Sent To Adult Prison At Thirteen-Brittany

Quick Overview

Brittany, who was sent to adult prison at age thirteen due to a violent crime involving her stepfather's gun, states that the experience severely impacted her life, leading to constant emotional difficulties and a resulting lack of trust in authority figures, though she now works as a tattoo artist in Loveland, Colorado, and advocates for juvenile justice reform.

Key Points: Brittany was sent to adult prison at age thirteen for a violent crime involving her stepfather's gun. She spent four and a half years in custody, with the first year in the county jail and the rest in the YOS (Youth Offender System) facilities. She believes the direct filing of juveniles as adults, especially those from impoverished or marginalized backgrounds, sets a precedent that is detrimental. The experience caused lasting emotional difficulties, including a tendency to attract abusive or controlling relationships later in life. She attributes her current success as a tattoo artist in Loveland, Colorado, to her own efforts after release, as her family could not afford legal representation. Brittany advocates for juvenile justice reform, particularly opposing direct filing and harsh sentencing for minors. She notes that her father, a former police officer, apologized to her father after she was released, acknowledging the negative impact of the system.

Context: This video is an interview segment from the 'Soft White Underbelly' series by Mark Laita, focusing on the life story of Brittany from Loveland, Colorado. Brittany shares details about her traumatic childhood, including being incarcerated in an adult facility at thirteen, the subsequent emotional fallout, and how she rebuilt her life afterward as a professional tattoo artist.

Detailed Analysis

Brittany recounts the pivotal moment of being sent to adult prison at age thirteen, citing emotional neglect and abuse from her parents as primary reasons for her susceptibility to negative influences, which led to a violent crime involving her stepfather's gun. She was convicted of first-degree burglary and served a sentence resulting in her spending four and a half years incarcerated, with the initial year spent in county jail before transferring to the Youth Offender System (YOS) facilities. She explains that direct filing of juveniles as adults, particularly those from poor or minority backgrounds who lack resources like legal representation, sets a harmful precedent, as the system often fails to provide true rehabilitation. Brittany notes that the trauma of prison, surrounded by potentially dangerous individuals (including rapists and murderers), created a lasting impact, fostering a lack of trust in adults and setting her up for continued emotional difficulties, such as seeking out abusive relationships post-release. Despite this, she credits her own efforts for her current stability, working as a tattoo artist in Loveland, Colorado, and she advocates for juvenile justice reform. She also mentions that her father, a former police officer, apologized to her own father after her release, recognizing the system's failure. She concludes by reflecting that while the experience was devastating, the kindness shown by some inmates during her time in prison was a positive contrast to the systemic failures she experienced.