Transcript

And thanks for doing this, man, and- >> Yep.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> I wanna make sure this mic is still on.

You know what, it fell down. >> [INAUDIBLE].

Can we put Dave on this job?

Ooh! >> Hey, look, I'm shooting pal.

>> One, two, Danny, mic is on. >> Hey.

>> I did that on purpose.

>> [INAUDIBLE] Yep.

>> Okay.

>> There's too many buttons on here.

>> That tape needs to be sticky.

>> Cameras are rolling.

>> So Benny, the first thing I'm gonna have you do is justgo ahead and tell me your name and how old you areand what prison facility you're in.

>> All right, my name's Benny Reed.

I'm 19 years old.

And I'm at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility inCarlyle, Indiana. >> Does it ever strike you when you sayI'm 19 years old and I'm at Wabash?

I mean, this is an adult maximum security prison.

What's it like to be a teenager in a place like this?

>> Just stand by, please, sorry.

>> Hold on one second.

>> It's cuz the door.

>> Go ahead.

So what's it like being a teenager in a place like this? >>I guess you can never really get used to it, you knowwhat I mean?

But you just gotta adjust your lifestyle and stuff to fit theway the prison works and stuff.

And you just have to live with it day by day and stuff so.>> So could you ever in your wildest dreams, back whenyou were 15, or 16, or 17, could you ever have imaginedyourself ending up in a place like this? >> No, I waspretty much just stuck to myself, stuck on the street andstuff, so.

I never imagined I'd end up in prison or, you know what Imean?

Commit a criminal act or nothing. >> Were you ever inany trouble as a juvenile?

Or do you remember when anything started happeningthat made you start thinking differently? >> Not really, Inever had no criminal history or nothing.

You know what I mean?

Just went out and made a mistake.

[LAUGH] >> Are you hearing that scratches, do you wantme to fix that? >> I'm not hearing scratches, are you hearscratches? >> Yeah, I just heard a scratch, I think.

>> You did?

>> Yeah.

>> I'm getting annoyed with it, too.

>> It's about time.

>> Hang on, kiddo.

>> [CROSSTALK] Well, yeah it was unacceptable. >>You just worry about your camera when you whitebalance and using these Christmas lights for lights, so.

>> [LAUGH] >> This just in, at Wabash Valley a crew.

>> [LAUGH] Got in a brawl.

>> We've got the exclusive interview. >> Live at 5. >>Well, would have had to stop anyways cuz of that noisecuz we're shooting with the door open. >> Pay us for.

>> Yeah, I know.

>> Yeah.

>> Are we all good?

So we were just talking about, were you ever in trouble asa juvenile?

A lot of the kids we talked to have spent kind of a lifetimein juvenile detention or placement.

Were you ever in trouble as a juvenile? >> No, I've neverhad a juvenile record of any kind.

Never been in trouble with the authorities or nothing, so.

[LAUGH] >> Does that make it even harder, do you think,to finally?

I mean, the fact that you never had been in trouble beforeand you go from nothing to being a teenager in an adultmaximum security prison?

I mean, that's pretty surreal. >> Yeah, I grew up in thecountry and I've learned a lot of stuff in here and stuff.

And everything's different, you know what I mean?

The whole lifestyle and stuff. >> Tell me about growingup in the country.

Tell me about where you're from. >> In Indiana you farmand stuff.

We had two houses.

One of them was a farm.

And we'd sit there and normally cleaned up animals andstuff, helped animals.

So you had chickens with eggs and stuff.

You just worked there growing garden stuff, corn,vegetables and stuff, and yeah, that's about it.

Just a lot of nature, you know what I mean?

Go out in the woods and stuff. >> Pretty simple life.

>> Yeah, simple lifestyle.

[LAUGH] >> So how would you say you were as a child,growing up?

How would you describe yourself? >> As a child, I morestuck to myself, you know what I mean, in school andstuff.

I like to read a lot and stuff I always was drawing orgetting into some kinda project.

You know what I mean?

So I was a pretty laid back, I think, as a child.

>> And then you have a little brother, Blade, who is alsohere at Wabash.

What was your relationship like with Blade growing up?

>> I think we was close as brothers, you know what Imean?

We both still live in the same house and stuff and we'd sitthere and play games together and stuff.

And you know what I mean?

Just did things together, activities and stuff.

>> So if you could describe Blade, for somebody whohasn't met him before, how would you describe Blade?>> I'd describe him as outgoing.

You know what I mean?

He's got a lot of energy and stuff but he's a, you knowwhat I mean?

Good brother and stuff.

Fun to hang out with and stuff like that. >> So eventhough your both here at Wabash, talk to us aboutwhether or not you get to see each other and what that'slike.

Since both of you are here, but does that even matter?>> I have visited him once when he was in segregation.

I visited him once behind a no-contact visit.

And that visit went well, you know what I mean?

It was good to see each other.

We hadn't seen each other for over a year or so, so thatwas all right.

Other than that we don't see each other cuz he's on thenorth side of the facility and he's in the juvenile dorm.

So and the juveniles and the adult offenders don't, youknow what I mean?

Correspond or mix during movement. >> Do you thinkabout him a lot? >> I think about him every once in awhile.

You know what I mean?

Wonder how he's doing, hoping he's staying out oftrouble and stuff, so. >> Were you surprised to hearwhen you found out that he was in seg?

Does that seem like the Blade you know? >> No, itseems like he's changed a lot since the little time thatwe've not known each other.

[LAUGH] Yeah, he seemed he was pretty laid back.

He used to have a little bit anger problems, stuff on thestreet.

But I don't know, probably just the surroundings, youknow what I mean and stuff?

Interaction with a bunch of people he don't know andstuff like that.

>> So describe for me, >> [INAUDIBLE] >>[INAUDIBLE] >> Good?

>> Good to go.

>> Someone's gotta unpause it.

>> Pick on.

>> We're good.

Is it okay, can we move that tub out there?

Would that be okay? >> Hang on, Karen, we got people.

He just gave his job before he started doing stuff.

>> [LAUGH] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Yeah, did I look naturalpushing it?

>> [INAUDIBLE] Thanks a lot, sorry.

>> Okay, okay.

So go back in time for me and tell me what it was like,you found out you were going to be committed here toWabash.

So what was that whole transport like, going from theCounty Jail, which is where I assume you were, andmaking the drive here to Wabash.

What were you thinking?

What were you feeling at that time?

You wanna take me back to that time? >> Well, county, itwas a small county and I mean there was maybe 40-some inmates in it, Brown County's real small.

And, let me see, on my way up here to Wabash Valley Iwas just thinking about, you think about everything in themovies you see, it's prison in the movies and stuff.

So you be expecting things like that which, prison, isreally a lot different than movies portray it.

So I was nervous there, you know what I mean? >> Sohow is it different than how it's portrayed in the movies?

If you could describe it to someone who's never beeninside a prison how How would you describe that? >> Idon't know.

Prison, it's mainly all about timing.

I mean, time goes by real slow in here.

Maybe on the street, if it was like every day in here, it'stwo or three days on the street, I mean there's a lot oforder in here.

You follow rules and guidelines and stuff and you havemovements throughout the day, do the exact same thingall day and stuff.

And nothing really interesting happens, that's different.

You just do your time, you know what I mean?

Sit in your cell for so long and then you go to pretrial,there are pretrial movements.

You'd have Rec twice a day. >> So you said you were alittle nervous on that drive.

Can you describe what it was like when the van wasactually coming in and kind of, were you overwhelmed atthat moment? >> Yeah, first thing I noticed was all thefences with the barbed wire and stuff and sun wasgleaming on it, shining and stuff.

[LAUGH] I notice the guard towers and stuff, and all thebuildings, you know?

It was just a big facility, something I've never witnessedor been in before, you know what I mean? >> And didyou think to yourself I can not believe this is happening tome. >> Yeah, yep, I never thought that would happen,you know what I mean? >> Have you ever really talked toanybody about what this whole experience has been likefor you? >> No, not really.

The other inmates I talk to, they're already here, you knowwhat I mean.

When I call my mom, you know, I tell her some stuff.

How it is and stuff, and try to put her mind at ease abouthow it is around here.

>> So yeah, what does your mom say, how does shefeel? >> She seems pretty good.

I mean, she was a little shaken when she realized two ofher sons committed a crime and stuff.

She never expected that, so I'm sure that's pretty hard onher, but she's probably coping with it.

Do you remember the first time you saw her after youwere arrested?

>> Yeah, she was actually there when I was arrested.

She came to see me and probably within the next week,she saw me.

When I was eligible to have visits in county.

And she visited me every week thereafter, continuously,in county. >> Do you look back now and think, what was Ithinking?

What was I doing?

How did I ever get into this situation? >> Yeah, I thinkabout all the mistakes I've made, if I would have did theopposite thing than something I did already.

And, you know, if I could go back and change a certainaction I did or something.

Yeah, I never expected, I guess one thing led to another,you know what I mean? >> Was it just a lot of panic?

Or fear?

Or what happened? >> During the crime, there was a lotof panic and fear and I was intoxicated and stuff too,though.

But yeah.

Things just got out of hand, you know what I mean? >>Did you even remember it?

Do you feel like you almost blacked out during all of it?

Do you- >> No, I pretty much remembered it, you knowwhat I mean?

Like I went to sleep and the next moment I woke up, Ihad to remember for a second if it really happened.

I didn't know if it was all a dream, or something. >> Soafter it happened, you then went back home.

You and Blade both went back home.

And just like a normal night, and you went to bed andyou woke up in the morning.

Were the police there instantly, or how did that happen?

No, there was an investigation and stuff.

They was looking for suspects and stuff and, you know,they got information and witnesses and all that stuff.

I'm not sure how it all works, but yeah, it happened andlate into the year.

I mean, it took til the beginning of the next year beforeme and my brother was arrested, so. >> Did you live infear every single day knowing that there was a possibilitythey would?

>> Yeah, I figured they go give me my time, you knowwhat I mean?

And I was nervous or always looking over my shoulder,paranoid and stuff. >> And so then what happened?

One day you were at home, your mom was at home.

And the police just showed up at the door? >> No, theywas sitting there over several times they wasinvestigating myself that I know of, I don't know about mybrother.

And they was wanting to take fingerprints and stuff andasking questions and if I've seen anything and stuff.

And I just was hoping it was just a normal investigation,you know what I mean?

And I went up to Indianapolis, I left my home, I was 17 atthe time.

I went with and stayed with my older brother inIndianapolis.

And they sit there and came, just acted like it was normalroutine stuff and took me down county and stuff, said mymom was gonna be there.

And they just wanted to ask more questions, and thenthey arrested me on the spot there.

After I got to county my mom was there and stuff.

I guess they arrested my brother later, when they went inwith a search warrant for the house and stuff. >> So, youand Blade then were in the county jail at the same time?>> I was in county jail I think about eight months, maybe.

And the whole time that I was there he wasn't there.

But the last week or two I was there they moved him therebut I didn't see him any.

I just seen them take him to a booking cuz I was ininterrogation at the time.

And they moved him back to the dorms and stuff so wenever talked to each other in county. >> At any timeduring that time or even now did you ever feel like, my lifeis over.

What goes through your mind? >> Well, first you think of,you think you're young, you know what I mean?

And I've got 60 years to do, or 30 good years, 60 or 30.

So that's 30 years of my life that I've wasted And all I canhope is to hopefully get an education and college degreeand stuff and make up for that waste of time, you knowwhat I mean?

And progress my life further.

That way when I get on the streets, I will be prepared forreturning to a normal lifestyle. >> Do you ever stop tothink about that you're 19, you're still a teenager, and thatyou're gonna be that old by the time you get out.

Or do you not let yourself go there? >> You know, youcan't help think about it cuz all you gotta do is you got alot of time by yourself, you know what I mean, that you'rethinking.

All you got is yourself to talk to, you know what I mean?

[LAUGH] So, yeah, you think about it and it's hard, youknow what I mean?

You just gotta push forward every day, you know what Imean?

And, just look forward to the day you might get out oneday or something. >> I mean, I just can't imaginesomeone who has never been locked up, who has neverbeen in the system, to suddenly one day Find themselveshere.

I's almost indescribable for someone to be able tounderstand. >> Yeah, but believable for myself, youknow what I mean, and I'm sure for my family and stuff.

Because I don't think they've ever seen me or my brothercapable of anything like that.

And at any moment anything could change, you knowwhat I mean?

And I guess it could happen to anybody.

It's just about the choices you make and what you dowhile you're out there. >> So if you were going to talk toother kids who are out there who would think like you didyears ago.

That, this could never happen to me, I would never doanything like that.

How does it happen?

How do you go from nothing to 100 in a matter of a night?>> It's about making choices, like I was expelled fromschool for, you know what I mean, getting in trouble andstuff.

Nothing against the law, you know what I mean.

Just you start off by not paying attention in school,getting your education and stuff, maybe acting up athome.

Or something, and then just going out the idea thatyou're invincible or something, doing drugs or drinking orsomething, and then one thing will lead to another andnext thing you know, you're robbing a house or stealing acar, something. >> So you were drunk the night ithappened? >> Yes.

Did you ever during that time like feel responsible forBlade because he was so much younger than you?

Did it ever dawn on you at the time, my God, my littlebrother is here. >> Yeah, that's one of the hardest thingsto cope with, you know what I mean?

Because I know it's my responsibility.

He looked up to me.

I was his big brother and stuff, and I let him roam downthe road.

I thought it was all right to take him with me on just thingswe went and did and stuff cuz I didn't wanna leave himout.

But at the same time, I see now it's my fault and stuff.

And I just hope he forgives me in the long run orsomething, and that he gets out one day.

How does he react to you?

When the few times you've been able to see him, is hehappy to see you?

How does he react to you? >> I don't know, he seemslike he's happy to see me to me.

We just talk everytime we see each other.

We just talk just like normal brothers I guess.

I ask him how he's doing and stuff.

Same here. >> So tell me how long you've been herenow. >> I've been at Wabash since October of 09, so. >>Not quite two years.

>> No.

I've only been locked up probably a little over two yearstotal, including county time and RDC time and stuff. >>Does it feel like 2 years or does it feel like 20 years thatyou've been here? >> No, it feels like I've been in prisonlonger than I've been on the street, you know what Imean?

[SOUND] Time goes by a lot slower in here.

Hard to get used to. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Hold on onesecond, kiddo.

Lots of noise out there.

Who did this?

When you were outside? >> No, I got that while I was inhere. >> Did you hurt?

>> Not really, I'm sure it hurts in other places. >> Icouldn't do it, I'm a big chicken when it comes toneedles.

That's a pretty fancy one. >> Yeah.

>> My gosh, you have it all the way.

How long did it take? >> I don't know, maybe fifteenhours or something. >> We're good? >> So I'm gonnaask you this again because the phone rang last time.

But does it feel like you've been here 2 years or 20 yearsat this point?

>> I'd say more at least around 10 years, you know whatI mean.

It's gonna be hard to fathom doing another 28 years orwhatever.

I'm hoping to get some of that reduced by education andcollege degrees, and programs that's available here atWabash.

Are you afraid of, I don't know if you've heard about guystalking about this, about being institutionalized, that onceyou've been in prison for so long you start to feel likeprison is your life, period. >> I'm not really afraid of beinginstitutionalized.

Cuz I feel that I'm not gonna let myself becomeinstitutionalized, you know what I mean?

I'm gonna always have that hope that I'll be back on thestreet in society again.

The only thing I fear, maybe, is how much the world willchange between those 30 years, you know what I mean?

What kinda cars will there be, how everything will work?

I've never drove a car.

So I don't know, you know what I mean?

That'll be a whole new learning experience for everythingout there that I ain't did yet. >> Do you stop to thinkabout all the things you're missing that normal teenagersare doing?

Does that kinda weigh on your mind? >> Yeah, it doesevery day.

>> If you could kinda say, every day I think about whatI'm missing. >> All right.

Every day I think about what I'm missing.

>> Driving? >> I passed out.

>> That's okay.

>> Yeah, every day I think about what I'm missing.

Driving and having a job, being employed.

I never had a job.

Just everything you get to do young, getting my highschool diploma and stuff.

I could still do it here, but it won't still be the same asgoing through all my years of school and stuff.

You know what I mean? >> Do you miss your friends?

I mean what happened with any friends when all thishappened?

>> My friends pretty much stay at school.

You know what I mean?

They didn't come over the house and stuff.

Wasn't real active.

I had seven brothers and sisters.

So we always just, you know what I mean, did everythingtogether and stuff with my brothers and sisters.

And we lived out there in the middle of nowhere in thecountry, you know what I mean?

So we were always playing sporting events and stuff likethat within the family. >> I had no idea you had sevenand brothers and sisters.

I didn't know that. >> Yeah.

>> So how's this been for all your brothers and sisters?

Do you know?

I don't know.

They write me steady.

We keep in contact with letters and stuff.

My real sister, she came up and visited me with my momand one of my adopted sisters.

So it's all good.

So how is it when you, first of all, how many visits haveyou received?

And how often do you get them since you've been here?

>> Well, I've only had one visit.

But I've also had disciplinary.

I've lost my visits for disciplinary reasons and stuff.

And I probably will be over sitting there visiting as soonas my six months is up, so. >> So you have been herealmost two years and you've only had one visit? >> Yeah.

>> Does that make you sad?

Is that hard to take? >> Yeah, it's pretty hard.

I mean I miss my family and stuff, and yeah, it's prettyhard..

So after all this happened, was your family, as far as insupport of you as they could be?

Did they, as far as they're concerned, for your momyou're still her son, and no matter what's said about youor written about you. >> Yeah, she told me in county thefirst time we visited and stuff, she said that she willalways be there and support me, know what I mean?

And she was going to stick by me no matter whathappen over the years.

>> What would you want people on the outside to knowabout you because I know your case became a highprofile case.

And so all people know about you, hopefully until nowwhen they can actually hear from you directly, all peopleknow about you is what they've read about you in thepaper. >> Right.

>> So what do you think people think of you on theoutside, versus who you really think you are?

First thing I think is I think they probably think, I mean Iwas a big trouble maker as a kid.

Going out robbing all the time and like some children areraised and stuff in cities and stuff.

But out in the country I mean you're just probably muchsecluded by yourself and wasn't a lot of criminal activityor influence around you or nothing. >> So you think theythought you were like a constant menace and- >>Probably.

>> But you never really were that. >> No.

>> And after the news hit, do you think that people lookat you as some cold-blooded killer or what do you thatthey think of you? >> It's hard to say, the people ofcourse that know me know different, but I think otherpeople in the society especially around my county andstuff probably think of me as a cold-blooded murderer orwhatever.

But if they knew me or whatever, or had a chance to talkto me they know different.

And I'm just pretty laid back you know what I mean.

I try not to get into any fights or anything.

And pretty much try to stay to myself, you know what Imean?

>> Is there anything that you would want anybodyinvolved with your case to know?

I mean did you ever have a chance to say you were sorryto anyone or be offered that opportunity? >> I wasoffered the opportunity in my county during mysentencing.

I was allowed to read a- >> Statement?

>> Statement to the victims and society and stuff, but.

I believe it wasn't accepted.

I'm not sure how it works but the prosecutor or somebodysaid that he waived it or something.

So I don't know how that works.

But yeah, I'd just like the victim and the family to knowthat I am sorry.

And if I could take that back, I would take it back.

And it was nothing personal, you know what I mean?

It was just a stupid kid making stupid mistakes, you knowwhat I mean?

And then my family and my community, I'd like to saythank you.

Sorry to all them and stuff.

And my brother is sorry for his misstep too so. >> Is thissomething that you go to bed with every night andwrestle with every night in your mind trying to getthrough? >> No, I wouldn't say every night.

I mean, I'll have my nights throughout the week orwhatever that I'll be thinking about mainly the time.

How much time there is over my head and stuff, and justabout what things could have changed or whatever.

And I mainly think about things that I didn't do that I wishI would have done.

You know what I mean?

Something I might have been too afraid to attempt or goout there and just put myself forward to do, you knowwhat I mean? >> So you can't really point to anything inyour past that would have made you end up doing whatyou did that night. >> I'm sure every family's got theirhardships and stuff.

Like me and my brother and my sister, we was putthrough several foster families and stuff.

I mean, my mom and dad, they were both arrested andwe was took from them by Child Protective Services andstuff as a young kid and stuff.

And, I don't know, that might have lead to something.

I don't know.

I saw a child therapist and stuff as a child, me and mybrother and my sister did.

But we was adopted into a pretty good family, you knowwhat I mean. >> So you're all three adopted? >> Yes.

>> I didn't know that.

So do you know how old you were when you wereadopted?

A baby or? >> Nah, I think I was about eight years old, Iwas, and my brother Blade, he was four years old, andmy sister, she was I think about six, seven. >> So youwere three biological >> Right. >> Children.

And you were all three adoped by your family now, yourmom and dad that you have now? >> Yeah.

>> And then they?

Did they end up?

So you were in foster care up until you were adopted?

Or you were adopted and then you were in foster careafter that? >> We was in foster care.

We went through several houses first.

Then we went to the foster family that we're currently wasadopted by.

And we stayed with them for so long.

Got a feel of things and decided, we have the decision todecide if want to be adopted by them in court and we allthree agreed to be adopted.

>> Okay.

Yeah, my real dad, I have a step-brother and a step-sister.

And on my mom's side, Brenda, I don't think she has anychildren.

And I hadn't talked to my real mom or dad for ten yearswhile I was adopted. >> No kidding. >> Yeah.

>> Really?

>> Cuz my mom was addicted real bad to drugs andstuff and- >> That sounds bad, real bad.

>> So we were just talking about the fact that you wereadopted.

So in your early years, all the way up until about ageeight, you actually saw probably a lot as a child, becauseyour biological, at least, mom, you said, right? >> Right.

>> Had some drug issues?

>> Yeah, she had drug issues.

I'm not sure which ones cuz we was young at the time.

But it was enough to affect.

And I know we never had enough food in the house ornothing, and dirty clothes and stuff.

We grew up in Bloomington.

As a child, I was born in Bloomington.

And yeah, so, it was enough to get noticed by childprotective services.

And they came and took us.

And my mom and my dad were separated before.

By then, so. >> So then from there you went into fostercare, a couple of different foster homes? >> Yeah, atleast two or three foster homes.

Maybe more, I can't remember.

It's been a while. >> Did you ever have any contact withyour biological mom and dad after you were taken awayfrom them?

Right after we's taken away from them for, I don't know,maybe a month or two, maybe a little longer, I don't know,we had visits with my mom.

She was in some kind of rehab program or something.

But eventually, for I don't know what reason, that wasstopped.

And for at least nine, ten years, we hadn't seen our realmom or our real dad or had any contact with them, in anysort of way.

So we were kept from them and they both reached me incounty when they saw my information on TV on me.

They both set there and wrote me and called me andstuff like that, or gave me their number and I called them.

>> Really? >> Yep.

>> So what did they say?

How did that go?

I first received a letter from my dad, at first I had to lookat the name two or three times cuz my dad's got thesame name as me.

And I had to see, I didn't know, you know what I mean?

And that was a pretty moving moment for me, cuz Ihadn't heard from him for a while.

And he was just asking pretty much for forgiveness andtelling me what happened.

And then I got a letter from my mom next and she wassitting there and asking me for forgiveness and that shehad a lot of her own demons to take care and drugs shehad to fight.

And so I believe they was both in prison.

I'm not sure.

At some time over things that's happened, but- >> Doyou think they feel responsible for where you are now?>> I'm sure they do blame themselves, but I don't see itas that way, I see it was my own mistakes and stuff.

I could have had any kind of life I wanted to live outthere.

And I chose to go, you know, drink and stuff like that, so.>> Do you remember your time in the child welfaresystem very vividly?

Or is that a distant memory? >> It's more of a blurry,distant memory, you know what I mean.

I remember like some kind of building or something, thatwe'd sit there and go and we'd talk with counselors andstuff.

Then they'd put us through like, we'd stay with atemporary home until they matched us up with a fosterfamily, we could go stay with.

And I think we transferred to two or three, maybe fourfoster families at the time. >> And were you all alwaystogether, the three of you always together to the samefoster family?

>> Yes, we was always stuck together, which I'm gratefulfor and stuff. >> Do you feel like you missed out on achildhood because of all that?

Do you ever think about that? >> Yeah, I'd say I had adifferent childhood than a lot of kids and yeah, I feel like Imissed out on a lot of things, you know what I mean?

Going to friends' houses and stuff, and just everything akid does.

But I've always had my brother and sister there with me,so that's been a little bit easier. >> How's your sisterbeen through all of this? >> I'm sure she was prettyshaken.

She didn't tell me, but she's writing to me and stuff, beingsupportive and stuff.

She just turned 18 not too long ago, and so she's doinggood. >> So she's not in the system at all? >> No, she'snever been in trouble with the justice system in any way.>> So if you had to describe to people who might bewatching this, how you get through to a day in adultprison when you're 17.

And you know you still have a long time ahead to serve,what would you tell them?

How do you get through?

I'd say, just have a hope, you know what I mean?

And keep pushing forward towards that hope.

You can always better yourself within the facility, andalways get yourself out, you just have to study, you knowwhat I mean?

Get your education and stuff and just don't give up thathope, you know what I mean?

Just go day to day. >> What would you wanna say to anyjudges, that a big part of what we're doing with this show.

Is looking at the issue of teenagers being sentenced asadults, and being placed in adult correctional facilities.

What would you want judges to know, about the reality ofwhat their sentencing means to kids like you? >> Well I'dsay that they should take into consideration, more thebackground of the child.

The child's childhood you know what I mean?

Take that more into consideration and stuff before theyget sentenced or wait til adult system, and also that Idon't believe prison systems are a place for children.

That they would not be more liable to rehabilitatethemselves, because there's a lot more negativeinfluence in here among the inmates themselves andstuff. >> If you could talk to decision makers, andpoliticians and people in the legal system.

Can you think of anything that you would think wouldwork, that could be, instead of sentencing a kid to adultprison, why don't you do this with teenagers who get introuble, or who have these offenses? >> I think thereshould be, boys' school, I've never been to one so I don'tknow how that runs.

But depending on the defense and stuff, Instead likesimple drug charges, something they may berehabilitated to.

Maybe at some kind of rehab or something, or basicallybe talked to counselors or something.

And they maybe getting more attention, cuz I'm sure a lotof children become mixed up in a criminal activities fromnot giving enough attention by parents, or their peers, orjust counselors or outside influence.

[INAUDIBLE] Good.

[INAUDIBLE] >> Ready? >> Yeah.

[INAUDIBLE] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> We just wanna[INAUDIBLE] but I guess we're good.

Let's try I have a few questions.

[SOUND] I knew it.

That should have done it.

[SOUND] My. >> Hello?

>> If you could.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> If you could turn back the clock andstart all over again, what would you want your life to belike?

What could you imagine your life will be if you could startall over?

If you could start just by saying if I could start all over?

>> If I could start all over with my life, I would hopefullysee myself with finishing school, and not ever getting introuble in school, and ended up dropping out.

And I had been a more positive influence for my brotherand my other siblings.

Would have just tried to keep them going, push them andhopefully have a job and stuff and progress in life, youknow what I mean? >> Would you say you have a feelingof guilt, do you feel like you have to live with a sense ofguilt? >> Yeah, there's a lot of guilt, you know what Imean?

I have to sit there and I know that I'm responsible foranything that happens, to end up here.

So you just have to keep going, you live with it. >> If wewere to come back and film with you the day you leaveprison, who's the Benny Reed we would see, the day wewatch you walk out of prison.

[SOUND] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> If we were to come backthe day, that you're released from prison.

Who's the Benny Reed that we would see walking out ofprison? >> Well, it'd be a lot different you know what Imean, because I would know that you can't just go outthere and do whatever you want, you know what I mean?

That you will be caught by the law and stuff.

I would definitely be putting a lot of thought into anyaction that I took, you know what I mean?

And I'd just be happy to be out of course, and you knowwhat I mean?

Be reunited with my family, so it'd be a lot different andimproved Benny.

You know he tried to lay below the law, you know what Imean? >> Any final thoughts? >> No.

Just that, you know, try and make positive choices in yourlife, so you don't end up here, you know what I mean?

>> One more time.

Any thoughts? >> Just you know, stay positive.

>> Maximum security.

>> Security prison.

It's like in the movies we'll go, take three.

So final thoughts? >> Just try and make positive choiceswhile you still got your freedom.

You know what I mean, and don't give it up to come here.

It's not a place you want to spend the rest of your life,you know what I mean?

>> I want you to show me that tattoo [LAUGH].

I wanna see if it's all the way up. >> Somebody in heredid that.

So tell me what it is? >> Well I like reading fiction, a lot offantasy.

So down here would be fantasy and you know dragoncastles stuff, and just spiders, I like spiders and stuff.

The skulls, none of its really got no symbolic meaning,other than just things I'm interested in, you know what Imean, favorite scenes and stuff. >> All completelyunauthorized.

>> Unauthorized.

>> Thank you so much