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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Glenn Williams on Personal Experience with the Justice System
5:40:37
ยท
172 sec
Glenn Williams, a 25-year-old man from the Bronx, shares his personal experience with the criminal justice system, highlighting the challenges he faced during and after his involvement with probation. He emphasizes the importance of reentry programs and calls for redirecting funds to supportive programs rather than punishment.
- Williams describes the difficulties he encountered, including employment rejection, homelessness, and fear of re-arrest while on probation.
- He credits various reentry programs such as Youth Rap, Health People, Bronx Connect, Youth Represent, Rosboro, and Drive Change for helping him change his perspective and move forward.
- Williams advocates for increased resources for housing and ending "endless punishment" for young people, suggesting that arrest and probation should not be prerequisites for accessing support programs.
Glenn Williams
5:40:37
Testing, testing.
5:40:39
Alright.
5:40:39
My name is Glenn Williams.
5:40:41
I'm 25 years old.
5:40:42
Thank you for having me here today.
5:40:43
I'm a victim of the system but also benefited from programs.
5:40:48
I grew up in The Bronx with a single mother and eight siblings.
5:40:51
I always taught I was always taught to be polite and treat others with dignity, but like many other young men in this city, I found myself caught in the system facing consequences for mistakes I made in my youth.
5:41:01
When I was 20 years old I was sentenced to three years of probation after serving forty five days for a misdemeanor.
5:41:07
The harsh reality of the court system and probation easily pushed me further into a life of frustration and failure.
5:41:14
Between being denied by employers, being homeless, and living in the fear of being arrested again, I felt defeated.
5:41:20
The extended probation kept me in a state of constant stress, fear that I could easily be brought back behind bars.
5:41:26
I grappled with the difficulty of not getting a job because of my record.
5:41:31
For three years, I was rejected from every employer I applied to.
5:41:37
The frustration of being denied over and over again chipped away at my self worth making me feel discouraged and messed with my character.
5:41:46
I continued to have encounters with police where they will use excessive force.
5:41:51
I experienced firsthand and witnessed how the police are overly aggressive with black men, with black and brown men in my community that looked like me and how they treat us badly growing up in our neighborhoods by physically and sexually harassing us and then claiming that's a part of their job.
5:42:10
What helped me move forward was my involvement in numerous programs and resources that changed my perspective.
5:42:17
These reentry programs such as Youth Rap, Health People, Bronx Connect, Youth Represent, Rosboro and Drive Change were all life changing for me.
5:42:26
There also needs to be more resources for housing.
5:42:29
When I was living in a shelter, I often had interactions with police simply because I was homeless or because I would have to carry my belongings with me everywhere.
5:42:37
This pulled me back into the system and interrupted the progress I was making in building my life.
5:42:42
Young people like me should not have to get arrested to be on and be on probation to get access to programs.
5:42:49
Instead, money should be redirected to programs that provide actual support, guidance, and give everyone a chance for a future.
5:42:56
Endless punishment for young people needs to end.
Diana Ayala
5:43:00
And look at you.
Glenn Williams
5:43:02
Thank you.
5:43:03
Thank you.
5:43:05
Thank you.
Diana Ayala
5:43:08
You are what happens right when we invest in the proper programming and services.
Glenn Williams
5:43:13
Yes, definitely.
Diana Ayala
5:43:14
To help support our youth.
5:43:15
Thank you so much for being a voice for so many in our communities that are probably terrified to come and do what you just said.
5:43:23
It's very brave to tell your story and I really I'm super proud of you.
Glenn Williams
5:43:28
Thank you.
Diana Ayala
5:43:28
For being here today.
Glenn Williams
5:43:29
It's my pleasure.
Diana Ayala
5:43:30
Thank you guys so much for coming.