Smurkz grew up in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood on the Darkside. At just 19 years old, he was arrested and sentenced to 40 years to life for murder.
During his time inside the New York State prison system, Smurkz was transferred through multiple facilities including Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, Upstate’s SHU, Attica, and Groveland. While fighting his original case, he also caught a separate case on Rikers Island that resulted in a 7-year sentence running concurrently.
Years into his incarceration, Smurkz received a reversal on direct appeal, meaning his original conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered. The fight for his freedom continued as he faced retrial on serious charges, ultimately accepting a 13-year flat sentence before being released on conditional release.
In this episode, Smurkz reflects on life behind the wall, navigating the prison system, fighting cases, and what it means to come home after years of incarceration.
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