By Walter Pritchard
Soaring High Media Group
walter@soaringhighmediagroup.com
A group of prisoners in the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri are pushing to reform criminal justice system from the inside out.
The inmates are seeking prison reform through revision of the Truth in Sentencing Act which currently require inmates to serve a minimum of 85% of their sentencing. They want Missouri legislators to reduce the 85% minimum by allowing parole earlier to offenders. This legislation will allow the parole board discretion to release offenders who have excellent institutional adjustment and rehabilitative efforts, but cannot be considered under current law. They believe by placing released offenders into earlier supervised release for a "longer period of time" would ensure successful placement of ex-inmates into society.
The inmates are asking the Missouri citizenry to support their effort by signing an online petition at http://www.missouricure.org/. The petition is designed to bring to bring the issue to the attention of legislators in the Missouri Senate and House to encourage changes to Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 558 Imprisonment 558.019 and Chapter 556 Preliminary Provisions (Criminal Code)556.061.
Under the proposed changes to the 85% Rule, violent first-time offenders would be subject to earlier placement in the probation and parole system. The inmates believe that prisoners who exhibit exceptional behavior, program completions, personal remorse for their crime - are least likely to re-offend.
Reducing the sentencing will promote public safety by allowing an extended time for supervision, which will lower the recidivism rate in Missouri prisons.
Furthermore, it will show that Missouri is not soft on crime but TOUGH and SMART on crime. In the long run, fewer citizens' tax dollars will be needed for individual incarcerations in the state's prison system.
Prison reform through revision of the 85% Law would allow current federal grant opportunities to pay for ex-offenders' re-entry and job training skills for both the private sector and the state's corrections department.
In inmates pushing for prison reform in the Jefferson City Correctional Center are members of NAACP Branch 4097. In a letter, the inmates acknowledge the seriousness of their crimes:
Soaring High Media Group
walter@soaringhighmediagroup.com
A group of prisoners in the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri are pushing to reform criminal justice system from the inside out.
The inmates are seeking prison reform through revision of the Truth in Sentencing Act which currently require inmates to serve a minimum of 85% of their sentencing. They want Missouri legislators to reduce the 85% minimum by allowing parole earlier to offenders. This legislation will allow the parole board discretion to release offenders who have excellent institutional adjustment and rehabilitative efforts, but cannot be considered under current law. They believe by placing released offenders into earlier supervised release for a "longer period of time" would ensure successful placement of ex-inmates into society.
The inmates are asking the Missouri citizenry to support their effort by signing an online petition at http://www.missouricure.org/. The petition is designed to bring to bring the issue to the attention of legislators in the Missouri Senate and House to encourage changes to Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 558 Imprisonment 558.019 and Chapter 556 Preliminary Provisions (Criminal Code)556.061.
Under the proposed changes to the 85% Rule, violent first-time offenders would be subject to earlier placement in the probation and parole system. The inmates believe that prisoners who exhibit exceptional behavior, program completions, personal remorse for their crime - are least likely to re-offend.
Reducing the sentencing will promote public safety by allowing an extended time for supervision, which will lower the recidivism rate in Missouri prisons.
Furthermore, it will show that Missouri is not soft on crime but TOUGH and SMART on crime. In the long run, fewer citizens' tax dollars will be needed for individual incarcerations in the state's prison system.
Prison reform through revision of the 85% Law would allow current federal grant opportunities to pay for ex-offenders' re-entry and job training skills for both the private sector and the state's corrections department.
In inmates pushing for prison reform in the Jefferson City Correctional Center are members of NAACP Branch 4097. In a letter, the inmates acknowledge the seriousness of their crimes:
"We acknowledge and identify with the loss and the suffering the victims and victim's families endure every day for the crimes committed against them and the unfortunate situations.For more information, contact the Jefferson City Branch NAACP at 573.690.1097.
"The NAACP strives in their endeavors of prison reform to deter further crime and to keep in mind those who suffer because of the senseless acts committed by others.
"We strive to produce the best possible outcome concerning the release of any offender concerning public safety and the individuals successful placement into society brought about by our legislation."
I am a Chaplain and visit the jail to conduct a worship service and bible study on a regular basis. I believe that reducing the time served makes sense due to the overcrowding issues as well as the fact that many person-especially black men are incarcerated more for just that- being black- than for actually being a threat to the public.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the state should develop a partnership with community institutions and leaders to line up housing and jobs for ex offenders before they are actually released to reduce the chances of them going back to selling weed and the like to survive cause no one would give them a job or let them apply for safe, affordable, housing.
But of course the will of the majority of voters and their representatives in this State is that black men are not worthy of such investments even if they are model citizens, let alone when we catch them breaking the Law.
Lets face it- there is a great divide in this country when it comes to black men- and it is going to take a move of God- and a revolution of sorts to change the power structure- cause the mind sets of people apart from Christ are reprobate and without redemption- And I'm talking about the free, voting, tax paying, overt and covert hatred filled folk of Missouri.
I need to respectfully disagree that the voters and their representatives in this state see black men as unworthy of this investment. It is unfortunate that black men make up the largest percent of those incarcerated, but the remaining percent made of white, hispanic, asians, indians, and yes the poor white class, aren't treated any better. This is not about the color of skin but it is about how our socity views and treats ex-convicts. Have you forgotten that the asians were forced out of their homes and community to live in camps during WW2 and that many indians and poor whites are still forced to live in horrific conditins. Please don't kick the others to the curb because you are focused on black men. Take Dr. Martin Luther King's words to heart that "NO ONE should be judged by the color of their skin or social standing." Dr. King understood that it took all races coming together to fight for a comoon goal. Please don't make this about race but do take on the fight for all inmates and the conditions they live in and struggles they face when released from prision. It is not about the hatred of blacks but about the hatred of what of what is seen as the poor low class and uneducated in our society. If we want things to change we need to come together and fight the real problem.
Deleteas a long standing wherehouse guest of several states and feds i fully agree as a occupy kc deminstraiter we must also stand up for our guest of the prison systems in the us this is getting out of hand see damien.d.roberts@gmail.com or facebook
ReplyDeleteI believe in early release. these guys need a chance out here. but needs jobs.. and support.. not kicked to the curb.. some I do understand cannot be rehabilitated but we need programs to help these guys get on their feet.. long term sentencing don't do no one any good .. so early release will keep our systems available for those who are doing life.. and not making a 5yr sentence into 12. so lets vote and get early release for these that are not spending life time locked up..
ReplyDeleteLike you writing. Maybe you would like to check out mine called Reentry to Society at http://www.restartingalife.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete