Solano Vision News (SVN) | Lifers With Optimistic Progress (LWOP)

Hung T. Ly

CDCR # F21132
Date of Birth: 06/19/1984
Nationality: Chinese-American
Birthplace: Sacramento, CA
Marital Status and Children: Single, None
Age during offence: 19
Date of arrest: 01/10/2004
No priors
Court type: Jury Trial: Sacramento
Convicted Offences:
1) First Degree Murder
2) Special Circumstance: Lying in Wait
3) Personal Discharge of Firearm

CA Penal Code Section:
1) 187(a)
2) 190.2(a)(15)
3) 12022.53(d)

Sentence:
1) 25-to-life
2) LWOP
3) 25-to-life (Enhancement)

Before my incarceration, I was a lost and negative youth. I disliked school and eventually dropped out of high school after my sophomore year. I was unemployed and spent most of my remaining free years wasting my time by hanging out and engaging in unhealthy destructive activities. Ultimately, these choices became my stepping stone to a life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) sentence.

When I first entered the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prison system, the Youthful Offender Program [YOP] did not exist. The YOP would have allowed CDCR to place me on a Level III medium security facility. Because of this reason, I was placed on a Level IV maximum security facility with limited rehabilitative programs.

Hung T; Ly: “We’re all ex-somethings”

Walking on the positive side of a Level IV yard was not easy. Peer pressure, violence, substance abuse, gang activity, and racism came with the territory and are considered normal. Because of my sentence, I was told by my fellow prisoners and prison staff that I will never get a chance to leave level IV or return to society. I was treated worse than other prisoners who did not have an LWOP sentence.

A part of me accepted this reality, however, with the powerful assistance of hope, maturity, and dignity, I was able to conquer and relinquish the negativity in my life. Despite my circumstances, I made the decision to change my lifestyle because of my strong desire to seek a new and positive way of living. Prior to gaining a sense of direction, I was only existing.

Due to CDCR’s reconfiguration of the point system in 2012, the restriction on LWOPs transferring to Level III facilities were lifted. Within five years, CDCR modified regulations to further reduce the custody level of LWOPs to Level II. Because of my low points from positive programming, I was one of the first to transfer to lower security facilities during these changes.

Hung T. Ly

Since then, I have taken full advantage of rehabilitative programs whenever the opportunity arose. From these programs, I have gained skills to better assist me in the route to a better and new lifestyle. Today, I have achieved a sense of purpose and value of life.

Although I cannot undo all the damage I have done, but at this moment, I can say that I have the strength to never turn back to the negative lifestyle I once lived. Whether I spend the rest of my natural life as a prisoner or possibly earn a second chance as a return citizen, I will continue on this path because peace and success is the destination that I wish to pursue. It is the place I wish to someday meet the rest of you. I believe I have steered myself into a brighter future. I am on the way. I am a Lifer With Optimistic Progress and I am on a mission for greatness.

Here’s a timeline of my accomplishments and programs I have participated in during my incarceration:

05/05/06 – 06/01/12 : California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (CSATF/SP) Level IV Maximum Security Facility – Corcoran, California:

– Earned general equivalency diploma (GED)

– Assigned as Program Office Clerk Receiving multiple laudatory reports from supervisors.

06/01/12 – 05/14/13 : California State Prison-Sacramento (CSP-SAC) AKA New Folsom Level IV Maximum Security Facility – Represa, California:

– Assigned as Dining Room Line Server.

05/14/13 – 12/09/13 : California State Prison-Solano (CSP-SOL) Level III Medium Security Facility – Vacaville, California:

– Attended weekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

– Assigned as Landscaper.

– Completed Victim Awareness module.

12/09/13 – 01/13/16 : Pleasant Valley State Prison [PVSP] Level III Medium Security Facility – Coalinga, California:

– Assigned as Program Office Clerk receiving couple laudatory reports from supervisors.

– Attended weekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Criminals and Gang Members Anonymous (CGA), and Lifer Support Group meetings.

– Completed Managing Emotions module.

– Completed Victim Impact module.

– Attended monthly U’re Not In This Yourself (UNITY) lectures.

– Completed Criminon: The Way To Happiness module.

– Enrolled into Coastline Community College (CCC) via correspondence and completed INTO to Mass Communication course.

– Completed three modules of Partnership For Reentry Program (PREP)/Turning Point: Life Skills/Self-Development Program.

01/13/16 – 04/27/17 : California State Prison-Solano (CSP-SOL) Level III Medium Security Facility – Vacaville, California:

– Assigned as Main Kitchen Food Service Clerk.

– Assigned as Housing Unit Assistant Lead Porter/Janitor.

– Attended weekly Lifers With Optimistic Progress (LWOP).

– Received training as mentor in the Lifeline youthful offender mentorship program.

04/27/17 – Present : California State Prison-Solano (CSP-SOL) Level II Medium Security Facility – Vacaville, California:

– Completed Asian Prisoner Support Committee’s ethnic studies program: Restoring Our Original True Selves (ROOTS) facilitator training.

– Completed In-Building Self-Help Program (IBSHP) facilitator training for: Extreme Emotional Response, Victim Awareness, and Conflict Recognition and Resolution (CR&R) modules.

– Served as Treasurer and Information Liaison for CSP-SOL Level II Lifer With Optimistic Progress (LWOP) Activity Group

– Completed Defy Ventures, Inc.: CEO of Your New Life program receiving Certificate in Pitching Excellence in the Business Pitch Competition (BPC) as a semifinalist.

– Received Certificate in Career Readiness from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business through Defy Ventures, Inc.

– Served as Defy @ Solano Level II Enrollment Coordinator and Peer Group Facilitator receiving laudatory report from Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Defy Ventures and appreciation/support letters from mentees

– Attended weekly Toastmasters International Delta Breeze club meetings as spectator

– Enrolled into Solano Community College’s (SCC) satellite campus at CSP-SP: and completed Business Math course

– Served as member of the group Beyond Ordinary Life Doings (BOLD) facilitating community outreach events

– Donated hygienic items and assisted with the food and hygiene items and assisted with the food and hygiene drive for The Vacaville Storehouse in conjunction with Pastor Raymond Beatty and The Father’s House’s community outreach program: We Love Our City.

– Donated funds and assisted in the second annual Special Olympics Flame of Hope Torch Run and ran two laps with Northern California Special Olympics Athletes streamed on Facebook Live.

– Completed Inmate Peer Health Education Program (IPHEP): Stress Management, Life Coping Skills, Anger Management, and Childhood Abuse and Trauma

– Attended bi-weekly Solano Journalism Writer’s Guild (SJWG) classes.

– Attended bi-monthly photography classes.

– Served as Copy Editor and Staff Writer for Solano Vision News (SVN) newspaper.