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00:00:00 – 00:12:30
Charleston White shares his journey from criminal youth to community leader, detailing his involvement in a fatal robbery during his teenage years, which led to his incarceration. He narrowly avoided transfer to an adult prison due to supportive house parents' testimonies and spent years in the Texas Youth Commission, though he later fell back into crime. His life pivoted after his daughter’s birth in 2009 and witnessing friends go to federal prison. White returned to education, studying criminal justice at Texas Westland University, and founded "Hyped About Hype" (HYPE) in 2012. HYPE is a youth organization focused on rehabilitating and inspiring at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, leveraging personal redemption stories to encourage positive change. The organization collaborates with various institutions, advocating the vital role of juvenile correctional officers and providing a support network for youth reintegration. White's mission extends through community projects, church involvement, and ongoing advocacy for justice system improvement.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Charleston White provides a detailed account of his criminal background and legal history. At the age of 14, he and three friends committed a robbery, stealing starter jackets from a Foot Locker. During their escape, a good Samaritan named Michael Levy tried to intervene and was subsequently shot and killed by one of Charleston’s friends, who was 15 years old at the time. For his involvement, Charleston was sentenced to 12 years under Texas’s determined sentencing law. His co-defendant, who fired the shot, was sentenced to 75 years and remains incarcerated. Another friend received a 99-year sentence but later got 25 years, and the third friend was killed by police during a high-speed chase. Charleston spent seven years in the Texas Youth Commission and faced a transfer hearing to determine if he would be moved to the adult prison system based on his behavior and the nature of his crime.
00:03:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses their involvement in gang activities and how they narrowly avoided being transferred to the Texas Department of Correction through the intervention of five supportive house parents. These individuals testified on the speaker’s behalf, highlighting his potential rather than his past behavior, which resulted in the judge giving him another chance and recommitting him to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). He credits the TYC with providing him the tools and skills needed for success, although reentering his old environment led him back into criminal activities, including drug trafficking. Despite being initially convicted, a mistrial and subsequent plea deal offered him a second chance involving prison boot camp and probation. He reflects on spending much of his 20s involved with criminal elements until his daughter’s birth in 2009, which, along with seeing many friends go to federal prison, significantly impacted his outlook and future decisions.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker reflects on his early 30s, realizing the need for change and deciding to go back to school to study criminal justice. He is currently a pre-law student at Texas Westland University, nearing graduation. He is also the founder and CEO of “Hyped About Hype,” a youth organization aimed at helping young people excel. The organization speaks at various juvenile institutions, high schools, and probation departments in Texas. Additionally, he volunteers as a chaplain at the Adult Parole Office, advising newly released inmates. His mission is to use his personal redemption story and that of his colleagues, who also have criminal pasts, to inspire and positively impact youth, staff members, and others working in juvenile and adult correction systems. The organization comprises individuals who have been incarcerated from a young age but have turned their lives around, showcasing the potential for change and success.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses their decision to establish an organization called HYPE in May 2012. They were inspired by friends who were imprisoned for many years due to decisions made in their youth and began returning home around 2012-2014. HYPE aims to provide hope and inspiration to at-risk youth, juvenile offenders, their families, and those working with them. The speaker believes juvenile correctional officers are crucial in rehabilitating young offenders before they reintegrate into society. HYPE seeks to positively impact lives by sharing personal stories and experiences and encourages contact through their provided phone number and association with TXWES.edu.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker talks about their active involvement in the community and the justice system through their churches. They express enthusiasm for collaborating with viewers and their youth, and convey their excitement for the initiative they mention, encouraging viewers to stay blessed.