My name is Chris Panozzo I am currently an inmate at the Jerome Combs Detention Center
where I am awaiting to be sentenced. I would like the world to hear my story in hopes that some how or
some way I may be able to help someone else in need. Whether it be to get through tough times or to
avoid going through those times alone. I have become a member of this website after hearing about it
because I knew it would be a great opportunity not only to reflect upon my past, present and future, but
to be able to shed some light on the positive aspects of my life. I like to think that I am a good person,
who has made some bad decisions, by no means do I regret who I am, but I do regret the things that I
have done.
I was born in Kankakee, IL to two wonderful parents. I am not an only child, but I am my
fathers only child. My father is retired after serving his whole life as Sergeant Major for the United
States Army. My mother is deceased and my only sister, who I have not spoken to in years, continues to
live in our childhood home. I was raised with high morals and values, however due to my fathers work
he was gone a lot, half of the year I would be sent to Missouri with my grandparents and my uncle
Will. Growing up in Illinois I was happy, I played baseball, excelled at swimming and even became
certified as a lifeguard. While in Missouri I worked all day, everyday. I remember at seven-years old
living in the farm helping to chop cotton, taking care of the animals and the vegetable garden. Work
was hard but on the off times I learned to hunt and fish and would go out with my uncle regularly.
Growing up with Will was great, I cherished him with all my heart and always looked up to him as a
father. However watching him drink and smoke weed daily started me on the wrong path while I was
still attending elementary school. Having my first drink as a young child, to this day has been hands
down the worst decision I have ever made. Once I started drinking I lost control of my life. Alcohol and
later drugs completely took over and I spiraled out of control. I began missing school, getting in trouble
and by my teenage years I had already been arrested. By the time I was in my twenties I had almost
died a few times. The first time I broke my neck by being high, drunk, and stupid by falling off of a 4-
wheeler. The second time I got into a fight that ended with me being stabbed several times in the chest.
A third time I got beaten up by six guys with wooden boards who broke a couple ribs, my jaw in three
pieces and made me loose nineteen teeth. The last time I still don’t remember what happened, but I
woke up after being on life support for nine days. By constantly making bad decisions, time and time
again I have put my family and myself in harms way needlessly. I have lost everything I have owned
several times. I have lost my self-respect and every time I gain some of it back I do something dumb to
loose it right back again. My the time I hit thirty-years old I was already incarcerated, having multiple
charges and multiple open cases lined up one after the other. To make matters worst, during this time I
lost my mother and was unable to even be at her funeral.
Since then I have realized that my old life is over and I need to get my life back on track.
During my last couple of months in jail I have gotten several vocational certificates for construction
occupations and even started working on a degree in construction management. I dedicate my days to
work on myself. I have started to plan starting my own business. Nothing really big, but I understand I
got to start somewhere to be able to support myself. I have been thinking of taking classes to be a

counselor for teens and young adults. I am attracted to the idea of some type of half-way house for
Kankakee County. I can proudly say that for the first time in my life I have been sober and mentally
stabling myself. I am my fathers only caretaker so it is very important for me to change my life. In my
current facility I am enrolled and taking classes in substance abuse, a domestic abuse, thinking for a
change and living on the outside. I am looking forward to getting back into college and leaving the
alcohol and my past in the past. I have learned that there is more than partying and more than running
the streets. I have a responsibility to myself, my family and my community. I have set myself a few
small but very important goals. First is to remain sober, one day at a time. Second is to enroll in college
and complete my first-year. Third is to make sure that my father is well cared for. And last but not least,
is to positively impact at least one younger person. I want to try and help someone from having to go
through what I went through. I am willing to teach them a trade, how to play baseball, how to swim,
how to hunt, how to fish, how to trap, how to build a shelter or even how to start a fire without a
lighter. I know it seems strange but we rarely think about the importance of learning basic survival
skills, the point is to do anything to keep the younger generations away from drugs and jail.
I have began looking into counseling programs and certifications for individuals coming out of
incarceration but do not have enough information about it yet. However I have begun contacting people
I know who may be able to help me start working on construction and remodeling homes that are in
half-way house approved zones. I know that if I can find a good property I can do most of the repair
work myself and quickly get a property certified to help people who are coming out of jail and prison. I
have access to transportation to help residents go to appointments and other activities. I am still trying
to have someone help me look up other necessary requirements so I can continue to piece things
together. But I know that as long as I stay focused and continue to move forward I am confident that no
matter how small the change, I can help make the change that may one day save the life or lives of
others in need. I have spent to much time doing the wrong thing when I knew the right thing to do;
believe me I am done.
I would like my family, my friends, my community, my judge, my prosecutor and everyone to
know that I truly apologize for my past behavior. I will not make excuses or try to justify my actions. I
just want you all to know that I am absolutely 100% done with the drinking, done with the drugs, done
not giving back when I have so much to give back. Moving forward I want to make people proud of
me, not ashamed of me. My father deserves better than this, and I whole heartedly intend to give him
exactly that. I am by no means asking for a hand out but a hand-up. I am grateful for my family, my
health and my will and determination to overcome a lifetime of addiction. I am grateful to Mr. Tello
and this organization for giving me the opportunity to share a little of my story. I am thankful for
having another chance to change. Jail and Prison have given me the opportunity to use my troubled past
to create a positive future. Not only for myself, but for those who will allow me the privilege to
positively impact their lives as well.