I Was Sentenced to Life in Prison at 16 — Then Spent 30 Years Inside | Carlee Collins

Carlee Collins grew up in Pennsylvania with a mother who was in the game and a father who worked hard to provide. By 11 years old, he was using drugs and running the streets. At 16, he caught a murder case and was sentenced to life in Pennsylvania state prison. He would spend the next 30 years behind bars, where he completely transformed his life. After changes in the law gave juvenile lifers a chance at parole, Carlee finally walked out of prison after three decades inside. _____________________________________________ Thank you to PRIZEPICKS, HUNGRYROOT & AG1 for sponsoring this episode: PrizePicks: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! _____________________________________________ Hungryroot: Explore my digital cookbook on Hungryroot today and find recipes that are right for you. Go to https://www.hungryroot.com/lockedin to access my cookbook: The Commissary Upgrade. _____________________________________________ AG1: Go to https://drinkag1.com/lockedin.com and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. _____________________________________________ Become an EXCLUSIVE Locked In: After Hours Member & receive a FREE merch box: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ _____________________________________________ Connect with Carlee Collins: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carleecollins762/?hl=en Website: https://search.thecut.co/barbers/Carlee-Collins-ccnfij6 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: 30 Years for a Teenage Homicide 00:43 Growing Up in Pittsburgh's Hill District 01:44 Family Dynamics and Parents' Influence 04:30 First Joint and Turning to the Streets 06:02 The Allure of the Drug Game 08:20 Mixed Messages: Mom's Hustle vs. Dad's Warnings 11:00 School Fights and Downward Spiral 12:10 Regrets and Rechanneling in Prison 14:20 Teenage Personality: Loyalty, Impulse, and Violence 16:52 A Close Call: Shootout Over a Robbery 19:11 PrizePicks Ad 20:52 Would Arrest Have Changed His Path? 21:41 Learning Law and Education in Prison 23:50 Juvenile Detention vs. Mentorship 25:20 The Problem with Scared Straight 27:45 The Day of the Crime 28:25 Arrest, Investigation, and Going on the Run 33:12 Getting Caught and Interrogation 36:10 Charges and the Co-Defendant's Betrayal 37:20 Juvenile Court and Facing Life 38:40 Life in Juvenile Detention 40:43 Visits and the Reality of the Case 41:48 Hungryroot Ad 43:29 Fighting the Case: Lawyers and Costs 46:00 The Trial: Three Days, No Physical Evidence 49:12 Guilty Verdict and Sentencing 51:42 Miller v. Alabama: A Glimmer of Hope 53:43 Starting Life in Maximum Security 55:20 Mentors and the Law Library 58:00 Avoiding Prison Drama and Staying Focused 01:00:47 Perspective Shift: Prison vs. Streets 01:02:54 Why It Took Prison to Change 01:04:53 The Difference Between Street Life and Prison Life 01:07:07 AG1 Ad 01:09:11 The Heartbreak of a Life Sentence 01:11:48 Hope vs. Acceptance in Prison 01:12:40 Appeals and Denials 01:14:16 Resentenced: 30 to Life 01:16:57 The Hardest Year: Final Stretch and Parole 01:19:02 Fear of Freedom and Rebuilding Relationships 01:21:02 Adjusting to the World: Tech, Bills, and People 01:23:44 Loss of Parents and Brother 01:26:36 Disappointments of Freedom 01:29:40 The Rudeness of Society 01:31:17 Happiest Moments and New Love 01:32:54 Feeling the 30 Years 01:34:40 Helping Others: Fresh Start Haircuts and Mentorship 01:37:35 Making Peace with the Victim's Family 01:39:40 Current Mental State and Building a Family 01:43:00 The Value of a Stable Relationship 01:46:22 What He Knows Now at 16 01:48:30 Outro and Final Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka