Author's Opening Statement

CRIME IS JUST DUMB A Former Teenage Inmate Teaches Young Adults How to Avoid His Mistakes and Soar!  

Opening Statement by the author, Tony Jackson

Crime Is Just Dumb is a book of wisdom. I wrote it to help young people like you avoid making dumb mistakes that could doom you to being sent to prison, like I was. I spent the majority of my life locked up. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone, especially a child or teenager with their whole life in front of them.

In this book, the things that I urge young people to do to save themselves from falling through the cracks of society will not be easy to accomplish. But I believe in your intelligence. I believe that you can do whatever you set their mind to do, especially when you get the support that you need. This book will help you think through your decisions and become a leader, not a follower.

My mission is not to frighten you. My mission is to enlighten you.

To my Mother and Father

&

 For children everywhere,

especially children at risk

What Is . . . ?

SMART

An action that reflects informed decision making and good judgment. Any behavior that helps achieve positive goals.

DUMB

Careless behavior and illogical decision making.

Any negative activity that hurts oneself or others.

MISTAKE

An error. An action that is misguided or unintended. Mistakes happen due to a lack of information, misunderstanding and carelessness. Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes provide opportunities to learn what to do and what not to do to avoid trouble and achieve a goal.

SOAR

To rapidly rise to a higher level. To overcome all things. To succeed.

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