Ex con says prison reforms work
The news this week–and on countless other weeks–has been full of violent crime; murders and shootings in particular. A few days ago we were visited by a man who is no stranger to the gun. But unlike his brethren in the hospital or cemetery this man had plenty of time to think about the culture of violence from a unique perspective: the inside of a jail cell. For those willing to listen, here’s his advice.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
31-year-old Herman Lanza learned to read and write while behind bars at the Hattieville Correctional Facility. Recently released on parole, Lanza says prison has changed his attitude towards life.
Herman Lanza, Former Inmate
?I me deh gang bang you know and when I meh deh gang bang, I meh deh hurt people just fu colors and I see it that just fu hurt people fu colors no mek no sense. Because killing for we next black bredda for wah colors no mek no sense because he just wah dead and I wah kill he fu wah color or a fame and somebody just wah come and kill me. I no think da no fame right now fu kill nobody fu no color right now.?
?If you no gat love inna your heart, you no have nothing at all. I da wah ask everybody in society right now fu mek, like I meh deh dah prison and eh deh happen the same way, envy, jealously and everything deh happen out ya and in deh, nothing different. I woulda wah everybody just live up and stop kill up because another youth just dead Saturday.?
In 1993 Lanza was arrested in Belize City for attempted robbery using a tech 9 sub-machine gun. It would be his seventh conviction and the judge sentenced Lanza to fifteen years. Today, Lanza still proclaims innocence of the charge, which he says made life on the inside very difficult.
Herman Lanza
?When I first get fifteen years, I didn?t believe it. In my cell, I watch four corners, the whole wall, look up pan the ceiling and I picture myself in my cell and I talk to myself and I ask myself, I no deserve this. And while I deh ask myself this, all kinds of thoughts deh run through my mind. I think fu like kill myself because I done see whe pah I de get weak.?
Several violent incidents in prison have left Lanza with various physical ailments but somewhere in the chaos of incarceration, Lanza claims to have found God and thanks to the rehabilitation efforts of the Kolbe foundation, a plumber?s certificate.
Herman Lanza
?Da wah place right now weh I see, dah wah gift from God to send Koble Foundation, Mr. John Woods, dah Hattieville. It worst more better. It better to me because back inna the day, dah spoil beef, the hard rice, you can?t eat no better food. You no get no Kool-Aid, you de get salt water. I deh tell you I drink salt water back inna the day; salt water. And I have to drink that or else I wah dead. And Mr. Kolbe do something more good for the Hattieville Prison right now because he got programs, he got schools right now. They just done build a new school in the medium section, and it had programs everyday fu the inmates them, fu keep their mind occupied.?
With the help of his sponsor, Lanza hopes to begin working at his new trade within the month.
Herman Lanza lives in Belize City with his mother. If you would like the services of a plumber, you can contact him at 202-4563.
