I was born in Long Beach California on March 17, 1955. I had a normal childhood - graduated with honors - and married my high school sweetheart. I attended college for a short time before becoming a full time mom. By age 23 we had separated and had each gone our separate ways. We have remained lifelong friends.

For the next five years, I worked, dated, and cared for my two small children. It was a good life. In 1983 I met my second husband. It was shortly after the birth of my youngest daughter that he introduced me to methamphetamine. My marriage to him was an abusive one and I left, but not before I was hooked on meth and had started selling it to friends to support my own habit. In the end, I became more addicted to the easy money than to the drug itself. These behaviors ultimately lead to my arrest and conviction - it is also the same behavior that has destroyed not only my life, but also the lives of my children.

I have focused on staying positive and productive over the years. I earned a Business Degree, as an honor student, as well as several college certificates in the areas of business and computers at my own expense. Also, in an effort to help make a difference in todays society, and to turn a negative situation into something positive - I volunteered to participate in several university studies with academics, which resulted in a book titled "The U.S. Federal Prison System" (Bosworth, 2002), and most recently an article that was published in Qualitative Inquiry, Doing Prison Research: Views from Inside. Both writings were co-authored with three other prisoners, and a prison researcher, Mary Bosworth who is currently at the Centre for Socio-legal Studies at the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. At the present time, I am continuing towards a bachelor's degree in Business, as well as concentrating on health and physical fitness.

I am determined that if given a second chance, I will use this life's experience to make positive contributions to both my family and society.

Debi's Post Conviction Rehabilitation

1. Associate in Arts Business Administration Degree
2. VT Office Automation - six month computer course, I also received the Exceptional Achievement Award for Outstanding Speed & Accuracy and Perfect Attendance, Competency Rating and Student Proficiency Application Proficiency Score 1. Corel WordPerfect 50 hrs. Quattro Pro 50 hrs. and Business Application 20 hrs
3. Computer Technology Certificate, Central Texas College 720 hrs., DOS: Intro, Beg. Keyboarding, WordPerfect, Records Mgt., Spreadsheet Appl., Database Appl., Office Accounting, Automated Office Mgmt., Int Info Process, MSWord Intro, Lotus 123 Intro, Business Math, Business Correspondence
4. United States Government, UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries, Introduction to ISO 9001:2000, Understanding the Standard ISO, Auditor Training Certificate
5. Bureau of Prisons Drug Education Program (40hrs)
6. Nonresidential Drug Treatment, Family Systems, Interpersonal Relationships, Coping Skills
7. Stress Management
8. Wellness Program
9. Living Free
10. 10 Hour Smoking Cessation Group (Twice)
11. Certificate of Nonsmoker (4 years now!)
12. Investment Planning Class
13. Personal Finance Course
14. Adult Continuing Education Course in Mathematics
15. Nutrition Course
16. Basic Car Maintenace
17. (Two) 12 week Film Studies Class(es)
18. Music Appreciation Class
19. Horticulture Program
20. Parenting From a Distance, Women Who Love Too Much & Parenting Workshops
21. Weaving Class
22. Ceramic Class
23. High Impact Aerobics
24. Walking/Jogging Program (500 miles)
25. Basic Yoga
26. 5K Walk-a-Thon
27. 1994, 1995, 1996 FIGHT AIDS WALK-A-THONS
28. Black History Month Events
29. Clothesline Project for the Needy
30. Prison Fellowship Ministries/Calvary Chapel 10 week Bible Study
31. Kairos Prison Ministry Three-and-one-half-day instructional to living in Christian Community, Forgivness of Others, Self Examination, Goal Setting, Self Esteem, Small Group Interaction, Communication, Responsibility, Trust and Respect.