Don't try to find me. You won't.
Besides, I'd rather go to juvenile hall than to live in your house anymore.
When a group of inmates at Phelps Correctional Center in DeQuincy
read the true story of a man who changed his life in prison,
they wanted to find a way to share it with the entire population.
The book, Five Years to Life, chronicles the journey of young Sam Huddleston
who was sentenced to serve five years to life for his part in an armed robbery.
Ginger Young volunteers to lead the prison's avid readers program
where inmates meet to read and discuss books.
Young said she learned about five years to life from a friend
who is involved in prison ministry.
Well, actually during the discussion, they were just so taken with Dr. Huddleston's story
and they related so well to it.
You know, they just saw a little bit of their life in his life.
And when we got finished, they commented to us that
they wanted everybody on this compound to read this book.
They said they need to hear this story.
In prison, I'm in prison because I messed up.
I found nobody else's law, me.
But if you are there, and if you help me change...
We wanted to touch the young guys on the compound about doing the play
and reach their heart.
Show them that just because they're incarcerated, they can change.
It's proof right here.
And also, we felt like God led us to do this
because we came on one accord with the play.
It was thought off at one time.
And while it constantly came back, next we could say,
are y'all serious about wanting to do a play or write a play about this?
Yeah. And me myself, I feel like I was led by God
because this is something I never done before.
And writing this play up was a tremendous thing for me.
And I know it was for us.
When Huddleston learned that the inmates planned to perform the drama,
he arranged to fly in from California to see it.
He spent the day meeting with inmates and touring the facility
before attending the performance and cast party afterward.
You know, it was a guy that played me, you know, it was funny.
It's sometimes just watching him.
And just, you know, he would ham things up or what have you.
And of course, the thing that made my grandfather noticeable was his hat.
So that guy had that hat on that really just brought back a well of emotions.
Then the gentleman was playing my father, you know,
I just lost my father this year.
It was really, they did a great job and it was good.
Major Williams, he gave us an incredible tour
so we got to talk with some of the guys.
It's very humbling to walk, to go anywhere.
And guys would come, or either guy wrote the book,
or you're Dr. Olson, you know, it's encouraging as well
because we all have those challenges in life
when you think, you know what, has it been worth it?
And so coming here has just been a major reminder for me
that the journey has been worth it.
It has really been worth it.
This play has inspired some of the inmates to start a drama group
and has even prompted some to explore their creative side.
I like to, I'm thinking I won right now.
But I would like to because I always had a dream to want to write.
And this was the first time I ever did anything like that.
And the way it came out, I really was surprised.
I'm really proud of it.
It was a lot of work.
It was a lot of work.
And these guys wanted to put all the writing on a guy
with the best handwriting.
And that was you, right?
That was me.
For the American Press, this is Taylor Prejane.
