Dog In The Yard

Charlie B’s story is raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart of the struggle. Growing up in an environment where survival meant adapting to the streets, he faced arrests, gang life, and prison sentences before he even understood how the justice system worked. Locked up on Rikers Island, Charlie taught himself criminal law from the law library fighting his own case and negotiating his sentence...

Dr. Joseph “Joe” Williams, DSW, LCSW, is living proof that resilience and redemption can rewrite any story. Growing up in Brooklyn’s Brownsville & East New York, Dr. Joe spent over 15 years in prisons, jails, and institutions. But instead of letting his past define him, he transformed it into purpose. After earning his Bachelor’s through the Bard Prison Initiative in 2013, he went on to gr...

From selling drugs at 11 to leading a gang by 13, Meshach Hewitt’s early life was consumed by the streets of Mount Vernon, NY. At just 20 years old, he was incarcerated for charges related to felony murder, gang leadership, and drug distribution—serving over 17 years behind bars. But prison became the turning point. Meshach took full accountability for his past and committed to a complete transfor...

Andre “Dre” Patterson was sentenced to 50 years to life at just 17 years old. Charged with multiple counts including murder, robbery, and assault, he spent decades behind bars—until his release in 2020. But Dre’s story didn’t end there. Since coming home, Dre has transformed his life, dedicating himself to youth mentorship and community uplift. He works with Guns Down Life Up as a mentor and viole...

So Rich’s story is a reflection of raw transformation, street survival, and unshakable resilience. Raised in the streets and system-impacted since the age of 15, Rich spent more than 13 years in and out of incarceration—including a decade behind bars on an 11-year manslaughter charge. But what started as a life fueled by violence and desperation would become a testimony of growth, faith, and redem...

Dr. Trell “Donk” Webb was sentenced to life plus 90 years at Angola — one of the deadliest prisons in America. Paralyzed by gun violence. Targeted in a shooting that almost took his voice. And yet, Donk came out of that darkness with a mission bigger than himself. Known now as The Voice for the Voiceless, Dr. Donk travels the country sharing his truth, his faith, and his message of transformation....

Chico Brown is living proof that transformation is possible — even when the odds are stacked against you. Raised in the heart of Compton, Chico once found himself caught in the middle of gang life, systemic neglect, and survival mode. But in 2005, he made a life-changing decision to turn his pain into purpose. Since then, he’s become a powerhouse community activist, youth mentor, developer, and ad...

Darnell Tomlin’s story is one of loss, lessons, and leadership. Born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Darnell found himself pulled into the streets early. At just 21, he was falsely accused and convicted of a crime he didn’t commit a decision that stole 19½ years of his life. Gang affiliation and association put a target on his back, but it was the system that ultimately took him away. Now, after...

Qwell grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn — where street smarts met survival. At 22, he began his career in law enforcement, working at MDC Brooklyn and Rikers Island, eventually earning a spot in the high-stakes Emergency Services Unit (ESU). That experience gave him a firsthand look at the violence, corruption, and trauma inside the walls. Now a police officer in a major metropolitan city, Qwell’s imp...

Tiffany “T.J.” Vulcain survived more than just a prison sentence — she endured the foster care system, the juvenile justice system, and federal incarceration. But her story isn’t about what broke her. It’s about what she built after. Now an author, speaker, and force for transformation, T.J. serves as the Program Director of the Women’s Rising Workforce Development program at the Fortune Society,...

Ruben Wills was once a rising political force in Southeast Queens—serving as a New York City Council Member for District 28—until everything changed. In 2014, he was arrested and convicted on charges he insisted were false. He spent over three years behind bars. But in 2020, Ruben’s fight for justice paid off when the New York State Appellate Division overturned his conviction, ruling that he had...

Shannon Holmes didn’t enter the literary world through classrooms or creative writing programs—he wrote his first novel from a prison cell. Born and raised in the Bronx, Shannon served five years for drug-related charges. While incarcerated, he picked up a pen for the first time—not to write a letter home, but to write what would become his breakout novel: B-More Careful. With no formal training a...

Dennis A. Woodbine’s life was stolen by the system—but he didn’t let that define him. In 1997, Dennis was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit. He spent 22 years inside Sing Sing Correctional Facility, fighting not only for his freedom, but for his identity, his purpose, and ultimately, his peace. In 2019, after more than two decades behind bars, Dennis was granted executive clemency...

Keonnie Raheem’s journey is the definition of second chances. Hailing from the Forest Houses in the Bronx, Keonnie was charged as a juvenile with multiple homicides in Baltimore and sentenced to two life terms. After serving 31 years in prison, his sentence was reduced under juvenile resentencing, and on March 23, 2023, he walked free. His reentry wasn’t easy, but Keonnie leaned into every resourc...

Jermaine “Bang” Archer’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. After spending 22 years behind bars, Jermaine didn’t just survive—he built a legacy. In 2005, while incarcerated at Sing Sing, he watched his first Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) production, Breaking the Mummy’s Code. That moment would plant a seed that would grow into something far bigger than he could’ve imagined. Jermaine...

Before the world knew him as Opressure—a respected Hip-Hop artist, journalist, and radio voice—he was 94-B-0730, a young man navigating the harsh realities of Buffalo, NY. At just 17 years old, Omar was sentenced to 8 to 24 years for manslaughter, the result of growing up in survival mode and making choices that led him down a dangerous path. But what the system didn’t expect was how he would tran...

Jason Abreu, born and raised in Dyckman Projects in Uptown Manhattan, opens up about his powerful story of growth, setbacks, and redemption. After being incarcerated twice for drug-related offenses, Jason realized during his second time behind bars that he had a bigger purpose to fulfill. While incarcerated, Jason found his vision and created Made Up North, a movement dedicated to helping formerly...

DeShawn Kenner was just 22 years old when he was sentenced to life in prison for murder and attempted murder. He would go on to spend the next 20 years behind bars—but instead of letting time break him, DeShawn used it to transform himself from the inside out. In this powerful episode of Dog in the Yard, DeShawn opens up about his journey—from the streets of Mount Vernon to the harsh reality of pr...

Frans Sital was just 17 years old when he was wrongfully convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to 51 years to life. He ended up serving over 31 years behind bars before finally being released in August 2023. In this episode of Dog in the Yard, Frans shares his raw and emotional journey—from surviving the prison system to reclaiming his life and freedom. Now home and fighting for others s...

In this powerful episode of Dog In The Yard, we sit down with Kevin “Renny” Smith, a Brooklyn native who spent 27 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. Wrongfully convicted in 1987, Renny found himself serving a life sentence—and it was in the darkest moments of his incarceration that he made a vow to change the direction of his life. Renny opens up about his transformation from a young...

Derrick Hamilton was sentenced to 25 years to life for a crime he didn’t commit, spending 21 years behind bars before finally proving his innocence. While incarcerated, he became a self-taught legal expert, dedicating himself to learning the law and using his knowledge to fight not only for his own freedom but also for others who had been wrongfully convicted. His relentless pursuit of justice led...

From the streets of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, to the music industry, Bang Em Up has lived through it all. Facing the harsh realities of the streets, he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for 4 attempted murders. But prison didn’t define him—it became the place where he plotted his comeback. Now, 9 years free, Bang Em Up has reinvented himself as a music executive and entrepreneur, building a powerhou...

Edwin Raymond is not just a former NYPD lieutenant—he’s a whistleblower, civil rights activist, and author who put everything on the line to expose the injustices within the system. Born and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Haitian immigrant parents, Edwin joined the NYPD in 2008 with a mission: to bring real change from within. But what he encountered was a system built on racial profiling,...

In this episode of Dog In The Yard, we sit down with Leon “LB” Brown, a Yonkers native with Jamaican roots who transformed his life after years behind bars. At 18 years old, LB was convicted in Virginia and sentenced to 10 years and 9 months. After his release in 2011, he was reincarcerated in 2012 on a firearm charge, serving additional time before maxing out in 2020. Determined to never go back,...

In this episode of Dog in the Yard, we sit down with Musa Major, a Newark native whose story is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of music. Growing up in a single-parent household, Musa faced countless challenges, but music always served as his escape. His passion for lyricism was undeniable, yet life took a drastic turn during his college years, when personal struggles led to h...