Glen Albrecht

Home After 21 Years

Glen is Home For Good with his friends and family after serving 21 years in prison.

Glen first entered custody at age 16, beginning a long cycle of incarceration. He was later sentenced to 25 years-to-life for first-degree burglary – his “Third Strike.”

A long history of abuse and trauma led Glen into the system to begin with. He grew up in an abusive household, experiencing early exposure to alcohol and drugs, which would become the drivers for his later offenses.

Despite the looming fear that he would spend the rest of his life in prison, Glen was ultimately determined to turn his life around. He began attending programs rigorously, including therapy, substance recovery, and self-improvement courses. These new experiences opened the door for self-exploration, unveiling much of the trauma of his past. Through intensive self-exploration and hard work, Glen was able to heal old wounds and turn his life around, fulfilling his late mother’s wish for him to become his best self.

At the recommendation of the Merced County District Attorney’s Office and with For The People’s support, Glen was resentenced to 12 years. In 2023, he was released and reunited with his loved ones. Now 77 years old, Glen continues attending programs and spends time with his partner.

His story exemplifies the potential of Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing to provide second chances while prioritizing public safety. Let’s bring more people like Glen home.

Canesha Sinclair

Home After 19 Years

Canesha endured a traumatic childhood, witnessing death and addiction, then experiencing abuse throughout her youth. Seeking mentorship and guidance, she fell in with the wrong crowd. At 20 years old, Canesha was sentenced to 43 years in prison for robbery and assault with a firearm. This was her first time being sentenced as an adult.

While incarcerated, Canesha was committed to growth and transformation. She completed 70 self-improvement courses, as well as earning her GED, two associate degrees, and multiple vocational certifications. She also founded a gang prevention program to help incarcerated women understand the drivers of their original offense and support them in their ongoing rehabilitation. In prison, Canesha was known for her desire to step into positions of leadership as a facilitator, and for her generosity (she donated a number of times to various initiatives while incarcerated).

After serving 19 years and 6 months inside, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office recommended Canesha’s release, recognizing her commitment to transformation. For The People supported the resentencing process under our Together Home initiative which aims to safely bring more women and mothers home.

Today, Canesha is living in transitional housing, where she is supporting and being supported by other women who are reentering their communities after prison. Canesha is currently four courses away from earning her Bachelor’s Degree and is working as a Peer Mentor. 

We’re so grateful to be part of her journey. Let’s bring more people like Canesha home!

Salvador Vasquez

Home After 13 Years

Salvador was sentenced to 25-years-to-life when he was 18 years old. He was released from prison after 13 years when Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig recommended his release.

While incarcerated, Salvador actively participated in self-improvement programs—including anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous—as well as enrolling in college courses and holding various job positions. 

Salvador continues to be motivated by his close relationships with his wife, father, brother, and lifelong friends from elementary school– who all serve as positive influences and help keep him goal-oriented. Outside of personal connections, he enjoys working in shipping logistics, ensuring that affordable foods are delivered to his community. In his free time, Salvador enjoys fishing, barbecues, playing soccer, days at the beach with his family, and spending time with his young nieces and nephews.

Salvador is excited to be buying a house with his wife and growing their family in the near future. His love for cooking, which began during his time in prison, has only grown stronger. He dreams of one day opening a taco restaurant with his wife. 

We are so grateful to be part of Salvador’s journey. Let’s bring more people like Salvador home! 

Dena Hernandez

Home After 13 Years

Throughout her childhood, Dena suffered long-term abuse. She sought mentorship and connection in her peers, who led her down the wrong path. At 18 years old, Dena was sentenced to 28 years in prison for carjacking with gang enhancements. She was released from prison after 13 years when the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office recommended her release.

While incarcerated, Dena wholeheartedly committed herself to rehabilitation, participating in numerous self-improvement programs, including mentorship opportunities and substance recovery.

Today, Dena is a Behavioral Health Technician at a detox center, where she supports people struggling with substance abuse. She is also enrolled in college, pursuing a business degree. Outside of work, Dena treasures family time most, enjoying activities like having lunch with her mom and hiking with her sister.

Dena hopes to use her business degree to help incarcerated youth in juvenile halls, where she once was. She aims to provide them with work opportunities that will help them develop the skills that were essential to her own transformation.

Dena became the first woman released from prison under our new initiative #TogetherHome. This initiative is raising awareness about the unique challenges incarcerated women face, and supporting prosecutors to safely bring women home from prison.

Eric Braswell

Home After 23 Years

Eric Braswell is, at heart, a true people person. As a maintenance technician, one of his favorite things is helping people and connecting with them at work. He says, “It’s the best job I’ve ever had. When they have plumbing issues, flooding, or they’re having a hard day…to see them with that sigh of relief at the end makes everything worth it.”

Just a couple of years ago, Eric was facing a sentence of 41-years-to-life. But he returned home from prison after serving 23 years, when San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan used Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing to recommend his release.

Now 56 years old, Eric lives with his father, and they share a strong sense of faith. Eric is also a voracious reader and podcast listener. He is deeply interested in history and motivational speaking—anything that sharpens the mind.

As someone who loves to fix and tinker with things, Eric’s newfound hobby is flying drones. It allows him to explore nature in his hometown. He says one of the most bewildering sights after coming home from prison was the horizon line: “Seeing the ocean, the openness, the mountains, the horizon… I hadn’t seen that in 23 years.” We are so grateful that Eric is home, and we can’t wait to see all of the amazing things on his horizon.

Peter Heyberger

Home After 22 Years

Peter Heyberger returned home from prison in 2020 after Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen recommended his release to the court. In 1997, Mr. Heyberger was sentenced to 65 years-to-life under California's "Three Strikes" law for residential burglary and attempted residential burglary. More than two decades of hard work and rehabilitation later, Peter returned home to his family.

Today, Peter is dedicated to his work as an electrician and maintenance worker for a construction company that prioritizes housing for unhoused communities, veterans, and low-income individuals.

“I feel proud of my work because I get to house homeless people, which is very important to me, as someone who was once unhoused myself”, shared Peter.

Peter finds motivation in being a dependable figure for his community. He is deeply committed to his faith and spends his free time reading scripture. Peter also makes it a point to travel and be present for family gatherings in multiple states. His most cherished memory is experiencing the awe-inspiring nature of Oregon, as well as reuniting with his nieces and nephews in person after nearly 30 years.

“I get to see my family and be a normal citizen again. I live on my own, pay my own bills– I’m extremely proud and grateful to be able to take care of myself and my loved ones. That’s what a second chance means to me.”

Alwin Smith

Home After 21 Years

Alwin is the first person to be resentenced in Riverside County under Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing. This is in huge part due to District Attorney Michael Hestrin’s commitment to reviewing unjust sentences and to Alwin’s attorney Milena Blake.

Alwin was initially convicted to 65-years-to-life for second-degree robbery and possession of a controlled substance. After serving 21 years and diving deep into his rehabilitation, Alwin is finally home. While incarcerated, Alwin immersed himself in spiritual education as a means for rehabilitation. In addition to focusing on his spirituality, Alwin dedicated himself to living a substance-free life. Through his Christian faith and his dedication to tackling his addiction, Alwin transformed his life and now has a valuable set of tools that will assist him as he returns home.

Throughout his incarceration, Alwin made friends with fellow incarcerated men and maintained contact once those friends were released. These friends are now working at reentry organizations including the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the Flintridge Center. These formerly incarcerated men have pledged to help Alwin successfully navigate the reentry process and to share their own experiences with him.  Today, Alwin resides in Los Angeles County and works at the nonprofit Root & Rebound to ensure robust reentry for others returning home from prison. He also volunteers to provide showers and food for people experiencing homelessness. We are so grateful to witness Alwin’s journey.

Phillip Villanueva

Home After 21 Years

At work as a forklift operator, Phillip Villanueva is known for his big smile and for always being on the move. Outside work, Phillip is calm and introspective, frequenting his local park after work to meditate and read scripture. Carving out a couple of hours each day to be with himself in nature is incredibly important to Phillip, especially after serving 21 years of a 25-year-to-life sentence for robbery. 

Over a year ago, Phillip frequented the prison library often behind bars. One day in the library, he came across a resource on Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing – and soon realized his case met all of the criteria. 

Equipped with experience training dogs as service animals for veterans, a long list of rehabilitative programs, and recommendation letters from corrections officers and counselors behind him, Phillip wrote to his District Attorney. Much to his surprise, Phillip received a PIR packet to continue the process. In the six months that followed, his life changed entirely when the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office recommended Phillip’s release to the court. Phillip came home in January 2022.

Today, Phillip enjoys work, riding his bike, rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spending time with his wife. He leans into his faith for guidance and actively seeks opportunities to mentor youth or people struggling with addiction. After being a dog trainer in prison with Paws For Life K9 Rescue to support people with PTSD, Phillip recently adopted his very own dog.

Thanh Tran

Home After 10 Years

Today, Thanh Tran is a devoted father, loving husband, caring brother, documentary filmmaker, and policy expert. He co-founded and co-hosted the podcast Uncuffed, and also co-founded the incarcerated film production team ForwardThis Productions. Today, he is the Director of the documentary Finding Ma and the Policy Consultant at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, where he provides leadership and works in coalitions for state and local policy campaigns.

As his filmmaking explores, Thanh faced deep-seated traumatic events early on in his childhood, starting when he was placed in foster care at 18 months old. Over the years, Thanh sought mentorship and guidance among his peers, and ended up with the wrong crowd. When he was only 18 years old, Thanh agreed to commit a robbery with two of his friends. His role was to ring the doorbell and ensure no one was home before the robbery. Unbeknownst to him, his co-defendant carried a gun and shot at the victim who was home. Thanh pled nolo contendere to one count of attempted first degree robbery and one count of attempted murder with a gang enhancement. Thereafter, in April 2014, the Santa Clara County Superior Court sentenced Thanh to a total term of 17 years in state prison.

Entering the prison system at only 21, Thanh was determined to make a change. He joined the public speaking group Toastmasters and became their president. After that, he immersed himself in a wide range of programming including trust awareness, restorative justice roundtable, Restoring Our Original True Selves (“R.O.O.T.S.”), alternatives to violence, inner strength course group, child abuse awareness, the trauma recovery program, the 3 Rs program (re-educate, recovery, rehabilitate), nonviolent communication, the youth offender program, among others. This doesn’t even begin to account for all the education, tech literacy, podcasting, and storytelling Thanh did behind bars. On May 4, 2022, at the recommendation of District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Thanh was resentenced to time served. He served 10 years, and had 7 years remaining on his sentence. 

We met Thanh in person for the first time as he crossed the San Quentin Prison gates. This time, instead of walking towards a prison cell, Thanh walked in the opposite direction towards a crowd: his closest friends, colleagues, siblings, wife, and daughter awaited him to celebrate his freedom. Thanh finally returned home thanks to his many supporters, his close friend Isaiah Love, For The People’s Staff Attorney Lizzie Lockwood, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. 

Joseph Sisneros

Home After 11 Years

In 2010, when he was 19 years old, Joseph and two friends made a series of choices while intoxicated that led to convictions for robbery, assault and battery, personal infliction of great bodily injury, dissuading a witness, and criminal street gang activity.  On May 17, 2012, the court sentenced Joseph to a total term of 22 years-to-life in state prison.

Joseph  was born in Sacramento, CA and grew up around family members who struggled with substances. The family moved around so many times that they eventually lost count. Growing up in a chaotic environment with a lack of adult guidance, Joseph began getting into trouble and acting out the turmoil he felt inside. 

Upon entering prison, Joseph immersed himself in rehabilitative programming, furthering his education and working diligently in a variety of highly-skilled jobs. He completed programs in anger management, positive parenting, creative conflict resolution, among others. Joseph also took initiative and obtained his GED.

On September 23, 2021, at the recommendation of District Attorney Jeff Reisig, the court resentenced Joseph to time served. Now 30 years old, Joseph served 11 years in prison and had 11 years to life remaining on his sentence. Today, he is home with his loving siblings, grandparents, and parents. He drives trucks for Pepsi, moved his grandmother and sisters into his home, and can once again act as the glue of his tight knit family.

Troy Dunmore

Home After 26 Years

In January 1995, Troy and a co-defendant robbed a Round Table Pizza restaurant. Troy and his co-defendant  made the victims more afraid by forcing them in the bathroom. He was subsequently convicted of second-degree robbery and false imprisonment, and sentenced to 65 years-to-life in state prison.

Troy was born in Guantanamo Bay, where his family was stationed due to military service. He was continuously displaced and exposed to substances throughout his childhood, which led down a path that culminated in his incarceration. Rather than give up all hope of leaving prison, Troy entered his last prison term determined to rehabilitate himself. 

He immediately got sober and has been since 1995, attending regular self-help and addiction recovery meetings. Troy also took full advantage of an array of programming such as reentry preparation, anger management, self-help groups, alternatives to violence, among many others. He prioritized his education with multiple courses, including college level courses in English, comparative religions, Spanish, American government, Shakespeare, vocational training courses, and computer literacy. 

In October 2021, District Attorney Summer Stephan recommended Troy for resentencing, and the court ordered his release. At  58 years old, Troy had served 26 years in prison and had 39-years-to-life remaining on his sentence. He is currently a recovery counselor in San Francisco, as well as pursuing a higher education degree. We are so thrilled to see him thrive. 

You can hear more about Troy’s story firsthand in For The People’s webinar. 

Allan McIntosh

Home After 24 Years

In 1998, Allan McIntosh was sentenced to 25 years-to-life, under California’s Three Strikes Law for possession of a firearm by a felon. He was 23 years old at the time of the offense. From a young age, he struggled with exposure to guns and substances, a cross-country move uprooting his education, and disconnection from his community. Through it all, Allan found solace in basketball. 

While incarcerated, Allan took advantage of programming opportunities—from vocational training to mentorship. Most notably, Allan found an outlet in basketball, ​​which helped him develop a deeper sense of community and self-worth. As a member of the San Quentin Warriors team, Allan was featured in the documentary Q Ball, chronicling how the team fostered personal growth, accountability and community. 

Support for Allan’s release was monumental: 41 people wrote letters of support, attesting to his character, and offering resources ranging from housing to mentorship to employment. Allan’s wife Daviena—a childhood friend with whom Allan reconnected during incarceration—was also a fierce advocate for his release.  

After serving 24 years, Allan was resentenced on June 20, 2022, at the recommendation of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. Weeks shy of his 47th birthday, Allan was released to a crowd of supporters. He is now enjoying quality time with his family and has already returned to work in property management and maintenance. Allan plans to continue his work mentoring younger people at risk of falling into the system.  And, of course, he is joining a local basketball league.

Allan has built so much since then. Today, he lives with his wife Daviena, and they are overjoyed by the recent news of a third grandchild on the way. Allan works long hours as a property manager, in hopes that he will one day see his grandchildren play in the backyard of a home he’s had his eye on. Allan takes deep pride in his work, knowing that he is securing stable, long-term homes for people in his community – something he waited for 24 years for himself.

“I still go into San Quentin and play basketball. The main thing I tell people: don’t wait til you get out to start your life. When you get out, you’ll already have a plan, a goal, and you’re set. I didn’t just start when I got out. Live well and right – right now.”

Isaiah Love

Home After 13 Years

In 2007, Kennard “Isaiah” Love was convicted of robberies and sentenced to 28 years in prison. At the time, Isaiah was a young 22-year-old, dealing with unresolved childhood issues and trying to prove himself to his peers. 

Being in a prison cell for hours on end led Isaiah to deep introspection, which was magnified by spending much of his first year in solitary confinement. With access to nothing but a pencil, paper, and books, all he could do was think about how he ended up in prison. And so began his journey of rehabilitation. Inspired by the words, "Success after prison begins in prison," Isaiah spent nearly every day of the last 13 years working on himself, making amends, and confronting his childhood issues.  

On December 11, 2020, after closely reviewing his case, Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen made a recommendation to the court that Isaiah be resentenced. The court then ordered his release. This was in large part due to the support and advocacy of community leaders Silicon Valley De-Bug and Isaiah’s loving family. Two days before Christmas, Isaiah walked out the gates of San Quentin State Prison a free man and into the arms of his parents.  He had served 13 years and had 15 years remaining on his sentence.

Today, Isaiah, now 35 years old, is a changed man. With multiple degrees, Isaiah has worked in software development jobs across the Bay Area and recently founded his own tech company.

Dean Thomas

Home After 18 Years

In 2002, Dean Thomas was convicted of first-degree residential burglary.  Under the “Three-Strikes Law,” Mr. Thomas was sentenced to a total of 68 years-to-life in prison. When the court gave Mr.  Thomas his life sentence, he presented as a person whose life was dominated by addiction, and it was not clear whether he would ever be able to get out from under its looming weight.

Against all odds, Mr. Thomas has written a different story.  Mr. Thomas quickly began the long journey to recovery.  He was diagnosed correctly and finally began receiving the correct treatment. Once he began the difficult work of mental health recovery, Mr. Thomas became a changed man. 

He participated in numerous mental health programs that were designed to increase his self-awareness and compassion.  Mr. Thomas applied these skills every day by rescuing birds that got caught in the barbed-wire fences at the prison; he was known affectionately as “the Birdman” among fellow incarcerated people.

In July 2020, at the recommendation of Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Mr. Thomas was resentenced. When he was released, Mr. Thomas was 57 years old and had 50 years-to-life remaining on his sentence. Today, he lives with his mother and step-father, working to become a traveling mechanic. He still returns to the gates outside the prison to feed his birds every week.

Joe Vejar

Home After 5 Years

In 2010, Joe was struggling to confront life’s challenges constructively. After serving time for a prior crime, Joe believed he had found his way and was prepared to put in the work and stay out of trouble. However, when his family found themselves in dire financial circumstances, Joe made a series of decisions that led to a conviction of one count each of active participation in a criminal street gang, and conspiracy to sell methamphetamine. It was also found true that the conspiracy to sell offense was committed for the benefit of a gang, and that he had two strike priors. Ultimately, Joe was convicted to a total term of 38 years-to-life.

Throughout his incarceration, Joe dedicated himself entirely to his own rehabilitation, striving to become a man that makes his family proud. He worked hard to better himself through rigorous self-improvement programming such as Criminal Gangs Anonymous. He also took the independent initiative to further his education, even obtaining his paralegal certificate while incarcerated. Today, Joe is a dedicated, hard-working husband and father devoted to his wife and children.

On October 21, 2021, at the recommendation of District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Joe was resentenced. At 46 years old, he served five years and had 33 years-to-life remaining on his sentence. Joe returned home to his supportive wife, Benee, and their three children, as well as a community dedicated to supporting his reintegration. Joe has already been offered jobs leading his community at Silicon Valley De-Bug, a position in which we are confident he will thrive.

Kenneth Washington

Home After 28 Years

In 1995, the court sentenced Mr. Kenneth Washington to a sentence of 50 years-to-life for residential burglary. Mr. Washington and a co-defendant committed a burglary, taking with them a portable phone and clock radio. The victim was not home during the burglary, and Mr. Washington served as the lookout without entering the apartment. This offense was his third strike, sending him to prison for life.

Facing such a lengthy sentence, Mr. Washington struggled to believe he would ever have a chance at freedom. However, in his last ten years of incarceration, something shifted. Mr. Washington became hopeful, committing himself to trying to come home. He immersed himself in a wide range of programs, including Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, restorative justice programs, Victim Impact, and others. He served as a certified Senior Inside Organizer for Initiate Justice and was an active participant in religious groups, the Protestant Choir, talent shows, and poetry contests. In 2019, he took the Pledge of Peace, committing himself to a life of non-violence.

After serving 28 years of his sentence, Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen recommended Mr. Washington be released.  Mr. Washington is now reunited with his wife and siblings, who are all very close. Today, he has been cherishing family time, caregiving for family members, and advocating for policy to innovate across the criminal justice system. 

Jose Duran

Home After 11 Years

In 2011,  Mr. Duran was arrested and convicted of second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, assault, battery, and gang activity. Jose was 18 years old at the time and received a sentence of 21 years-to-life in state prison.

Born in California, Jose Duran spent the first ten years of his life in a neighborhood in Mexico plagued with violence. Jose faced an unstable environment where his single mother struggled to provide for the whole family. Jose endured poverty and, at times, foster care. When the family moved to the United States seeking a new path, Jose’s life took a turn for the worse as he was exposed to violence and gangs. 

When Jose entered prison, he was just 20 years old. Facing a life sentence in his youth, he struggled with depression and anxiety. However, with the hope of one day seeing his mother again and the support of mentors in prison, he sought help through mental health treatment, began actively participating in rehabilitative programming, anger management, victim awareness, gang awareness and recovery, and insight awareness, among many others.

Determined to change his trajectory, Jose put in the time and hard work to identify and reflect on the factors that led to the crime, and to focus on awareness of the impact on the victims. Today, Jose has grown into an adult who is accountable, compassionate, and skilled in a variety of trades. 

On September 23, 2021, at the recommendation of Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, the court resentenced Mr. Duran to time served. Now 29 years old, Mr. Duran served 11 years in prison and had 10 years-to-life remaining on his sentence. He is now working in transportation, in addition to volunteering and supporting youth mentorship programs in his community. We are thrilled to see Jose thrive.

Anthony Frazer

Home After 21 Years

Anthony was released from prison after 21 years when San Diego County DA Summer Stephen recommended his release. He was originally sentenced to 31 years-to-life for second-degree robbery under California’s “Three Strikes” law.

“If you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results,” said Anthony. “It took me a long time, and I asked for a lot of second chances, to learn that change comes from within.”

Anthony’s incarceration only strengthened his resolve and faith. He threw himself into rehabilitation, participating in self-help courses, honing trade skills, and obtaining his GED. This self-work helped Anthony understand the toll that losing two brothers had taken on him, and he confronted the nuance of being both a victim of crime and committing a crime himself. 

Today, Anthony considers himself blessed with a strong support system. He works full-time as an airport maintenance technician to support his family and, on his days off, spends time with his father, children, and grandchildren. Anthony also finds inspiration in his mentor Tommy, a former facilitator from his Victim Impact course in prison, with whom he maintains regular contact. 

Outside work, Anthony finds joy in mentoring incarcerated youth, bowling, and hosting weekly BBQs with friends he’s known for over 20 years. He is proud to be surrounded by positive influences. Looking ahead, Anthony dreams of settling down, buying a car, finding a life partner, and enjoying what life has to offer.

James Allen

Home After 24 Years

“I never knew it was so easy to be ‘normal.’ For the first time in my life, I’ve learned how to live properly.”

In July 2022, James Allen was released from prison after 24 years when San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan recommended his release to the court. In 1997, Mr. Allen was sentenced to 35 years-to-life under California's "Three Strike" laws after stealing a bottle of shampoo. But for James, rehabilitation didn’t conclude upon his release—his community and family relationships have been instrumental in shaping his continued success.

One of the people in James’ life that keeps him going is the manager of his sober living home, whom James calls his mentor and life coach. He has played a pivotal role in James's journey, providing guidance through his recovery process and assisting him in securing his current job as a forklift operator.

“Every day is progress. I have missed so much while inside, and I’m just trying to get it all back,” said James.

During his first holidays back home, James treasured moments like opening gifts with his nephew, who was just a baby when James was first incarcerated. A favorite recent memory was riding dune buggies in the desert with his family. Despite his natural shyness, James made an effort to reconnect with a childhood friend, who he now proudly calls his girlfriend. Together, they enjoy spending time with James’ nephew, fishing, and attending local events.

At the core of James's values is the trust and respect he earns from the people around him, something he holds dear. “The new chapter of James? A hardworking person, willing to accept responsibility and follow through. Someone people can trust; I want people I care about to know that I’m there for them and that they can trust me—that makes me feel most human.”

Gary Kosta

Home After 25 Years

In 1995 and 1996, Mr. Kosta robbed a 7-11 store and a hair salon. In both instances, he pretended to have a weapon on him in order to make the victims of these robberies more afraid. He was sentenced to a total term of 50 years-to-life.  From an early age, Gary Kosta recalls struggling with self-esteem issues and exposure to substances. 

Entering prison as a 41-year-old man facing a life sentence felt insurmountable. But Mr. Kosta was determined to work on himself and come home. He focused on education and earned his GED as well as participating in anger management, Crime Impact Awareness, restorative justice, and programs offered by the California Reentry Institute (C.R.I.)—where ultimately became a program facilitator, mentoring other incarcerated people.

In September 2021, San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan recommended  Mr. Kosta for resentencing.  Mr. Kosta was 66 years old, with 25 years remaining on his sentence when he was released. Today, Mr. Kosta works in hospitality and gives back to his community, with a specific focus on helping people experiencing homelessness. He is hoping to one day start his own reentry center for those returning home from prison.