Bay News 9 Report on Teen in Jail

In addition to the Pinellas County Jail, Ted also spent part of the last two years in four Florida prisons, a prison work release camp, and a prison work release center. Ted did not have a pc in jail or prison. He wrote his experiences in letters to a blogger, who posted them online for him.

Young man blogs from jail and hopes to help others

View video here.

By Robert Hahn, Reporter
Last Updated: Saturday, August 14, 2010

CLEARWATER --
A local teenager used a pen and paper to get through his two-year jail sentence.

Ted Braden, 21, first entered jail at 19 for theft and drug related charges. He joined a gang and was arrested for the first time at age 13 and kept getting into trouble, including five more arrests in 2008 alone.

While in jail, Braden spent a lot of time alone in his cell where he began to write down his thoughts, eventually creating a blog called Teen in Jail.

And although now he hopes his hundreds of blog posts will help others learn from his mistakes, he didn't originally set out to write a blog.

"I started to write to get things off my mind," said Braden. "Didn't start it for a blog, didn't think of nothing like that."

The idea came after a visit from his mother. Kelly Shannon Kelly thought that people might be interested in what he had to say from his point of view.

"We got the idea to put it on the Internet and have other people read it, and it really took off," she said.

As of last count, the blog site, which includes more than 300 of Braden's blogs, has seen more than 74,000 hits. People from all over the world have been looking at his blogs.

"Hopefully other people will read it and learn from my experience," Braden said.

Braden also wrote many stories that he was unable to send out of jail because his mail was being screened. He wants to combine those with the ones that made it onto his blog into a book.

"It's better than what I was doing before," Braden said. "Just hurting people's lives, destroying lives, destroying my own life, my family's life, just time to do something different, that I can actually help somebody."

Braden's mom is hopeful that her son has turned a corner and his writing will help build his future.

"I'd just like to see him do the best he can in life and be a success," said Kelly. "It's what every parent wants for their child."

Braden is looking into going to college to pursue a degree in journalism. He also plans on taking a trip after being locked up for the past two years.

Comments

TED
2010-08-15 22:17:00 Report this post jonesy wrote:
Kay, I agree with you. I'm sick of hearing about shootings,murders etc from young people.I hope he can turn his life around and do something GOOD.

teen in jail
2010-08-15 21:12:00 Report this post hal wrote:
He hasn't changed, just learning to play the game in prison....saying and doing everything the parole board wants to see and hear, that's all! Don't be fooled!

Blogging from a jail cell
2010-08-15 18:20:00 Report this post Terri wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the young adult has had time to think about his life and change things (while in prison), but I can't believe he has such freedom as to use the internet...Am I Naive or has this been happening for a while? I know criminals/prison inmates can get a college degree in there (FREE OF COURSE MY DIME)AND THAT STINKS TOO! Just rubs ya wrongthey should be getting punishment not

Who Cares
2010-08-15 17:16:00 Report this post Sandy Ginas wrote:
You all are suckers! This criminal has nothing better to do so he's playing everyone for suckers. Wait until he has choices on how to spend his time, he'll be back to his old ways in no time. People like him have mental problems, they don't fully comprehend the difference between right and wrong. He'll be back in jail, I guarantee it.

is it true?
2010-08-15 15:14:00 Report this post cool guy wrote:
once you go black you never go back! same difference once he gets out he will be right back in hahahahahaha

I support Ted
2010-08-15 14:45:00 Report this post Kay wrote:
I'm glad Ted decided to go down a better road and do a service to others by warning them about the mistakes he made. If his blog helps just one person turn his or her life around before it's too late, then he has saved a life. Don't we want our young people to grow up, mature, and do something positive and real with their lives to help others/society? He deserves our support completely. Nice go

IN JAIL
2010-08-15 14:31:00 Report this post whitster wrote:
I don't think writing a blog addresses the problem. A year or so of counciling and a job training program would be the best avenue for rehabilation. Money won't solve anything besides the type of person you are is more important. Good luck young man.

Felon blogs
2010-08-15 14:00:00 Report this post Laurie wrote:
I think if this guy can make some good behind bars of his poor choices in life then power to him! I have had family members in jail and i know how hard it can be.However, he will have to make "big boy" decisions one day and really grow up.The rest of us have to comply to society's rules and so should he. Hopefully this experience will truly change him for the better.

yong man blog for JEFF the IDIOT
2010-08-15 13:45:00 Report this post Laurie wrote:
you no what JEFF you just need to SHUT UP AND GROW UP THAN OK leave well enough alone than ok thank you very much so and if they all do make it happen than you will look like a stupid idoit than and thank you very much so later

I am Gald..
2010-08-15 13:20:00 Report this post Josvani H wrote:
Braden As long as you are doing something good in your life

Nevermind
2010-08-15 13:14:00 Report this post Debbie wrote:
disregard my last post. Ted is a colplete moron. You should not have a pc in jail. Send him to the chair!

young man
2010-08-15 13:12:00 Report this post Laurie wrote:
yes me nephew is also behind bars because he did about the same thing you did and he also vilade his proban also and now he has to spened 5 years behind bars and he was 19years when he went in so he will get out in 2012 i think that is when he will get out and he already got his GED and now he is learning more stuff also and i hope that it will help him also and make him a better person when he get

Ted Keep Up the good work
2010-08-15 13:02:00 Report this post Debbie wrote:
Ted worked for me or with me and I could see he was a good kid. He just made a few bad choices..I hope you keep up this up. He reminded me of My Son,who as a late teenage made some bad choices & trusted the wrong people and paid the price 5 yrs in jail for drugs. He got out got a good job But still had a hard time not letting his big heart for people rule his head and Lost His Life just over a year

Try As He Might
2010-08-15 12:11:00 Report this post Angela wrote:
Try as you might someone will always complain. He's trying and his efforts should be rewarded. Good for him to find a positive outlet.

You PEOPLE complain NO MATTER WHAT! SHUT UP!
2010-08-15 12:11:00 Report this post Jeff wrote:
but people have plenty of time to think while they are sitting in jail, and as a former Corrections Officer, I can tell you that it is NO PICNIC for anyone, the Officers or inmates alike. When your spending 10-15hrs a day in a cell, your mind wonders and you think about what your missing on the outside. SHUT UP and GROW UP!

You PEOPLE complain NO MATTER WHAT! SHUT UP!
2010-08-15 12:09:00 Report this post Jeff wrote:
The first in line with both of your hands out, not just one! You are cowards who sit behind a computer screen and spout words of hate and other things you have NO CLUE about. I dont know Ted, but not ALL people who spend a short time in jail are career criminals. Granted, Ted has spent his share of jail time, (cont)

You PEOPLE complain NO MATTER WHAT! SHUT UP!
2010-08-15 12:07:00 Report this post Jeff wrote:
It doesnt matter if a teen dies in a car accident or someone spends a day picking up trash on the side of the road, some of you ALWAYS have something negative to say! Is your life that BAD, that you always feel the need to bring others down around you? I GUARANTEE 1000%, that if you needed a handout, you would be (cont)

NO MATTER WHAT
2010-08-15 11:29:00 Report this post REAL TALK wrote:
good or bad u people complain shut up already GO TED GO

Teen Blog
2010-08-15 10:55:00 Report this post Joyce wrote:
Pay attention he is TRYING to learn from his mistakes and show others what he did wrong to HELP them to NOT do the same. Just keep throwing the rocks and I hope your GLASS house gets shattered!

Teen Blog
2010-08-15 10:52:00 Report this post Joyce wrote:
I am wondering if Yeah ok and Avenger are total cowards and morons. I've read this blog and I support what this kid is trying to do. It's idiots like you that knock kids down...

Story
2010-08-15 10:27:00 Report this post JAMES wrote:
Unlike the others, I support what he's doing. This is exactly what I want to see... someone who used to be bad, trying to become good. But how do people comment? "He'll be back in there in no time". Nice. If you've truly gone straight, don't listen to these haters.

He Wants To Take A Trip After Being Locked Up For 2 Years?
2010-08-15 10:13:00 Report this post The Avenger wrote:
Maybe he could go with obama on his next vacation.

Journalism & Jail
2010-08-15 10:10:00 Report this post The Avenger wrote:
They go together well, don't they?

Felon bloggers
2010-08-15 08:17:00 Report this post Yeah ok wrote:
He'll be back in there in no time.

Legal problems
2010-08-14 23:36:00 Report this post Limbo wrote:
unfortunatly, this state will not allow you to profit from any felony. Maybe this kids mother or one of his family members could be the author of the book. Just another hoop to jump through.Unless of coarse he runs into some money to grease the judicial system.

ABC Action News Report about Teen in Jail

In addition to the Pinellas County Jail, Ted also spent part of the last two years in four Florida prisons, a prison work release camp, and a prison work release center.

Teen blogs about his time in jail

By: Jeff Butera
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ted Braden has a story to tell. It's a story he wants to tell.

His story begins when Ted was 13 years old. It was the first time he was arrested, busted by Clearwater Police for breaking into another house.

The story continued through Ted's teenage years. Those years included drugs and gangs. They ended with Ted being arrested for trafficking MDMA. He was sentennced to two years behind bars.

Ted can tell you the rest of the story. He can tell it because he's already written. While behind bars, Ted blogged about his experience.

His blog, ' Teen in Jail ,' found at www.teeninjail.com , has earned more than 75,000 visitors.

In his blog -- which his mother, Kelly, suggested he write -- Ted talks about how the horror of living behind bars. He calls it "Hell on Earth."

More so, though, he focuses his writing on the slow realization that his bad decisions during his teenage years led him to this horrible place.

He writes about his regret of joining a gang. He talks about the pain of seeing his family watch him go to prison. He tries to understand why he did what he did, and resigns himself to the fact that all he can say is he did what he did "because he could."

But perhaps the most powerful blog post comes when Ted thinks about life outside of jail, with a felony conviction attached to his name.

“Is my life over before it starts? Am I still a U.S. citizen? Where will I work? How can I ever get married and support a family? These are the things I think about every day. There’s plenty of time to think about them,” he writes.

Ted was released from jail earlier this month. He is now working and does not associate with the friends that influenced him into a life of crime.

He has vowed to never go back to jail, and hopes that his blog helps other teenagers do that as well.

Click on video below to see the report.

Say No to Drugs

Since I’ve been released from prison, all I’ve been doing is working and sitting at the house. It seems like there’s too much at risk if I go out and do anything else. So this whole week I’ve been waking up at 6 a.m., going straight to work, then coming straight home.

A few of my old friends have tried to get a hold of me on MySpace, but I just ignore them. They’ll soon figure out that I just want to be left alone.

Actually one thing I have been looking into since I got out is taking classes to become a drug and alcohol counselor. That would be perfect for me, because it’ll give me a great opportunity to help other people and also I can relate with drug addicts real well, because I too am a drug addict and I’ve been in some real bad situations myself.

I would possibly like to travel around the country and talk to kids about the dangers of drugs and my whole experience in prison – maybe speaking on behalf of an anti-drug organization.

Other than that I’m doing real well. I haven’t picked up a single drug or drink and I don’t even feel that I need to. I couldn’t ask for more.

Ted's release day

Ted was released at a little after 10 a.m. on Friday the 13th. He immediately went to the local sheriff’s office to register as a convicted felon. Afterward, Ted celebrated at a local restaurant with his mother, stepfather, father, and father’s girlfriend.

Ted’s mom did finally manage to clean out his room (which had been piled high with boxes and used for storage for the last two years). He received a welcome home present of an inflatable video-gaming chair which also converted to a recliner, lounger and bed.

Ted next went to the mall with his father on his first day out and bought some sunglasses and a new ballcap with part of his paycheck. He spent the Friday and Saturday at a new friend’s house that he met on the bus going to and from his job.

Photos (click to enlarge): Finally released from the Largo Residential Reentry Center, registering at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Ted smiling while eating lunch with his family, Ted's cleaned-out room, Ted's dog Cocoa watches for him out the window, welcome-home balloons, three photos of the LoungAir.

D.O.C. raid

Right now I’m running on about 30 minutes sleep. I picked the wrong night to stay up late because right after I went to sleep last night, nine cars full of Department of Correction officers came and raided the compound.

They came in and made everybody get up and go outside and sit in 14 rows with 20 inmates in each row facing away from the compound. Meanwhile, other officers searched through all the rooms with K-9 units.

The whole time the rooms were being searched, the officers were going one row at a time making everybody take their clothes off to strip search them. I was sitting at the very front of all the 280 inmates, so I ended up being one of the last to get searched.

The whole time I was waiting to get searched, I kept seeing cell phones, MP3 players and other contraband flying over my head [over the balcony rails]. It seems like everybody had something!

Anyway, this whole search lasted from about 1:30 a.m. until 5:30 a.m. Nobody got any sleep last night. I know I didn’t and I still had to work the next day.

This entry was written about about two weeks ago.

Ted's home visit

Ted had his first (and last) home visit on Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Minus the transportation time, he was able to spend three hours at home.


The following video shows Ted greeting his dog Cocoa, his stepfather Doug and his grandmother Joyce, who is 100% disabled.


Ted watched the movie 2012 with his family and ate pizza and ice cream cake before having to return to the work release center.


Ted will not get another home visit as he is scheduled to be released this coming Friday the 13th. Ted says he will not go out of the house on that day (because of the date!)

Video of teen girl in jail being beaten

It can be argued that girls have a tougher time in jails and prisons than males. There are numerous correctional officers that feel the need to show their dominance and power over inmates.

Take, for instance, the below video on YouTube which shows a teen girl in jail in King County, Washington. The abusive deputy was caught on tape. (Press the Play button even if you don't see the video screen.)

The surveillance video shows the deputy kicking a young girl, slamming her to the cell floor and striking her repeatedly. The deputy grabs her by the hair to take her out of the room.

The deputy pled not guilty in the case. (Feb. 27, 2009)

Teen girl talks about jail-cell beating.

Update on case (July 2010): Deputy gets away with abusive behavior.