My name is Tamara Hinkle. At the age of nineteen (19), I was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP), for a murder/robbery.
I grew up in a dysfunctional and abusive home where I didn’t feel loved. I turned to weed and alcohol trying to numb the bad feelings that I had. I was sexually abused by two pedophiles before I reached seven (7) years old.
Searching for love and belonging, I became a mistress to men of the streets. I gave my body to them in exchange for gifts. They played on my ignorance and made me feel like I was important.
A family friend needed my help to pay for a drug debt that she owed and I agreed to help her out of fear of her losing her life. We robbed a gas station and while struggling with the attendant, the gun went off and he was killed. That was never my intention.
The man whose life I took was someone’s father, uncle, and son. I had no right to take his life. For these actions I am very sorry. I deserved to be punished for my actions. However, I also believe that I deserve a second chance at life outside of these prison walls.
I graduated business school at the age of 17 and I thought my life was on the right track. I was on my way to becoming a lawyer and giving myself a better life. Unfortunately, that was not to be. I used to think that only drug addicts were rescued by being imprisoned, but I realize now that I too was rescued from abuse, trauma, and mental illness.
I have gained insight about how to make choices to live my life with integrity through attending self-help groups, such as Convicted Women Against Abuse, Beyond Violence, and Restorative Justice. These groups have helped me understand why I thought, believed, and behaved in the negative and unhealthy way that I did. I have received my certificate in Business Literacy of Career Development and obtained 20 units towards my AA degree in General Business.
My goal is to share my story, my struggles, and my journey so that other women are able to learn from my mistakes as well as my recovery that there are positive, healthy choices which will lead to them becoming better women and better people. With my degrees and certificates, I plan to own and operate transitional/sober living homes for parolees to begin a new life. I also plan to advocate for those that are still incarcerated via PREP/Fair Chance and the ARC programs.
One Love