David Sell

David Santana Sell is a 45 year old husband, father, and grandfather who has been incarcerated for 24 years. He is serving a sentence of 43 ½ years to life for the fatal shooting of a young man in Buffalo, New York in 1995, and will not be eligible for parole until 2036 when he will be 61 years old. When he entered prison, Mr. Sell immediately began to turn his life around, earning his G.E.D. in his first year of incarceration. In his more than two decades of incarceration, he has received only one minor, non-violent disciplinary infraction, an exceptional feat in the prison environment. Mr. Sell is also a devout Jehovah’s Witness.

Mr. Sell now has the courage to avoid and de-escalate conflict. He is deeply remorseful for the pain he caused, and he has dedicated his life to making a positive impact on the world. Through the Youth Assistance Program, Mr. Sell uses his life story to inspire at-risk youth to make better choices. He also created a youth mentorship and gang prevention curriculum that he hopes to implement in all DOCCS facilities. Today, Mr. Sell dedicates his time to caring for aging and terminally ill incarcerated persons through his participation in the highly selective hospice program.

David Sell inspires the people around him with his sincerity and kindness and serves as a mentor to younger men in prison. He is a passionate advocate for prison reform and is currently working on a film and podcast with a student from Bard University. Mr. Sell’s family has been his rock throughout his transformation, and he looks forward to coming home and fully embracing family life. He is eager to continue advocating for incarcerated people and prison reform from beyond the prison walls.

Watch an interview with David. Password for the video is “clem”.