On May 13, Judge Andrew Toynbee touched my life with a brush of justice. I’ll never forget his words: “You never take responsibility for your actions and (you) blame the victim.” Then it was 364 days times two to be served in the Lewis County Jail.
The following months I spent writing grievances contesting everything I felt wronged me, thus being difficult. On July 26, I received news many touched by justice eventually receive. Everything I loved, worked for and believed in was gone or changed forever. During this time of loss and hopelessness, an unexpected offer of housing and employment upon my release gave me hope to sustain life and provide for my 19-month-old son. So touched by this offer, so filled with hope, it occurred to me I have had the wrong attitude the whole time. I had a change of heart to turn it around.
I should not be begrudging the jail staff and community, but paying my debt to them. After reading an article about Pac Mnt. receiving $1.4 million for resources targeting the justice affected community, I realized this is my opportunity to give that which I have to offer the community. My voice as a justice-affected individual is that while the Pac Mtn. program is great, I believe the target that would most help and benefit the justice-affected and community is missed. While in custody for prolonged periods, 90 days or more, such resources would have the best impact. After release, sadly, it is too late for many. They feel hopeless, the tasks overwhelming. Imagine the hope an individual would have released with a resume, two forms of ID, coached in mock interviews, job training, food handling cards, etc.
I offer the community what I believe to be truth, that a person released with these tools and hope is more likely to seek gainful employment. That is what the main body of the jail’s population needs beyond discipline and wants is the same as our nation needs especially now. We need hope. Hope to sustain life. Hope that a release date will mean more than a date we walked out of jail, but a date where we are free from the bonds of hopelessness, homelessness, from desperation and recidivism. Dare to imagine a date that held such meaning to a person now armed with tools, training and above all else, hope. Imagine the decrease in unemployment. The drop in thefts and similar crimes committed in desperation by a person without hope, training or education trying to sustain life or habit without the means or know-how to do so the conventional way: earning it. Arm a person with knowledge and hope. Dare to be surprised by what hope in a person who had none will produce. Ask me what I would give my community if the options were without limits. I would answer hope in these times when situations often seem hopeless. I would give hope so others also may have a change of heart to turn it around!
Inspired by hope ...
Christopher Holten
Lewis County Jail
