Dennis Skillicorn can’t change his past, but he believes he can change the

The cover of "Today's Choices Affect Tomorrow's Dreams."

future for young people in danger of repeating his mistakes by sharing his story and others like it.

Using contributions from prisoners throughout the country, the 48-year-old inmate from Missouri’s death row edited a book of essays, poems and artwork chronicling the choices that brought prisoners to where they are today. “Today’s Choices Affect Tomorrow’s Dreams” is being distributed in juvenile detention facilities around the country to remind young people about the importance of their decisions.

The book, written by death row inmates and prisoners serving life-without-parole sentences, is distributed through Compassion, a nonprofit organization that produces a bimonthly newsletter written by and for death row inmates in the United States. The concept came from Mr. Skillicorn, editor of the Compassion newsletter since 2003.

In a phone interview from Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Mo., Mr. Skillicorn discusses his work with Compassion and his hopes for the book.

“Prison systems around the country are flourishing,” he says. “And we’re filling those institutions with our young people because they’re making bad choices.”

Many prisoners share a desire to prevent young people from repeating their mistakes, Mr. Skillicorn continues. “A lot of these guys have children themselves, and what kind of man would want his own child to make the same stupid mistakes he’s made?”

With the help of people on the outside, he believes the book can make a difference for youth. The purchase of one book allows two books to be provided for free to juvenile detention centers.

None of the proceeds go to inmates, Mr. Skillicorn adds. All finances are handled by outside coordinator Fred Moor and other volunteers based at Perrysburg St. Rose Parish.

Compassion initially sent 100 copies to juvenile facilities, but it has since received more than 200 additional requests for the book. Mr. Skillicorn has received letters of appreciation from judges and others involved in the juvenile justice system.

“Professionals have recognized this as a piece of material that could actually make a difference in kids’ lives,” he says.  

Mr. Skillicorn, who was incarcerated on two other occasions before being convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1996, hopes young readers learn the importance of choosing good role models and realize they are not invincible.

“I live in an institution with 800 offenders in it,” he says. “Every single one of those guys at one time or another thought they were invincible.”

He recounts his own turning point in 1994, after his arrest for the crime that put him back in prison. “I was literally at the bottom of my life and I just had nowhere to look but up.” He became a Christian, and has since become passionate about restorative justice projects with Compassion and other organizations.

The Compassion newsletter prints introspective essays, poetry and artwork from death row prisoners throughout the country. Death row inmates edit the publication, while volunteers at St. Rose oversee its publication and finances.

Compassion is distributed free to all 3,400 U.S. death row inmates with the support of outside subscriptions and donations. Half of the subscription fees and undesignated donations are used to award college scholarships to immediate family members of murdered victims.

Mr. Skillicorn says a number of inmates have also already expressed interest in creating a second volume of essays for young people to follow “Today’s Choices Affect Tomorrow’s Dreams.”

Copies of “Today’s Choices Affect Tomorrow’s Dreams” may be ordered through Compassion for $17.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Write to Compassion, 140 W. South Boundary St., Perrysburg, OH 43551 or visit www.compassionondeathrow.org for an order form.