THE TALE OF THREE BOYS

14. August 2009 by Rev Young.

I spend much of my time, on this blog, telling tales of injustice, abuse and broken systems.  Today I have a different purpose.  On Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 10 PM EDT, a story will air on Prime Time Crime,that gives face to all that we advocate for.  It will cover the need for attorney representation for juveniles at all times and from the beginning of questioning.  It will cover the issue of false confessions and how investigators sometimes build a case around a confession instead of using physical evidence.  Even how they take the confession and cause the evidence to confirm the their statements.  You will see the face of mental illness and tragedy.  You will see the face of the falsely accused.  You will see a producer try to pull pieces together to raise questions…enough questions to cause us to take a look at our system and ask whether or not justice was served.  Maybe, just maybe, it will be enough to change the course of their lives.  You will also see the face of my son……Jonathan Matheny.  He and a 100,000 other sons and daughters are why I do this. 

However, this e-mail also contains hope.  Many of the young men and women who find themselves locked away in adult prison facilities find ways to better themselves……in spite of the system.  They work hard at finding ways to educate themselves, learn crafts and trades, get rehabilitation treatments that will show that they are redeemable and anything else they can to keep the system from breaking them.  I am pleased to have met some of them and I am also proud to say that my son is in that category.  Believe me, I have worried, encouraged and hoped that he would continue to grow in spite of his circumstance. 

We have posted art work on e-bay from Jonathan Matheny and Josh Mckenzie.  Jon’s work is entitled “Going Home to Papa” and Josh’s work is entitled “Garden Flowers”.  Both young men have been named the commissioned artist for their facilities.  These paintings are in oil’s and are posted for sale.  Both young men hope to be able to purchase art supplies to continue their work and maybe do something nice for their families……like not ask for money.  Please go to www.ebay.com  and look in the art category to see these pieces. 

Josh has also written a book about himself and his journey to and through prison.  The book is called “Treading With Demons, Walking With Angels” and is available at www.drjudd.net.  R. Dwayne Betts has written a book called “A Question Of Freedom  A Memoir of Learning, Survival, And Coming Of Age In Prison and has received much press and accolades for his work.  These young men are examples of those who refuse to waste away in prison but choose to make something of their time.  I am starting a products page on this blog site so that you have the opportunity to support inmates who are trying to support themselves.  If you have an inmate that needs help in promoting his/her work, please e-mail me at:  revbyoungmin@aol.com and we will try to help.

Please take the time to watch the program, it won’t be pretty but it will be……

Please take the time to look at the work of inmates and THANK YOU for reading, supporting and caring.

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