From convicted murderer to motivational speaker

Former killer tries to educate youth about crime

Updated: Monday, 21 Feb 2011, 5:56 PM EST
Published : Monday, 21 Feb 2011, 5:56 PM EST

* Lorey Schultz
* Posted by: Eli George

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - How do you prevent teen violence? Some schools are trying an alternative way that may raise some eyebrows.

When will the shootings stop? It took the murders of four people, and the wounding of four others at the City Grill, to get our attention last summer. Since then, the deadly gunfire continues.

Jerry Balone said, "I never really aspired to be anything other than a criminal."

Balone understands today's shooters, young men who often get trapped as boys in a world of fear and retaliation.

"Most all of their crimes were impulsive. Somebody's disrespected them, went home, got a gun and did what they felt they had to do," said Balone.

To hear him speak, it's hard to believe that he's a convicted "triple" murderer, who shot and killed during a home invasion back in '73. His criminal activity continued behind bars.

Balone explained, "I was deemed one of the 64 most dangerous and disruptive people in prison system in state of New York."

Balone carried around the same kind of anger he sees in today's violent youth.

"There's a saying, hurt people, hurt people. I just wanted to lash out. I was abandoned at birth, went to a succession of foster homes. I was always beaten for everything I did wrong. It got to the point where I accepted that. You beat me, and I felt I could do it to other people. I didn't care. It was an attitude," recalled Balone.

His turnaround came toward the end of his 37 year prison sentence when, for the first time in his life, he was introduced to educational programs, including religion and psychology.

Balone said, "What those programs taught me was that I was totally responsible for everything I did in my life."

Four years ago, he was released from prison, and put on lifetime parole. In a drastic measure to reach students, schools bring him in to lecture, warning teens about drugs and gangs. He also details the humiliation of being an inmate.

"If a guy goes in and is cute, they'll look at him as a female," said Balone.

Balone plays down his quick rise from prison cell to podium, knowing he'll never escape moral judgment.

Balone said, "You know, I think of all the beatings I endured as a child, if I got more hugs and love, it might have altered the course of my life. No matter what I do, I'll spend the rest of my life atoning for what I did."

As you might expect, some people don't believe that Jerry Balone is a changed man. On Monday, relatives of his three victims called News 4 to say that he doesn't deserve the positive attention, having caused such pain years ago when he brutally killed their innocent loved ones. They believe he should still be behind bars, and not in area schools. Currently, Balone lives in Buffalo.


http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo...tional-speaker


I'm glad he did his time and is reformed, and happier still that he's giving back to the community by telling his story to kids and trying to make a difference in their lives!!