Spend A Day
In A Lifer's Shoes

By: Alphonso Leaphart, AY 4577
Box 999
Huntingdon, PA 16652

Hopelessness, dispair, loneliness and dejection are the key ingredients in the world of the life-sentenced prisoners in Pennsylvania. Spend a day in a lifer's shoes and find out what it's like to be incarcerated for the rest of your natural life without the possibility of parole, without the possibility of commutation; there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

I know because I'm serving a life sentence and I have been in prison for the past 24 years! seven days a week, 24 hours a day. During this time I have lost my mother, father, brother, uncles, aunts and cousins. They have all passed away.

I wake up each morning asking God to give me the fortitude and resolve to keep striving and struggling in this place of hopelessness. I ask for help to keep me with a sound mind and give me the will to continue to do what is right in the face of adversity. Many obstacles are placed before me to make me slip and fall. Spend a day in my shoes.

The pain is twice as hard to face when you're really innocent like I am. You see, I didn't commit the crime. I was framed by a rival who still walks the streets. He even has the nerve to send me messages taunting me. But, I place it in the hands of God Almighty to help me in my quest for freedom and justice.

I was 17 years old when I was incarcerated for a crime I didn't commit. I thought that the truth would come out and I would be set free. Twenty-four years later I'm still here and finally the Centurion Ministry is taking a look at my case. If there's anyone out there who would be willing to help me obtain freedom and justice, please contact me.

To all the lifers in Pennsylvania prisons: never give up hope. Keep Striving and struggling toward freedom. Please pray for me!


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