05/22/2026
Everyone in Attendance 5/18/2026
A letter sent from a man at Chino State Prison -
I ask that today, and all days be blessed. As we remember our love ones that have been murdered or victimized by the hands of another human being. Many senseless crimes can be prevented, if we as humans bond together by showing love and compassion to one another.
By putting our pride and ego aside for one second to think about the negative decisions being made, we can allow our brother or sister a chance to live.
My name is Roosevelt Wooten, I 'am serving a life sentence for attempting to murder two people when I was 17 years old. At the time I was a criminal, gang member, bully, and I wanted to show that I was down.
I did not consider the pain and suffering I caused to so many people on the day my actions left these men on the brink of death.
My thinking was wrong,when me and my homies were arrested, everyone else went home and I stayed because they told on me to save themselves. Yes my so called homies, I was convicted and sentenced to "life" in prison.
Four years later my youngest brother was charged with attempted murder,for shooting someone in the chest. He was sentenced to "32years to life" in prison.
A year later our older brother was murdered, due to senseless gang violence.
My younger brother felt as if Karma had come back in an instant. My brothers murder victimized us all.
My mother was so heart broken, devastated and in pain, she attempted su***de. My sister could not deal with the pain of two brothers serving life in prison and another brother murdered. She became an alcoholic in an attempt to numb the pain, this pain would forever be there. This made me think of the harm and pain I caused other peoples families. I felt guilt and shame for what I had done. Nobody deserves to lose a child. The reason I share my story is because I want you all to know the reality of senseless violence and gang lifestyle,that the so called homies don't tell you like how these actions cause pain and suffering to so many people, including mothers,fathers, siblings, aunts,uncles grandparents, our communities, our own families and also to ourselves.
I can tell you all that when you take a "life" you unplug someone's energy from this earth and it becomes attached to your energy. So now you have an obligation to learn and understand how and why, you did what you did. Please don't let it take you committing a horrible crime to try to figure it out.
Me and my brothers are examples that the criminal gang lifestyle and senseless violence has only 2 out comes, prison and death. Please don't follow that path, you have a opportunity to make better choices for better out comes, don't let prison or death be your destiny.
I want you all to know its OK to ask for help from positive people, don't allow yourself to be influenced by people who don't love you or care about you. I can assure you the streets and gang lifestyle does not love you. It will only use you, abuse you, and then kill you.
I came to understand that the pain and suffering I caused was wrong and no one deserved it, I developed remorse and empathy and made a commitment to change. I left the criminal and gang lifestyle, and became a law abiding citizen while in prison , by changing my thinking I was able to change my behavior and get rid of my pride and ego so i can show love, kindness,compassion, and care to others.
I met Mothers With a Message in 2018 they helped me solidify my change by expressing exactly what a victim truly experiences Physically, psychologically, financially, socially and spiritually.
From that day on I vowed to never cause pain or hurt to anyone for any reason . I changed, my brother has taken the same positive steps to change. We are no longer gang members or criminals. We value life and promote positive pro social behavior. Life is short we have to make it worth it. I will close with this one less criminal means one less crime, results in one less victim. Peace love safety and blessings.
Roosevelt -
