Four ex-convicts, Vilma Ortiz Donovan, Kenneth Harrigan, Casimiro Torres and Angel Ramos find
a way to overcome
their traumatic histories and chronic criminal behavior to become exemplary
citizens. It is the ultimate redemption story—the powerful journey of four
extraordinary characters who bare their souls and who have climbed mountains to
get where they are today. Vilma Ortiz Donovan, Kenneth Harrigan, Casimiro Torres and Angel Ramos- defy the grim statistic that two out of every three prisoners released in the United States will be back in prison within three years.
Vilma Ortiz Donovan, a vibrant
Puerto Rican woman from a solid family, became addicted to cocaine, was seduced
by the drug world, and became a formidable drug dealer—one of the first women ever
in such a role. She served six years in
prison.
Kenneth Harrigan, an “A” student from
a stable African American family, fell into drug use and graduated to
crack. Hopelessly addicted, he took to burglary
to sustain his crushing habit. With only
three arrests and no history of violence, he was sentenced to twelve years to
life.
Casimiro Torres, half Puerto Rican
and half Irish, grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, fatherless, with five siblings and
an alcoholic mother. Caz’s childhood was
beset by crime and violence and he did regular stints in juvenile facilities
where as a boy he experienced horrors at the hands of sadistic and sexually
deviant staff. Caz got into drugs at age
ten and eventually moved to crack. He
became a hardened criminal, doing burglaries, armed robberies, or whatever it
took. He was arrested sixty-seven times
and served sixteen years in prison.
Angel Ramos, Puerto Rican, grew up desperately poor with an
abusive mother and father who also had serious mental problems. At the age of
seventeen, a friend made an offhand remark that offended him. When a heated argument ensued, a hidden
reservoir of rage erupted in Angel and he murdered his friend right there. He got 30 years to life and served 16 years in
prison.
Vilma, Kenneth, Caz and Angel’s stories are
harrowing, filled with struggle, pathos, desperation and hope. Yet they are familiar
too, and parallel the lives of so many in our bloated prison system. As our principals have so dramatically experienced,
what ought to be the final redemptive chapter -- getting released—is often the
hardest challenge of all.
