Ray J.

Ray is one of five siblings, from, he said, a close-knit family in Oakland, California. As he grew up, his self-image was tied to being a protector and a good friend. "I was always the protector of the family and tried to be there for my friends. I wasn't no bad guy or anything like that…I have sisters and a lot of nieces. I'm the only boy, so I had to watch out for all of them."

By age 17, Ray had been getting into minor trouble-"I'd cut school to hang out with girls" and had started to deal drugs-but did not have a juvenile record. During this time, Ray was also learning trades from his father and discovered a facility for the work. "I knew how to do carpentry, electrical work, roofing, plumbing, keys-I've had trades since I was little. My dad taught me things-he's a carpenter and a locksmith." Straddling the  two worlds became a day to day reality. "I used to sell drugs for fast money, but at the same time, I worked for my father building houses."

Shortly before the crime, Ray decided to leave the street life behind him and applied-and was accepted-into the Job Corps program, a job training program for young people. "I had this epiphany-I'm tired of hanging out on the streets. I want to do something with my life, something creative." He had plans to open up a mechanics shop where he would buy cars, fix them up and sell them. The day that his plane ticket to San Diego arrived for the Job Corps program, however, he was arrested.

Earlier that week, Ray was approached by a friend who begged him to help rob a local convenience store, and Ray agreed. "I thought I'd just go to make sure nothing bad happens. So I went with him and everything went wrong." During the course of the robbery, Ray's codefendant shot and killed a convenience store employee. The two were tried together, and although the court found that Ray did not personally commit the murder, he was nevertheless found guilty on a felony murder basis of first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole plus 10 years for the use of a gun.

"The judge let me hug my mom and I cried and I couldn't stop," he said, describing the moment when he heard the sentence. "I got life without and I didn't kill anybody."

-Human Rights Watch interview with Ray J.,

serving life without parole in California, July 16, 2007