John Lash On Restorative Justice, Youth and Adult Prisons
|
In 1985, at the age of 18, I was sentenced to life in prison for murder. I was sent to Georgia Industrial Institute, commonly known as Alto, after the nearby town. Throughout the system at that time Alto had a reputation for violence. Though I was tried and convicted as an adult, this prison was designed for “youthful offenders.” Only a handful of prisoners were over the age of 22, and many had arrived there at ages 14 – 17. During 25 years of incarceration, I never again lived at a prison with the same levels of assault, robbery and rape.