Capstones
Graduation Date
Fall 12-16-2019
Grading Professor
Lisa Armstrong
Subject Concentration
Urban Reporting
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
Bruce Bryant, 50, was convicted of the murder of 11-year-old Travis Lilley in June 1996. Bryant maintains he never fired a weapon that day in 1993. But he recognizes that his lifestyle as a young person — he started dealing drugs when he was 14 — contributed to an environment in which a stray bullet could take a young life. And for that reason, he’s spent most of his 25 years in prison working to help young people.
With at least 12 more years on his sentence, Bryant is now asking the governor for early release, with the hope that he can continue his work outside of prison walls.
“On my watch, I don’t want to ever see another young person die,” he says.
See full project here.
Recommended Citation
Rippetoe, Rachel M. and Sanders-Mills, Sean, "GETTING OUT: BRUCE BRYANT’S CLIMB TO REDEMPTION INSIDE PRISON" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/407
We interviewed Bruce Bryant inside Sing Sing Correctional Facility, and many of the people who would like to see him get out of prison.
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Bruce Bryant in Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
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An old polaroid of Bryant hugging his mother, Gwen in a prison visiting center.
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We asked Bruce to write a letter to his 14-year-old-self. That was the year he began dealing drugs.
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Bruce's mother in her home in Jamaica Queens, holding Bruce's graduation photo. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Sing Sing Correctional Facility.