Participé en secuestros: era mi única forma de sobrevivir | Anónima #Penitencia #entrevista #México
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The interviewee, Alexa, grew up in a household where crime, weapons, and drugs were normalized due to her stepfather's activities.
- ❖She regularly visited her stepfather and other criminal associates in prison from the age of 8, making incarceration a 'normal' part of her childhood.
- ❖After her mother's death, Alexa became a mother at 15 and later engaged in criminal activities like surveillance for kidnappings and car theft, citing necessity.
- ❖Arrested at 24, she left her two young daughters (7 and 8), who subsequently lived largely alone and learned to support themselves.
- ❖Alexa expresses deep regret for her past actions, particularly the impact on her daughters, and is committed to an honest life post-release.
- ❖She deliberately limits her daughters' visits to prison to prevent them from normalizing the environment, unlike her own childhood experience.
Insights
1Normalization of Crime from Childhood
Alexa's childhood was deeply intertwined with criminal activity. Her stepfather, a robber, brought weapons and drugs into their home, and discussions about 'street situations' were common. She began visiting him in prison from age 8, making the experience 'normal' and routine, rather than frightening.
Her stepfather was a robber, and their home frequently contained weapons, drugs, and money. She visited him in prison from around 8 years old, describing it as 'something very normal' and 'part of the routine.'
2Impact of Parental Loss and Influence
After her mother died when Alexa was 14, she became a mother herself at 15. The 'uncle' (a criminal associate) who had been in prison with her stepfather became a significant, albeit manipulative, figure in her life, leading her deeper into crime under the guise of support and necessity.
Her mother died when she was 14-15. She had her first daughter at 15. The 'uncle' who was an associate of her stepfather later paid her to bring him items in prison and then involved her in criminal activities upon his release, which she saw as a 'rescue' due to her need.
3Involvement in Kidnapping and Robbery
Alexa's criminal activities escalated from transporting items to prison to participating in surveillance for kidnappings and eventually house robberies. She was paid for her involvement, which she justified by her need to support her daughters, who were unaware of her activities.
She started by 'accompanying' her 'uncle' to 'watch people' (future victims) and report on their movements for kidnappings. Later, she was arrested during a house robbery. She stated she was paid for these activities and had two young daughters to support.
4Transformation and Regret in Prison
After nearly 10 years in prison, Alexa has undergone a significant personal transformation. She deeply regrets her past decisions, particularly the impact on her daughters, and no longer desires the criminal lifestyle. She actively prevents her daughters from visiting frequently to avoid normalizing prison for them.
She states, 'I am repentant of many things' and 'I don't like that life.' She learned skills like hairdressing in prison and wants a 'quiet life' with her daughters. She sees her time in prison as having given her a 'different type of life' and ensures her daughters do not visit often to prevent them from seeing it as normal.
Lessons
- Recognize how early exposure to crime and violence can normalize illegal activities for children, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.
- Consider the societal implications of incarceration on families, particularly children, who may be left to fend for themselves and risk perpetuating criminal patterns.
- Support rehabilitation programs within prisons that provide inmates with skills and a new perspective, fostering genuine change and reducing recidivism.
- Reflect on the complex factors, such as perceived necessity and manipulative relationships, that can draw individuals into criminal behavior.
Quotes
"Desde que yo recuerdo, pues en mi casa, de alguna otra manera, siempre había gente y pues era muy normal que hubieran armas y que se hablara de este tipo de cosas."
"La mayoría de mi infancia fue en la cárcel. O sea, la es para mí, si conforme pasó el tiempo, fue algo ya normal. La visita era algo normal. Ir a verlo ya era algo normal, ya era parte de de la rutina."
"Yo sé que un padre no haría eso. Un padre no te diría, 'Ah, si está bien, vamos a tal lado porque vamos a hacer tal cosa que no está bien.' Al contrario, no. Ya, ¿dónde vas? ¿Qué te pasa? Si no son las cosas, ¿eh? Vas mal. Yo no haría eso con mis hijas."
"Afortunadamente, no sé si sea bueno o sea malo que yo esté en este lugar o que haya llegado a este lugar, porque gracias a eso, ellas tienen un tipo de vida diferente. Ya saben que lo que tienen que lo que tienen que hacer para ganarse las cosas es trabajar."
"Trato de que no vengan para no repetir la historia y que esto no se les haga algo normal, cotidiano, que digan, 'Ay, voy a ir a ver a mi mamá a la cárcel' y sea algo fácil entrar para ellas y que se les haga normal. Por eso no me gusta que vengan."
"Sé que me equivoqué, pero no por eso soy una mala persona."
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