About William
If I could write the story of my life so far, the beginning would be full of adversity and failures. I made a lot of bad choices, and looking back I realize that the majority of issues that I came to face were of my own creation. I was never a bad person, I just made bad decisions, or at least I didn't realize at the time all of the good choices that were available. I allowed myself to choose a path with only one negative direction, and because of those decisions, I've been incarcerated since August, 2006.
To quote Paulo Coelho, "The reward of our work is not what we get, but what we become." My actions as a youth rewarded me with the greatest trials of my life; but from the beginning of my twenty-five-year sentence I realized that I wanted to become more than I had been up until that point. I wasn't sure the direction that I needed to go, or the exact path to arrive there, I only knew that I needed to work hard to move toward the man that I was supposed to be.
To start my journey, I took the placement test to be enrolled in classes to receive my GED. To my disappointment, out of a group of around twenty offenders I received the lowest score. However, this disappointment only motivated me to work ever harder, and within three months I had the highest score in the class. When I took my GED exam I passed with exceedingly high scores and almost scored perfect in Social Studies and English.
From there I was enrolled in community college through a program at the prison, and I received my associates degree with a 4.0 GPA. Currently I'm striving to complete a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I've also completed a four-year (eight thousand hour) apprenticeship program from the Virginia Apprenticeship Counsel, and I am presently certified as a Journeyman in the sheet metal trade.
With an ongoing desire to continue evolving into the best version of myself, I found that my new found drive to continually seek opportunities for continued self growth only went to improve all aspects of my life. I was awarded the opportunity to bring art to the institutions where I resided, and was able to lift the spirits of those around me through the numerous large scale mural paintings that I painted on the prison walls. I was further rewarded for my constant and continued good behavior by the lowering of my security level. When I first started this journey, I did so at a level 4, and now reside at a level 1 field unit.
One of the opportunities I have become the most thankful for, is being able to hopefully impact the lives and decisions of those who are incarcerated alongside me in a positive way. At my last institution I was an elder within the re-entry program and I was able to hold seminars speaking to hundreds of offenders about growth and change. Additionally, I helped facilitate courses such as the Victim Impact program, Thinking for a Change and Substance Abuse. I was even able to help create the first Prison Fellowship program at SBCC, which is a Christian based year long extensive re-entry course for offenders.
I've taken this time, these fifteen plus years, and I’ve worked hard and tirelessly to mold myself into a new man, this better version of myself. I look in the mirror now, and I don't see that kid who received twenty-five years in prison anymore. I see a person who worked hard through difficult and opposing circumstances to make himself, and those who love him, proud. I have a purpose in life now, self awareness, realistic expectations and goals for my future. Now, I'm only patiently waiting for my opportunity to be able to expand on this growth, continue to thrive as the man I have become and be provided an opportunity to begin my life again.
William's Words
Tattooing for Prisoners as Rehabilitation
A new concept, absolutely. Frowned upon, well let’s just say that the prison staff isn’t overlooking tattooing. So to start this off on the right foot, my goal isn’t to change the prison system, but to hopefully shift the outlook of the tattoo community.
Being the son of bikers, I’ve always been around and interested in tattoos. The problem was, I didn’t know I could draw. My first experience tattooing was at the regional jail. An inmate showed me how to “pluck” a tattoo using a sharpened staple (the logistics are similar to Tebori). One dot at a time I tattooed, and honestly I got pretty good. More importantly though, I realized with practice I had the potential to become an artist.
When I was released, my roommate bought me a tattoo gun starter kit with the agreement that I would do his tattoos for free. For me this was a win/win situation and I must say going from “plucking” a tattoo to a real tattoo gun was like giving a caveman a lighter. Yet, I still didn’t regard tattooing as a career, and unfortunately I was running the streets so much that I didn’t dedicate the time and respect to the craft as I should have.
Now, because of those streets, I’m locked up again and this time in prison. Even though I am not tattooing while I’m incarcerated, I’m preparing myself to pursue an apprenticeship upon my release. Through the years I’ve been studying art and all the tattoo material I can find. I’m only a few credits away from receiving an associate’s degree in Arts and Sciences with a 4.0 GPA and I practice different mediums of art daily. Through my journey I’ve come to realize the passion and devotion needed, not only to further my tattooing ability, but to succeed in life.
The employment opportunity for felons is slim in an already bare market. Let alone the stigma in the tattoo community of a jailhouse tattooist. Nonetheless, this has been my saving grace and rehabilitation. Once I am released I can start on a path to becoming a tattoo artist, as I aspire to be a positive influence in the community. We all have a past, but what matters is we’ve found our respective way to the beauty of tattooing. So the next time a felon walks into your studio with a portfolio and a dream, maybe – just maybe – you’ll give them a chance. Because who knows, that person might be me.
Letter to Public
I hope this reaches you in the best of health and spirits. My name is William, but most call me Will. I am currently incarcerated and serving a 25 year sentence. Many would naturally think that since I received such a long prison sentence I must have committed some type of act of violence, but I never physically hurt anyone. In Virginia the court recommends sentencing guidelines for a judge to administer a sentence within. The sentencing guidelines for my crime recommended a sentence from 9 years and 3 months to 14 years and 7 months; with that in mind the judge sentenced me to almost double the recommended maximum sentence. I've made mistakes in my life and have now served almost 9 years of the 25 year sentence for those mistakes. I truly regret my actions that lead to my incarceration. I've asked God for forgiveness and now all I can do is try to move forward in a positive way. I've tried the best I could to better myself through my incarceration. I started by getting my GED and now I only need 7 more credits to complete an Associate’s Degree from Southside Virginia Community College with a 4.0 GPA. I'm also currently in my second of a 4 year apprenticeship program to become certified as a Journeyman in the sheet metal trade; which I first had to complete a yearlong sheet metal vocational program to become eligible for. When I was first incarcerated I started at one of the highest security level prisons in Virginia, and now due to good behavior I'm at one of the lowest levels. Those are just a few highlights, but I've tried my best to utilize every class, program and opportunity that I've come across to better myself as a man and prepare for when the day finally comes that I'm released. My lawyer and I are planning on petitioning for a conditional pardon from the Governor in 2016, and we need all the support and positive publicity we can get. I am blessed to have my family and a growing community advocating for my release. One of the many things they've done so far was creating an informational website so people can research my case. The website gives in-depth details by the Commonwealth’s attorney of the incident I'm incarcerated for, and also our mission and how to help gain my freedom. The web address is www.freedom4william.wix.com/freedom4william.. Whether it's helping us to gain support from your community or advice on how to raise attention to my situation. We need all the help we can get. We also have an online petition at Change.org and the direct link is below and every signature counts; http://chn.ge/1QG9NoK Any help you may be able to give would be greatly appreciated. Lastly, no matter what may come of this, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my letter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. God bless.
Sincerely,
William Brewer III
Email: advocateva@outlook.com
Website: www.freedom4william.wix.com/freedom4william
William's Words, Photographs and Art (subpages)
(c) Freedom4William