GIVEN A SECOND LOOK AND SECOND
CHANCE MEANS NOW.
>> Reporter: IN REGULAR CLOTHES,
CARRYING HIS OWN CELL PHONE AND
WALKING ON A SIDEWALK FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE 1996, MICHAEL
FIRST TIME SINCE 1996, MICHAEL
WOODY SAYS HE HARDLY RECOGNIZES
HIS HOMETOWN.
>> D.C. LOOKS SO DIFFERENT.
THERE’S CRANES EVERYWHERE.
THERE’S CRANES EVERYWHERE.
>> Reporter: FOR A QUARTER
CENTURY, HE WAS KNOWN AS FEDERAL
INMATE 11089.
BUT AFTER SERVING NEARLY HALF OF
A PRISON SENTENCE FOR
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, HE’S
ENJOYING HIS FIRST TASTE OF
FREEDOM.
>> TO EMBRACE MY MOTHER, IT’S
BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND FOR HER
TO SEE HER SON -- THE MAN I’VE
TO SEE HER SON -- THE MAN I’VE
BECOME WALK OUT OF THERE AND
EMBRACE HER IN THIS FREE WORLD,
IT WAS VERY COMFORTING.
>> Reporter: HE WAS IMPRISONED
IN THE MID-90s FOR A MURDER
INSIDE A BARBERSHOP.
IT’S AN OLD CASE.
WOODY SAYS HE’S A NEW MAN,
RELEASED IN PART DUE TO A NEW
LAW.
THE SECOND LOOK ACT ENACTED
EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THE
DISTRICT, IT ALLOWS THOSE
CONVICTED OF CRIMES UNDER THE
CONVICTED OF CRIMES UNDER THE
AGE OF 25 TO SEEK RELEASE AFTER
SERVING 15 YEARS.
AN EXPANSION OF AN EARLIER LAW
AN EXPANSION OF AN EARLIER LAW
THAT ALLOWS OFFENDERS TO COMMIT
SERIOUS CRIMES BEFORE 18 TO
PETITION FOR RESENTENCING.
THE LAW WAS PASSED OVER THE
OBJECTIONS OF THE D.C. POLICE
AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYING
IT REVICTIMIZES VICTIMS.
PROSECUTORS SUPPORTED A SENTENCE
REDUCTION.
THEY SAY HIS VICTIM’S FAMILY HAS
THEY SAY HIS VICTIM’S FAMILY HAS
OPPOSED HIS RELEASE BUT COULDN’T
BE REACHED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS
HEARING.
>> THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THAT
BARBERSHOP IN 1996 WHEN THAT
TRAGEDY HAPPENED, DO YOU THINK
THEY’LL BE OKAY SEEING YOU OUT
SITTING IN THAT CHAIR?
SITTING IN THAT CHAIR?
>> THAT’S A HARD ONE TO ANSWER.
WHAT I CAN SAY, I’M A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT MAN TODAY, A BETTER
DIFFERENT MAN TODAY, A BETTER
VERSION OF MYSELF THAN THE YOUNG
INDIVIDUAL THAT I WERE WHEN I
WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
>> QUINCY BOOTH SAID WOODY IS
PREPARED FOR THIS SECOND CHANCE.
HE OBTAINED HIS GED AND TOOK
HE OBTAINED HIS GED AND TOOK
NUMEROUS COLLEGE AND
SELF-IMPROVEMENT COURSES.
>> HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST BRILLIANT, COMPASSIONATE,
QUIET BUT ALSO REALLY
INTENTIONAL PEOPLE THAT I’VE
EVER MET.
>> Reporter: BOOTH ISN’T JUST A
SUPPORTER.
HE’S THE DIRECTOR OF THE D.C.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHERE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHERE
WOODY HELPED HIM CREATE YOUNG
MEN EMERGING, A MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM FOR THE NEWLY
INCARCERATED.
CORRECTION OFFICIALS WHO
SUPPORTED WOODY’S RELEASE TOLD
SUPPORTED WOODY’S RELEASE TOLD
THE I-TEAM HE BECAME A MENTOR TO
THEM TOO.
>> GETTING TO KNOW MICHAEL WOODY
IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY
CAREER.
>> THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS TOLD NEWS4 WOODY SET
THE EXAMPLE FOR MENTES AND
MENTORS ALIKE.
>> HE SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF EDUCATION, ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE,
IMPORTANCE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE,
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DARING
TO DREAM.
>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE HAVE A
>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE HAVE A
CYNICISM ABOUT JAIL INMATES.
ALWAYS WONDERING IF THEY’RE
GENUINE WHEN THEY SAY THEY’VE
CHANGED.
YOU’RE CONFIDENT THAT MICHAEL IS
GENUINE?
>> MICHAEL IS GENUINE.
MICHAEL UNDERSTANDS THE
IMPORTANCE, AS I SAID, OF
COMMUNITY, HE UNDERSTANDS THE
IMPORTANCE OF GIVING PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REINVENT
OPPORTUNITY TO REINVENT
THEMSELVES.
>> NOT JUST AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT
A RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS
SEEKING RELEASE.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
THEIR FAITH IN ME.
I WILL WORK MY HARDEST TO BE
DESERVING, TO SHOW THEM THAT
THEY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
>> Reporter: HE SAID HE WILL
CONTINUE TO MENTOR YOUNG
OFFENDERS.
SCOTT MacFARLANE, NEWS4, I-TEAM.
>> HE’S ALREADY BEEN HIRED TO
>> HE’S ALREADY BEEN HIRED TO
CREATE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR