Going to jail can feel like the worst thing to happen to a person. For Latasha Walters, being arrested made all the difference in her life – a positive difference. Today, she’s the Lead Employment Specialist at Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc., helping veterans get employed under the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program through a Department of Labor grant. As part of her job she works with veterans in the Pinellas County Jail to help them get employment-ready in anticipation of their release. Now she enters the jail as a visitor and can leave whenever she wants, but there was a time when she was the one behind bars and razor wire.

Walters is the oldest of five children and felt like she bore more than a child’s burden of their poverty as she watched her mom struggle. “My father was in the picture but he wasn’t in the household,” she said. At 14 she was too young to get a job but wanted to do something to help her family. “I met with someone who was a friend at the time and they introduced me to selling drugs. I thought I was protecting my family. At that age you’re not really considering the consequences. It was the fastest way to make money that I’d ever seen. I thought I could make a certain amount of money very quickly and be able to get my family out of poverty. But the consequences can override any good intention you have.”

She soon got busted selling drugs to an undercover narcotics detective in a hotel and was arrested. But at 14 her philosophy was that getting caught was just a sign she needed to learn how to do it better. She got into more trouble and ended up in a diversion program, but when she reoffended as a young adult she was sentenced to a stint in the Pinellas County Jail. It could have put her on the slippery slope toward a full-time criminal career, but thanks to the programs the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) offers to inmates, she was given the opportunity to turn her life completely around.

Walters participated in a program that helped inmates with substance use disorders and offered cognitive behavioral therapy. “For me, the most problematic thing was anger. I had a lot of suppressed anger from multiple things, but at the time I couldn’t identify why I was so angry.” While in jail she also got her GED. When she graduated from that program and was released, she looked for other ways to get her life on track. “I had a son, and his father was not in the picture. I would say that my son saved my life. I had to come to terms with the fact that if I didn’t get my act together he wouldn’t have any parent. That propelled me forward.”

She went to Pinellas Technical College and got her CDL Class B, then entered a carpentry program. “I liked doing hard, physical work,” she said. Her goal was to get a reliable city job. While learning carpentry she was part of the Youth Build program that included mentorship and peer group support where they talked about their problems and the socioeconomic factors that played a part in their lives. “Some had been to jail like me, others had been in prison, many were living in impoverished neighborhoods with a lot of influence of violence and drugs. These groups helped us reflect and do some critical thinking.”

One day she found herself spearheading one of those groups, speaking in front of an audience who appreciated that her motivational words came from personal experience. “That’s when the fire came.” Her peers immediately connected with what she was saying to them. “I was like wow, I never felt that feeling before. I went back to one of the Youth Build staff members and said I want to do what you do! I wanted to influence people to make better decisions and change their overall outcomes. I was still in that process myself, figuring myself out, figuring life out, getting better self-awareness.” She’d discovered a passion and a natural talent for motivational speaking. The staff member told her that he’d gone to Springfield College, which says its “Humanics philosophy calls for educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.” Walters thought that sounded perfect and decided to enroll.

“I’m a first-generation college graduate. I did not think, based on my history with school, that I’d enjoy college. But it’s a totally different experience when it’s something you want and you’re fully engaged.” Education gave her new horizons. “I was living in this five-block radius, and going to college opened my mind to the world.” Reading some of her own ideas about social issues in textbooks made her feel validated too. “At that point my self-esteem started to develop a little more. I was like wow, you’re actually intelligent! I got a lot of confirmation that I was in the right place.”

But even after getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees she couldn’t find employment in her field. Finally, after years of trying, someone was willing to overlook her past and focus instead on the many positive changes she’d made. She got a part-time job at WestCare as an opiate addictions counselor, and then a second part-time job with them as a case manager at one of their residential facilities, working with veterans. Later she’d work with Metro Wellness as a case manager for people living with HIV/AIDS, and then the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Today, after learning how to be a top-notch case manager, Walters loves her job with Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc. helping veterans find work.

Asked how she feels about going into the Pinellas County Jail where she once paid the price for her youthful mistakes, Walters says she feels nothing but gratitude. “It reminds me where I’ve been, and how far I’ve come. Humility is the biggest part of my journey, just remembering where I started, never getting ahead of myself, never pretending to be better than anybody else.” Her story shows that going to jail doesn’t have to be a person’s defining moment.

Programs available at the jail offer many kinds of assistance and education for inmates. The Batterers Intervention Program helps people break the cycle of domestic violence. The Red Tent Women’s Initiative helps women build better lives for themselves and their children. There is a GED program, parenting classes, and more. But the success of these and other programs depends on how much an inmate is willing to put into them. “A challenge is just an opportunity to be better,” Walters said. “It’s important to hold people accountable so they know they have a part in their own success. It’s not all on us as the professionals. We share the responsibility so that they don’t have to carry the burden alone.”

She has words of wisdom for someone looking to turn their life around after past mistakes. “All you need is one yes. You will have many nos, that’s a part of life. But if you give up you’ll never get to reap the reward of the yes. Keep going, keep fighting. One day does not determine the next. One negative does not eliminate the positive.”

Believe it or not, Pinellas County has 588 miles of coastline, and a lot of that is on the Barrier Islands. From Anclote Key to Egmont Key, this chain of narrow islands just on the other side of the Intracoastal Waterway attracts tourists and residents alike. Some are parks and preserves that nurture wildlife such as shore birds and sea turtles, but most are filled with residences and businesses. Our Barrier Islands protect the mainland from waves, wind, and tides, but their low elevation and position make them uniquely vulnerable in hurricanes. Anyone with a home or business on one of the county’s Barrier Islands should plan now for what they will do in the event of a hurricane. Prepare your home or business before the storm, think where you will go during the storm, and be ready to safely return when the storm has passed. To return to the Barrier Islands, residents can get an emergency access permit with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Barrier Island Re-entry Program.

While you evacuate your home for the safety of your family, criminals have their eye on your property. There is a risk of burglary and looting after a mandatory evacuation. When the evacuation order is lifted, the PCSO wants to ensure that only residents and business owners are initially allowed back on the Barrier Islands to check their property. Those with an emergency access pass can have their pass quickly scanned in lieu of a lengthy verification process at any of the nine Barrier Island re-entry points to facilitate their return to their homes. Anyone without a home or a business on the Barrier Islands will be refused entry in the immediate aftermath of a major storm.

There are many other things you can do to keep yourself safe before, during, and after a storm.

Know your Zone: Evacuation zones change periodically so check yours every hurricane season. Remember, evacuation zones are different than flood zones. Visit kyz.pinellascounty.org/ to search by address for zone information as well as nearby shelters.

Find a Route to Safety: Have a plan to leave if your area is under an evacuation order, which means your zone will be affected by storm surge – the flooding that happens when strong winds push water far inland. Your first choice for evacuation should be to stay with family, friends, or at a hotel in a non-evacuation area. Shelters should be used by people who have no other option. Pinellas County has general hurricane shelters, as well as special needs shelters and those that allow pets. Give yourself plenty of travel time, and know what roads you will take, keeping in mind that past a certain point some bridges might be closed. Visit pinellas.gov/emergency-information/public-shelters for more information and a list of what to bring to a shelter.

Emergency Kit: Your home emergency kit should include a seven-day supply of nonperishable food that doesn’t require cooking, and one gallon of water per person per day, as well as additional water for cooking and hygiene. Remember to have any medications you might need, battery or hand crank powered radio and flashlights, extra batteries, rain gear, cash, sunscreen, insect repellent, first aid supplies, plus other things necessary for safety or comfort. Also prepare a bag of necessities to take if you evacuate, including important papers and any medication you might need.

Alert Pinellas: Alert Pinellas is a free emergency notification system that delivers vital information to you by phone call, text, or email. It will send you alerts about severe weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or flooding, evacuation orders, boil water notices, and more. Visit www.pcsoweb.com/alert-pinellas to sign up.

911 and Emergencies During a Hurricane

When the winds reach a certain level, it is no longer safe for first responders to be on the road. Although deputies will be activated and 911 operators still answer calls, no law enforcement, fire, or EMS will be able to reach you until the storm subsides. 911 operators have heartbreaking tales of people calling with fire or medical emergencies who couldn’t receive help during a hurricane. It is imperative that you do whatever you can before, during, and after a hurricane to ensure your own safety until emergency services can be resumed.