Testimony of Jose Vargas.
Good afternoon. I am thankful for the ministry of Claudia and Dr. Emerick who bring the Word of God that can change a life like I use to live. I attend every Sunday morning their Protestant Christian Service.
I am glad to be able to share my testimony to help others not make the mistakes I have made in my life. I have been sentenced to 15 years to life for my third DUI in which I was convicted of murder since two people died because of my actions.
I have had a lot of time to reflect, and correct the criminal thinking that landed me behind these prison walls. I am truly every sorry for the crime I have committed. I have written both the families of my victims and have expressed how extremely remorseful I am. My amends from now on, is a living amends. I am no longer the same person who walked and sat into court, and prison 15 years ago.
I have now served 15 years (in December) of imprisonment on the Progressive Programming Facility (PPF). The PPF prison facility sets a much higher standard for inmate conduct and program participation than is the case for other prison facilities. Thus, in terms of the typical prison yard, the PPF yard is “exceptional.” Inmates who qualify for assignment to the PPF yard and demonstrate, as I have demonstrated, the ability to successfully program, on this yard are considered “exceptional”, and are considered to be engaged in self-improvement, and community service programs requiring reflecting extraordinarily behavior beyond merely complying with CDCR regulations. Indeed, the fact the PPF yard has one of the highest percentages of sentence commutations, and release of long-term offenders among California prisons strongly suggest that the prisoners who are successfully programming on the PPF yard are evidencing changes in themselves that would likely render them to be a positive asset to the community upon their release.
I have also made it my daily practice to counsel the younger prisoners against violence, drugs. Participation in gangs, prison politics, and other negative antisocial endeavors. I also invite all whom I encounter and socially engage to visit and get involved in fellowship in their church. I consider these activities to be my way of contributing to bettering and improving the conditions of existence in the community in which I live. This behavior is beyond what the CDCR asks of or expects from me and it is readily transferable to life outside of the prison. I have been proactive to create and share programs teaching exercise skills, healthy eating habits, and applying Biblical principles to everyday problems and aspects of life.
I have not confined my efforts to be of benefit, and assistance to others to the prison environment. I have also committed myself to reaching out to my immediate, and extended family members by providing counsel, advice, and guidance through correspondence visits, and pre-paid telephone communications. My principal message to my family and relatives is to stay in school; find a way to embrace God, and keep God in their lives; avoid drugs, alcohol, and gangs, get a good job, and learn how to be independent, and self-sufficient. I experience a sense of self-fulfillment, and personal worth in being able to provide guidance, and assistance to young people who are struggling to find their own place in life to make a way forward for themselves.
My faith in God as well as the programming I’ve completed here are key to my rehabilitation. I have had a lot of time to reflect, and correct the criminal thinking that landed me behind these prison walls. I am truly every sorry for the crime I have committed.
One thing I have learned is that there are no loss causes in the Kingdom of God. My being born was not a mistake. God even though I did not obey Him in the beginning of my life God has given me another chance to know and live for Him.