This is another true story of an inmate serving 25 years to life under the California Three Strikes Law. Story number 5 of California’s great law takes place in Los Angeles.

   Nickerson Gardens Projects in Watts is no picnic for a child. Even today the people there are afraid to come out of their houses in fear a being killed or raped. Terry Moses grew up there and at the age of ten he committed his first crime of stealing something simple. He was already exposed to murders, rapes and robberies. At this age a child is suppose to see what life has to offer. What Terry Moses experienced at a young age was the harsh truth and reality. He fell in the epidemic of drugs in the 1980’s which we all have read about, but some how ignored all these years.

In the early 1980’s, Mr. Moses life took a dive into drugs and crime. What he grew up with was now a part of his life. Prison to him was like a revolving door. Once he got out, the drugs and crime became his friend again. But where was the help that he should have got? Why wasn’t any one there to help this man? The system knew he had a drug problem from before.  Was it cheaper to keep putting him in and out of prison instead of getting him the help he needed to turn his life around? (California tax payer pays $26,000.00 for each inmate for what?)

Due to the Three Strikes Law Terry Moses priors would keep him from seeing the outside of life again. Under the Three Strikes law he is sentenced to a slow death behind bars. The last time Terry Moses enjoyed the outside was 1995.

Since Mr. Moses has been confined to the state prison, He has written a book called:

Married to the Streets – for better or for Worse

Publisher – First Books Library

ISBN- 0-7596-8818-4

ISBN-0-7596-8817-6

Also at Barnes &Noble, Walden Book stores

I have read this book, which will take you to the other side of life. But what is enough for these men and women that are doing time when they should be getting help? Yes, what they have done is wrong, but let the crime fit the time. How many more like Mr. Moses will we just stuff into the prisons and hope that they will just go away? How many more murders will be let out of prison instead of letting out non violet offenders and getting them help?

Truth is a hard thing to face, but reality is even harder.

All proceeds from Mr. Moses’s book goes to his daughter who is eleven. Even though he cannot be with her, he can still be a part of her life and in seeing her grow up.

Footnote: Last week in Los Angeles a 6 year old boy was shot in the head by a drive by shooter while on his way home from Church with his family. How many months or years must we stand by a watch our children innocents be destroyed.