"I used to think people that I grew up with were real mad people because they were continually returning to jail, but when I learned that people can go back to jail for parole violations for nothing more than a sneeze, I changed my view of the system."

— Kevin Lofton

After working as a state parole officer for nearly two years, Rosenberg's Kevin Lofton describes the present criminal corrections system as being similar to "pouring water on drowning people" in his book, "X'ed Out."

Kevin Lofton of Rosenberg poses with a copy of his book, "X'ed Out." The book is an attempt to better things for parolees and probationers, who he said experience adversities in society because of their criminal background.

In his book, Lofton singles out specific groups and methods that could, in his opinion, improve the system. He also challenges those groups, which include the media, law enforcement, parolees, probationers, youth employers and victims, to help make the world a safer place.

By working with probationers and parolees on a day-to-day basis, Lofton said he has witnessed the adversities these individuals experienced in their attempt to assimilate back into the mainstream.

"It's hard when you have to live with a X on our back and difficult to survive," said Lofton regarding probationers and parolees who have felony charges on their record and the reason he titled his book "X'ed out."

"At this level in the system no one cares about them. A person on parole or probation instantly gets an X on his back and is marked out of society. Everywhere they go doors are slammed in their faces."

He said criminal background check regularly performed on applications for residence, credit or employment are meant to exclude the ex-offender and that is wrong.

"That's why I wrote the book said Lofton. "It's a positive book aimed at challenging everybody to get involved and bring to the forefront these people who go through, and we can better the system."

He said the book was an attempt to better things for the parolees and probationers because all of them are not bad people, just people who have made a mistake. He clarified his statement by saying that some criminals need to be in prison.

"I used to think people that I grew up with were real mad people because they were continually returning to jail, but when I learned that people can go back to jail for parole violations for nothing more than a sneeze, I changed my view of the system," Lofton said.

The graduate of Sam Houston State University's Department of Criminal Justice, Lofton said he wrote the book as a way to reach young people in an attempt to keep them out of the system. Lofton said once teens become a part of the system, they become ostracized and are also marked for life.

"We have young people that think it's cool to commit a crime and those kids need to know the days for being soft on crime are over," said Lofton.

The book for Lofton is his first attempt at being an author and publisher, but he has several other projects in the works. They include several novels, a video documentary, audio recordings and additional volumes of "X'ed Out."

Lofton is very active in the group "No more Victim" a Houston based group that fights for victims' rights.

"It's easier for him to send a parolee back to prison than it is to help a person stay free," said Lofton, who feels there need to be more organizations attempting to help parolees stay out of prison.

"Hopefully, employers will give these people a chance who are trying to better themselves."

Anyone interested in the purchasing the book can call (713) 778-4114. [Note: this number has changed to (832) 453-1429 and the website is www.xedoutpublishing.com]