Getting Released From Jail

After one year as a juvenile delinquent, he would be released back into society, but on a sort of form of parole. James explains, “For me, it was a no-brainer. I knew if I went to maximum security for youth, a guy like me probably wouldn’t have a good experience.”

A Turning Point In His Young Life

From the time he was released from prison until the time he would be eligible to join the military, authorities needed to do something with James to keep him occupied. James shared, “In between, they stuck me in a boys camp in Santa Barbara. We were on the second line of fighting forest fires. To see those firefighters in action and have them respect me meant a lot, and shaped me as a man. That’s when I first realized I could be helpful to people instead of being nefarious.”