Teen in Jail airs on Tampa Bay news channel

Yesterday, Tampa Bay's 10Connects aired a story on my blog. You can see the video here in the blue box in the upper right-hand corner: http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=110506&catid=8. (Give the video box a minute to load and appear.)

The article that accompanied the video was written by Laura Katcheka, a reporter:

Pinellas Inmate Blogs from Jail

Pinellas County, Florida - "If I haven't said it already, jail sucks," Kelly Shannon Kelly read from a letter written by her 20-year-old son Theodore Braden.

The little boy she had such high hopes for now sits in the Pinellas County Jail facing charges for trafficking MDMA (Ecstasy).

"It's been hard," said Kelly, "He's had the opportunity to travel all over the United States, he's a good writer, a good photographer and he has had the opportunity to make a profession out of that. It's been hard seeing him make those mistakes."

Life behind bars was a consequence Braden admits he never thought about seriously. In and out of trouble since the age of 13, he says the consequences were never more than he could handle.

"When I was a juvenile, it was 21 days here, 21 days there, maybe a couple of month program. It wasn't a big deal," he told 10 Connects reporter Laura Kadechka through video phone at the Pinellas County Jail.

While his mother tried to explain to him things would be different after he became an adult at 18, the lessons were not learned.

"Before I came in here this time, I've been here probably five times just in the last year," said Braden.

He says he only spent a few days at a time in jail, but last year, the consequences changed. He says he was busted during a drug deal. The few days in jail he was used to were long gone.

"In my case, for a few hundred dollars, I might be giving up the next few years of my life," he said.

His stay this time around has exceeded one year.

"Easy money is no way to make money. I'd rather work a minimum wage job for the rest of my life than do what I was doing," he said.

He's had a lot of time to reflect on the decisions he's made and through conversations with his mother, they decided to make his story public.

The blog "Teen in Jail" was born.

"We immediately thought that this is a good outlet to get his message across to other people, not only to teens, but to adults as well," said Kelly.

Since Braden doesn't have access to the internet in jail, he writes letters to his mother which she then posts on the blog. If he can't get a letter, Kelly will take notes during her weekly visits with her son.

"They only see sun for two hours a day," she read from a well worn notebook.
Braden says he's made poor choices in life and if his past can change someone else's future, he feels like he can make a difference.

"I never really looked at it that way before. I just looked at it as I've got a bad history, I'll never get a job, I'm going to be a criminal forever. I now see I can do some good," said Braden.

The 20-year-old looks young for his age, but a scar from taking a lead pipe and beer bottle to the face shows a violent past.

His blog entry on this experience reads:

I didn't feel anything and it wasn't until the next morning that I woke up and felt incredible pain. My front tooth was broken. The nerves in my other front tooth ended up dying and turned dark. I also had a deep cut above my eyebrow.

I didn't have a job or insurance and couldn't get my teeth fixed, and to this day I have the broken tooth and scar.I barely remember the fight and other people had to tell me what had happened.

Drugs, unfortunately, have this effect and most of the times I've been arrested or injured, I had been taking drugs.

Braden and his mother both say things could have been different.

"I think I might have been too permissive, let him go out and not monitor his friends the way I should have," admitted Kelly.

Her son says it might not have mattered what his mother said, her actions could have spoken louder than words.

"When they're young and start doing the little things, make sure that you punish them. Don't go easy on them," said Braden.

While it's too late to for the should have's and could have's, Braden and his mother are hoping other parents and teens pay attention to their story.

Braden says he's a changed man now. While he realizes his future is going to be very different had he made better choices, he's not giving up hope he can still make a good life for himself.

But his immediate future is unknown.

One blog entry reads:

I had to go to court again yesterday. It was the fifth or sixth time I've been to court for my current charges and they keep postponing my hearings.

I have to explain the point system. Most felonies are equal to [an average of] 16 to 22 points each. A first-degree felony equals 56 points. Forty-four points will get you sent to prison.

My charges include drug trafficking and possession of cocaine and marijuana. I was the middleman in a drug deal. The drug dealer and the person who set up the deal are both out on probation.

I currently have 60-something points for all my charges - enough to send me to prison for 40.6 months.

I'm scared.

Braden and his mother say they'll keep on blogging, even after he's served his debt to society.

For now, he says he's ready to pay the final consequences for the decisions he's made. But once he's served his time, he says he'll never be back.

Braden said, "I know people have probably heard this a hundred times, but if you can't do the time, don't do the crime."

Comments

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flagdude wrote:
Young Theodore worked for me a few years ago. He was a real nice kid that has just made a few bad choices in life. It sounds like he will be alright if someone just gives him half a chance. I hope to be in a position to hire him again one day soon and will not hesitate to do so if given the chance. God bless you Ted. Camp Director Ray

7/30/2009 1:49 PM EDT on wtsp.com

Stillsad1 wrote:
I really respect this kid & his mom. He admits he was wrong and takes responsibility for his actions. I truly hope he can turn his life around when he gets out. I don't feel bad that he is there, he deserves to be, but I hope he has learned his lesson.As far as the complaints of only seeing the sun for 2 hours, the food being bad, the phones being too expensive to use, well I think it should be that way, this is a punishment not a resort.I think they should only be fed the basics of bread, water and some sort of gruel...I know it sounds harsh but again this should be a punishment and a place they DO NOT WANT TO COME BACK TO!I don't think jail is a scarey place anymore and it is no longer serving as a deterrent for people. I think jail should hold inmates responsible for their stay. Instead of companies outsourcing customer service/data entry jobs to other countries, they could have the inmates work to pay for their stay in jail, it would be a bargain rate for the company and the tax payers would no longer have to foot the bill for criminals. If the inmates refuse to work or screw up deliberately then they do not eat, they get no bed to sleep on and they don't go outside at all, they never leave their cell. There are alot of hardworking people who do the right thing and they still go to bed at night hungry so why should it be any different for criminals? This way when the inmates get released they have a job skill, if they do well while working during incarceration the company can choose to keep them as an employee so they do not have to worry about not being hired because they have a record, it gives them responsibility and a head start at a second chance and our tax dollars can be better spent elsewhere, plus we are keeping jobs in our country! I think this would be a win win for everyone. I pray this kid does well when he gets out and that he has finally learned his lesson! Good Luck & God Bless!!!
7/30/2009 12:06 AM EDT on wtsp.com

scoopspoop wrote:
would be wonderful if others start doing this also...what a great way to 'go over' your life and teach others!
7/29/2009 6:22 PM EDT on wtsp.com

momlb wrote:
Some kids have to learn the hard way.Good luck
7/29/2009 5:58 PM EDT on wtsp.com

StPeteRickster wrote:
Very interesting blog....I see the still have the phone that charges $10+ for a collect call for the inmates, no regular pay phone, so calling friends or relatives is nearly impossible and most expensive with NO alternatives. Sweetheart deal given to CCA, I would guess.The prices for 'extras' in the commissary are excessive, as well.Please don't tell me that we are trying to turn our jails into a profit making entity, as well....From what I have read about Corrections Corporation of America, CCA - they and their 'McPrisons' should be put out of business. Not sure if this is CCA running this jail but it sure sounds like it.Just a thought to finish, if the inmates are supposed to learn respect and decency for other members of the community (rehabilitation), why do the guards treat them in a way that will make them do the opposite??Is like beating a dog, even the best breed will go vicious, if provoked enough times.The blog is eye-opening, for me and I think the writer, as well.I hope he continues to write, I think it does him well.Keep your head low, stay out of trouble and Good Luck to you, I hope you get out soon.
7/29/2009 5:06 PM EDT on wtsp.com

StPeteRickster wrote:
Now this was a story worth reading, very powerful and with a human touch.I hope this young man can overcome his past and be a contributing member of society, someday soon.Am going to read the blog, now.
7/29/2009 4:52 PM EDT on wtsp.com