'X'ED OUT!' Kevin Lofton, a probation officer, displays his book, "X'ed Out!," which tells the true stories about parolees and the challenges they encounter trying to get back on their feet. — photo by TRINH T. LE

Kevin Lofton wants to tell people the true story about what parolees go through as they try to re-enter society. He challenges society to support parolees in their efforts to overcome the obstacles they face.

Lofton also wants to tell youngsters to stay out of trouble so they won't be in that position some day.

Lofton, a probation officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Fort Bend County, has written a 40-page book called "X'ed out!" to say that parolees are just people who have made a mistake and are now trying to do their best.

But it is "difficult to live with an 'X' on your back," Lofton tells kids, so they won't make the same mistakes.

In his job, Lofton sees the injustices of the system and tries to help his parolees survive.

"It is difficult to find work. They can't find a residence because of their criminal background," he says. "Everybody has something negative to say about them."

The parolees end up going back to their old groups, "the only groups that will accept them," and getting in trouble again.

"When they first come out, they really do try, " Lofton says, "but society forces them to go back to what they were before. That's why the recidivism rate is so high."

Lofton grew up in "the hood" in Rosenberg, but he says he was fortunate to have a strong family and didn't face the obstacles his friends and neighbors had.

That's why he wants to work with juveniles and younger children, Lofton says. Now they get suspended if they get in fights or cut school. When they are older, they will go to jail," which follows them forever.

"What I am doing now, society doesn't care about these people. We can still reach the kids," says Lofton, who has a degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University and has been a parole officer for a year and a half.

"I thought this was an area where you could sit down and get to know somebody and make a difference," Lofton says.

He believes his job is in jeopardy because of his book. He says there are rumors that internal affairs is going through his records to find a way to dismiss him even though he has done nothing legally wrong.

"Any time you speak out for these people, that is negative," Lofton says. "If you want to advance in a job here, you have to be really hard-nosed and send as many people to prison as you can."

Lofton has published his book on his own and plans another edition next year. He is also writing three other books — "The Game is So Real" with rap artist Blasphemy, about life on the streets, "America's Most Dangerous Drug" with his imprisoned brother Deep Water, about the effects of alcohol, and "Framed" with prison inmate Pierre, about organized crime.

Lofton is also producing "X'ed Out — The Documentary," in which he interviews former parolees about their hard experiences.

Lofton says he has a lot of positive response to his book. He says prisoners and parolees have thanked him for speaking the truth. He says some of his fellow parole officers have thanked him for saying what they don't have the guts to say.

Lofton hopes his book will motivate employers to call down to the county parole office to ask for parolees who need work. He hopes kids will stop fighting and cutting classes and will start doing what their parents tell them and taking care of business.

Lofton's book, "X'ed Out," is available by calling (713) 778-4114 or access www.quickpage.com/x/xedout. [Note: this has changed to www.xedoutpublishing.com]