Some thoughts:

- Rarely does one unhooked discover or understand the struggle of one that is.
- I was a rebel for the sake of rebellion. Now I am a rebel because I believe in something.
- I don’t hate them (those in the system) any more. I hate to be lumped in with a person who would take advantage of a woman or a child.

- We don't empathize anymore. Natural affection seems to be lost. We like according to how the other person makes us feel. I don't believe for a moment that there can be healing until compassion and mercy, understanding, discerning heart with righteous judgement, until these things are a part of the correctional system.

- They can't appeal to our spirit of reprisal. They have to appeal to our human spirit and they don't know that. You want to know how to deal with the criminal? You've got to love us. If I love someone I have a mind set a lot more to see the other. It seems like a fairy tale idea though.

- the sorrows of life have given life its savour for me.

Jason Gallant
Inmate, Kent Institution

Update: I’m not aware of what’s happening for Jason at this time. He was also a person Michael Jackson spent a lot of time with and wrote of in his book, Justice Behind the Walls (also available online). Jason was served 4 life sentences for murder. It is believed by many people that he took responsibility for the last three in order to protect another person. His sentence was life with 25 years before any eligibility for parole.