I want to first Thank You for taking the time out to read my story.
My name is Kelsey A. Thomas, CDC number D-83629, and I was arrested in 1986, at the age of 28, for Robbery Murder. I was charged with First Degree Murder Special Circumstances, in 1986. In 1988, I was found guilty and sentence to Life Without the Possibility of Parole.
I am the son of Augusta & Glossie Mae Thomas, both rest in peace since my incarceration. They moved to California in the 50’s from Jackson Mississippi seeking a better life for themselves and kids, me and (3) other siblings. I was born in 1957 and am now 65 years old. My parents both worked two jobs and worked six days out the week. to provide for us. They left home at 5:00 am and returned home late at night, we would all be asleep, so the only time we really seen them or spent time together was on Sundays.
When I was young, I use to ask my father when can we play together? And he would say, son, if I don’t work, we don’t eat! I would wonder what does that mean? And walk away disappointed. So I basically raised myself from childhood and made a lot of bad decisions.
Hanging in the neighborhood with my homeboys. I joined a gang at age 13 and started getting in trouble going to juvenile hall, which eventually landed me in prison. In prison at that time it was Discrimination, Racism, Violence, No self Help Groups, so trying to stay alive was priority. In the 2000’s CDC started offering self-help group and by that time I was older and my way of thinking had started to change, I was making better decisions. I went back to school and got my G.E.D, I also took classes on Alternatives to Violence, to understand and get different solutions to violence. I took classes on Victim Sensitivity, because I needed to understand the impact on my victims, other victims of crime their families, as well as society has suffered from crime. It made me cry in front of a class of men I didn’t know to finally understand the harm & pain I cause so many people.
I took Gang Awareness, to better understand the role it played in my life? I learned I did a lot of things for acceptance and it fulfilled the absence of my father not being in my life. I took Anger Management, and it took me back to my childhood. Opened up feelings I had been suppressing, I didn’t know from not being able to spend time with my father who I admired so much. This anger manifested in my way of thinking, feeling, and actions. It gave me solutions to address and deal with them in positive ways that I use to help other. I also completed numerous other groups, college courses at Coastline & Bakersfield Colleges receiving A & B’s. I received Certificates recently from Vocational Welding. On May 8, 2021, my daughter passed at age 42 from colon cancer. I am now 65 years old with numerous serious health conditions. I am married to a very wonderful religious woman for 36 years now, with (4) kids and (12) grandkids. I have spent most of my life in prison and my remorse and empathy is deeply felt & expressed. I have started my redemption while incarcerated by being a facilitator helping other inmates with their personal development education, gang awareness, criminal thinking, to better themselves. I will spend the rest of my life helping others, by way of Living Amends.
I am truly remorseful & ashamed for the crimes I have committed. By permanently banishing me from society and the opportunity for restoration to the communities, foreclose the possibility of the meaningful atonement and redemption that embodies recognition of the harm caused! Those of us who has really changed, educated ourselves for the better, are the ones who will be assets to the communities, youth’s, parents and society if given the chance. I am a God-fearing man who pray the truth’s in my story is considered in any decision making.
Sincerely,
Kelsey A. Thomas
Kelsey Thomas-D83629
CSP/Corcoran
PO Box 3481/4B2R-B38
Corcoran, CA 93212