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.