David Bendezu

David Bendezu was born on January 25th, 1987. He was incarcerated in 2006 and served 17 years of a 15 to life sentence before being paroled in 2023

Since his incarceration, he has earned a G.E.D and an Associate degree from the Cornell Prison Education Program and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management. He once worked as a teacher’s aide helping incarcerated men earn their G.E.Ds. While in Auburn, David volunteered in A.V.P. (Alternative to Violence Program) from time to time, working with men with violent histories. He also volunteered in Y.A.P (Youth Assistance Program). In that program, he taught young, troubled adults not to make the same mistakes and choices that led him to prison by relating to them his personal experiences. At Fishkill Correctional facility, he volunteered with the Puppies Behind Bars program and received his certification as a certified dog handler from the Department of Labor. He trained dogs to become service animals for wounded war veterans back for Iraq and Afghanistan. Although David loves being a part of all the programs mentioned, his heart is always with PPTG. He was a founding member of the group. It was through PPTG that David learned about love, remorse, and peace. David “grew up” in PPTG having come to prison as a lost soul with nothing. He believes that PPTG is not a “program” because PPTG is not programmatic in any sense. PPTG has no hierarchy, as there would be in a ‘program’. And because of this, everyone benefits from the experience of participating in PPTG. PPTG is a place where one chooses to grow as a human being rather than being rehabilitated as a human being. He will continue to achieve his number one goal: a second chance at life. David considers PPTG his family. Since returning home, David has been working for The Fortune Society as a case worker with the Children and Family Program. He has been accepted to the Master of Social Work Program at Hunter College.