAY. Wouldnt have to talk to anyone... God that would be heaven LOL.
“She’s gonna get a write up she not suppose to have a knife” 😭😭😭
Boi zesty
I had a psychotic break and got myself arrested due to some pretty serious charges and was sent to jail, I spent two weeks in jail being crazy until they transferred me to the mental hospital but the jail experience I’ll never forget, it really is something you don’t want to experience and I didn’t even get to see how bad it really was
This is absurd thirteen yrs for a kid wit no priors this system sucks
What if it was your mothers chest that gun was pushed into ?
Derrick Gibson DEMOCRATS
This is sad you can see his mind has been damaged aGod bless him deliver him