My name is Joseph Castro.
I’m twenty-eight years old, and I am currently in my 8th year of incarceration on a Life Without Parole sentence for murder. I was nineteen years old when the crime occurred and twenty years old when I was arrested. The victim’s name is Kelly Hunt and he was senselessly murdered at the age of twenty-one. On that day, instead of being a friend, I was a coward and words can never express the amount of shame and guilt I carry for my actions.
Today, through the word of God, groups such as: AVE, Victim Awareness, CGAM and Prep, I am no longer oblivious to the destruction I have caused through my actions. Through educating myself I have gained more insight into my past criminal behavior, which has had an immense effect on my rehabilitation. I am no longer the selfish, impulsive, and ignorant kid I was before coming to prison. I have a clear understanding of who I truly am instead of hiding behind several masks that helped me cope with my insecurities and pain.
I owe it to Kelly Hunt and his family to live a life that reflects the remorse I have and to continue to live a full life of making amends. I was part of the problem in my community out there and even here in prison. However, I believe that change was possible, I started working towards change and now through the grace of God, I am giving back. I now facilitate turning point through PREP, Facilitate AVP. I am a part of ARC because Scott Budnick cared about me and now, I am apart of WordsUncaged with Dr. Roy and Ray Adornetto. My mission is to show others that change is possible and that we owe it to our victims to show our change in order to give them some sort of healing.
“Reach One, Teach One” is something I live by daily. I am sorry for all the pain I caused. Never again will I victimize another human being. True understanding of the magnitude of pain I caused through my reckless behavior has humbled me. I am changing my whole life in such a positive way. Change is Possible.