Conviction and Rehabilitation
My conviction, 23 years ago, was regrettably related to the rape of my then
11 year old niece. I criminally retaliated and unjustly took vengeance for this
incident. This rape was perpetrated by our own cousin Angel. Since the age of
9, this individual would molest my niece and sodomize her at our grandmother’s
house when she stayed there. He would touch her and kiss her in her private
parts and then he would have her do it to him. This ordeal continued for a
period of 2 years. She never told anyone due to her fears that no one would
believe her and the fear of retaliation from him.
At the age of eleven, he forced himself on her and
penetrated her. This event caused extreme physical damage and she was taken to
the hospital. That’s when her mother and the rest of the family found out what
was going on. When I found out what our cousin did to my niece, I left with my
other uncles and cousins looking for Angel. I was the one to have found him and
I shot him.
I was overwhelmed and emotionally disturbed due to the rape,
that shock and anger overcame me. I confronted my cousin and the arrogance
which he displayed enraged me more, so I fired upon him causing his death. I
wanted to hurt him and punish him, however, I never meant for him to pass away
(thus the Manslaughter conviction and not intentional Murder). I sincerely
regret my actions. I did not have ANY right to do such a thing. I lament that
this happened and I wish that I had the ability to reverse it. My sister and my
niece moved to Florida. My niece is a beautiful young lady now; she later moved
to Puerto Rico and she is finishing her degree in Child Psychology at the
University of Puerto Rico. She is doing extremely well and she has made me very
proud of her.
I have always consoled her and reminded her that it wasn’t
her fault what occurred to her, and that my going to prison was not her fault
either. I have taken full responsibility for my actions and consequences
thereof, and I have made her realize that what I did was based on my decision
and not her responsibility. Looking back I realize that I did not have the
right to do such a thing, even in that specific circumstance. Consequently I
ended up in a maximum state prison. I felt that I spent ten lifetimes in there
and to relate my stay there would require a book. I rose above that prison
life, culture and lifestyle, and I did not let it define my existence. Even
while in there, I walked like I was more than a prisoner. I knew deep in my
heart that I was a man that can reach a higher level. I thank God that I pulled
thru. I am not an inmate anymore; I’m not that same person that I was 23 years
ago. I have done all I can to move forward.
So what have I done to rehabilitate myself during my 13+ years
of incarceration? I enthusiastically participated, completed and worked several
programs. I worked as a teacher’s aide, a clerk/typist, basic education and
computer tutor, law library clerk, and as a chaplain’s aide. I participated and
acquired the necessary skills of desktop publishing, electrician and plumbing;
and I achieved entry level occupational skills in nine different areas of
General Business and Office Management. I wasn’t allowed to participate in
college programs, thus the lack of a stronger educational background. At the
time, New York Governor George Pataki had taken college out of all the State
institutions. I educated myself nonetheless…
I mainly concentrated my endeavors on issues of social
permutation. As a group leader I facilitated the Anger Replacement Training
program, (an anti-violence program). I took a parenting course and participated
in a 12-week workshop geared in reconciling the offender and the community.
Throughout my incarceration I interacted with representatives from the
religious, college student union, NAACP, Hispanic United, drug awareness, and
business community, to name a few. I also acquired 5,625 hours of Inmate
Program Associate (IPA) work, (consisting of counseling, teacher’s aide, and
administrative work). I have completed the New York State Department of Correction’s
Phase I, II, & III programs, which provided me with the necessary training
to make a successful transition back into society. I worked as an HIV/AIDS
Counseling Aide and I have a ton of other experiences in that field.
My release plans were to immediately join the workforce and
to find my blood family. My long term goals are to eventually further my
education and get a degree in order to advance in the work force. I am
determined to solidifying my independence and enhancing my family ties. I have
spent a lot of time working on improving my character to become a good man, a
true friend, a reliable neighbor, a good son, a good brother, a good uncle, and
hard worker; an upright citizen. I want to live my life to the fullest while
I’m alive.
My rehabilitation didn’t stop upon my release. I have a
decade (10 strong years this April 24th) that I have put into
practice all those things that I once knew as theories of a healthy living. I
have truly assumed responsibility for my actions; paid my debt to society and
turned to the Lord for forgiveness. Then I went on to the business of living up
to my promise and potential. I have proven to those close to me, and anyone who
has taken an interest, that I do have goals, interest, and sources of
gratification which are within the limits of social approval, with a philosophy
of life which incorporates my values, beliefs, ideals, and integrate the
various facets of my personality. In spite of my past and current struggles,
I’m trying to use all of my experiences to still become an even more wholesome
individual. I’m confident that I have the necessary skills to always remain
functional in this society and I have the social aptitude to cope well in life.
My present lifestyle and situation proves that…I have read literally,
hundreds of books, and without sounding like I’m bragging, I have a strong
ability to learn anything. Because of that, I was able to secure a job in
intensive case management as a social worker in a large community health center
in New York City, for people who are HIV positive. Within my first month at
work, I was promoted. Since then I have worked diligently for not just for the
improvement of patients, but for my (previous) organization itself. One of the
leading HIV specialists in the New York Department of Health saw my potential
and plugged me in to her team. Given that opportunity, I started off by
conducting presentations to promote services and HIV/AIDS education to ethnic
and racial minority communities. Then I moved on to helping to coordinate
logistics; plan, design, and implement community-level programs. I was part of
an initiative from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,
called ‘Bronx Knows’ that served as not just a model for HIV testing in the
rest of the city, but it’s been implemented nationwide. I learnt and
implemented much from the HRSA and NY HIV Quality Care models, which was later
mirrored as Meaningful Use. My last 7 years of employment, I worked for
the same Community Health Center in a number of different roles , and the
last 4 years there I worked as a Clinical (Application) Analyst for the same
organization. As my knowledge, range, competency, and experience increased,
I’ve was given more responsibility and projects. I devoted all my energy to the Operational, Clinical, and
Financial growth of the organization. Details and high recommendations can be
found on my LinkedIn profile (link provided below). Recommendations from not just same level
colleagues, but from Chief Medical Officer, Medical Directors, Operational and
DSRIP Management, and others.
Today I have a beautiful 2 year old daughter named Sonia who is the reason for my (and wife’s) relocation from New York City to Houston, in the hopes of providing a better life for us. My goal here is to be the best father that I can be. I’m also working on slowly building two entrepreneurial endeavors to hopefully leave to my daughter. One is a graphic design venture and the other is an online retail project. I know that to some, it doesn’t matter if I was punished and paid my debt to society, or that I have made amends and reconciled with my family who I hurt, or that I’m repentant and living a different life; none of that will outweigh what happened 23 years ago. I understand that and I live with that every day since. But I ask that you please take a broad look and see me for the person I am today. I have done so much with the opportunity I have been given. And I’m not done yet. I have a lot more to offer; and I would like to have the opportunity to work and be a father and husband to my family. I have my qualifications but the job market here in Houston has only concentrated on my 23 year old criminal record as a blanket disqualifier.
I've spoken to my previous employer and they have assured me that they will take me back and give me my old job back. However, it's very difficult to live off one income and sparing money made on the side, to save up the necessary resources to relocate back to New York. I ask that you please assist me in this endeavor of returning back to New York. Please provide your support by visiting my support page at Bring Sonia Back Home.
Your support will be greatly appreciated. I promise to continue doing the right thing, never to revert back to a life of crime, and I will support my family with everything that I am and will become. Thank you for any consideration and support that you can provide.
Sincerely yours,
Francisco Martinez
www.linkedin.com/in/franciscomartinezjr