Cape Argus E-dition

Children caught in life of crime

TRACY-LYNN RUITERS tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

AN ex-prisoner has for the past 14 years voluntarily returned to Pollsmoor to help juvenile offenders leave prison different people.

Patrick Petersen was incarcerated in 1995 at the age of 17 for armed robbery, theft, attempted murder and police assault.

And after more than a decade in prison, Petersen now spends his time back in Pollsmoor encouraging young offenders to make better choices.

“I was 17 when I first came to Pollsmoor prison. I was young and thought the only thing I was good for was smuggling (contraband) inside.

“I fell victim to my surroundings, just like many youngsters who believe that joining a gang would mean getting the best family you can.

“But let me tell you, this is far from the best, because once you make that blood covenant with the devil himself, you trapped.

“There is no freedom, only one gate in and no gate out and that’s not what the youth should feel like.”

Petersen recalled one of his most terrifying days inside prison when he was finally convicted after his seventh arrest.

“It was more than 16 years ago, but I remember it as if it was yesterday. I cried, alone inside my cell because you can’t cry when people are around you, it’s seen as a weakness.

“I questioned God. I quickly had to wipe my tears when they came to fetch me to join the other inmates, it was then that I realised how (isolated) I was.”

Petersen said when he was released at the age of 28, he made the decision to turn his life around.

“As soon as I made that change, and accepted God, things looked up for me. I made sure the only time I would come back was when I needed to share my testimony.

“It wasn’t easy but that was the best decision I could have made, because now I have my own business and I belong to a beautiful support group with my church, and I can also speak to the youth.”

Petersen said when he goes to the medium B5 juvenile section of the prison which houses close to 300 youngsters, he tells them it was never too late to turn their life around.

“This can become a vicious cycle. When you come in you are not a number, you are a frans (commoner), because you don’t belong to a camp.

“So as soon as you get moved over to the adult section you have to choose a number, and the only way you can do this is by making that blood covenant (stabbing a warden), this can extend your sentence even more.

“The young people are often the ones who get targeted to partake in this ritual because they come over without a number, and then they fall into the trap of prison.

“I call it a trap because I recently spoke to a prisoner who is over 60 years old, he came in young and is still here because of that covenant. That is why it is important to get to the youth while they are still in the juvenile cells, to make sure they make the right decisions.”

“It is never too late for them.”

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2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281612424083834

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