Born in Tepatitlan, Mexico, Jose came to East Los Angeles at 6 months of age were he grew up and continues to reside after his incarceration.  At an early age attracted to gangs, Jose began to get in trouble with the law in various occasions which led up to his incarceration for an attempted murder with great bodily harm and strong armed robbery.  

Sentenced to thirteen years in prison, because of his age Jose was sent to the California Youth Authority.  Fifteen months later because of his gang and drug involvement Jose was sent to the California Department of Corrections to serve the remainder of his sentence.  During his incarceration, Jose was charged with another crime, which extended his thirteen-year sentence to twenty-one years in prison.   Nine years into his sentence Jose became a born again Christian which marked the change and turn around from his criminally inclined mentality. 

After completing his sentence, fourteens years in the California Department of Corrections, Jose is now a productive member of society using his life experience and skills to help the incarcerated population.  At this moment Jose is currently attending college pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work, which he will use to assist and develop the impoverished, incarcerated and previously incarcerated population.