Cornelius Carroll
If there’s anyone who knows
the plight of today’s youth, it’s Jackson, MS native Cornelius Carroll.
Convicted on eight counts of armed robbery, this former Gang member
was sentenced to serve 35 years in Mississippi’s Parchman Prison. After his
conviction, Carroll made the decision to use his life to bring violence and
gang prevention to young people.
During his time at Parchment,
Carroll became the first inmate in Mississippi’s history allowed to conduct
lectures on alcohol, drugs, and gangs to youth across the state. From
1984-1994, he became an integral part of the Preventative Program with the late
Congressman Larkin Smith, who was then Sheriff of Harrison County. Under
Sheriff Smith’s request, Carroll began to share his experiences with the Gulf
Coast Community Action Agency Youth Gang Prevention Program, which was the
first gang prevention program in Mississippi. He worked with Tom Moore, the
Drug Education Coordinator for the Harrison County School District, lecturing to
various groups on the communal effects crack cocaine. Carroll also worked with the Prison Aware
Program in Parchman Prison, which was the first program ever to bring juveniles
and students to the prison to be educated on prison life and gangs in hopes of
deterring them from making choices that would send them to prison.
1995-2000 were equally busy
years for Carroll. As an inmate firefighter, he spoke to tour groups about the
consequences of making poor choices. In
1997, he transferred to Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin,
MS. There, he worked with the Youth Awareness Program that allowed him to
continue his passion of speaking to young people about gangs and violence
prevention. He also worked with the Youth Gang Prevention Program, and conducted
lectures to criminal justice students at the University of Southern
Mississippi.
While in prison,
asked to release him from his gang organization so he could continue his work with youth nationwide. The leader
granted Carroll’s request in a written letter. Carroll was granted an early release from prison. He
served only 17 ½ of his 35-year sentence. He gives all thanks to God!!!
After his release, Carroll
joined forces with Rev. James Turner II, a youth advocate and gang expert, to
form The Dream Team, a gang awareness and counseling program that currently
presents to over 250 organizations and youth groups each year, and has helped reform
young gang leaders and members nationwide. In 2010, they will launch Saving our
Youth, a nationwide youth initiative
addressing such issues as gangs, teen incarceration, violence with a goal to
increase college enrollment among this population.
With over 30 years of
experience with gangs and teen violence, Cornelius Carroll has become one of
the nation’s leading gang experts. He has dedicated his life to educating youth
about the dangers of gang and teen violence, and offers sound advice on what
can be done to address and solve the problem.