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A Lenten suggestion: hold our anger against mistreatment of prisoners!

Shameful reports about Michigan’s prison system in recent Detroit Free Press stories just about send me into a frenzy! Investigative reporter Paul Egan tells about falsified cell search records and metal detector lapses; corrections officers arrested for beating and breaking bones of a misbehaving inmate; a federal judge blasting the MDOC’s grievance process; and the leader of Michigan’s House of Representatives promising no prison reform for the next two years!   My first reaction is indignance. The longer I think about it, the angrier I get. As a writer I feel prodded to raise hell, and I’ve done my share of that over the years.   As many of you know, in 2001 I formed an organization to help incarcerated men and women in Michigan. Despite the claim that our prison occupants are “the worst of the worst,” as described by a former MDOC director, I have found that to be untrue. Some of the nicest people I know live in prison. Some of my best friends are locked in these cage...
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Sorry, Second Look sidetracked! Who’s at fault?

Michigan prisoners had high hopes for “Second Look.” Sadly, the prospects aren’t all that great anymore. Who’s to blame?   The Second Look Sentencing Act, approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee last year, would have allowed individuals who have served at least 20 years to petition their original court for a sentence reduction. Those convicted of criminal sexual conduct, terrorism, mass shootings and certain domestic violence cases would remain ineligible.   Naturally a bill like this would have a lot of interest, especially among old-timers behind bars. But, it should also be of interest to you and me. For example, Michigan’s average prison sentence length is roughly three times the national average. Our state leads the nation in the proportion of its prison population serving sentences longer than 10 years. But here’s where it affects your pocketbook and mine: It costs Michigan about $5.5 M per day to run our Department of Corrections!   Three fine prison...
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March 25---A day with a positive message for prisoners!

March 25 is a day when this Protestant writer joins up with Catholics. The Catholic Church observes the feast of St. Dismas on the 25 th .   And by now you’re asking, “Just who is this Dismas character?”   I’m glad you asked! That's the name given to the convicted criminal who was granted the greatest clemency ever!   Dismas, sometimes referred to as The Thief on the Cross, was welcomed into Paradise by Jesus himself just before both of them died on side-by-side crosses.   I love this story! I love the hope that it gives to our friends behind bars. And, I love the way Gloria Gaither tells the tale in contemporary terms using these words of Bob Benson’s The Misfit:   It seemed to be his lot, he was one of those unfortunate people, With a talent always to be in the wrong place … always at the wrong time. He was born wrong: The declining Roman Empire, the broken home. The conquered Jewish nation, the poverty-stricken slums. He lived wrong: When o...
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Public Defenders? Who are they? What do they do?

  “The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice.” ― Bryan Stevenson   Chances are, you heard nothing about this today. But, this is a special day in our country. March 18 is National Public Defense Day …a day that was created to honor those lawyers who resist the appeal to make big money in order to represent individuals who are charged with crimes but are unable to hire a defense attorney.   Most of us haven’t been arrested. And, if we were, we probably have enough dollars to hire a lawyer. But, there are many who cannot, and I’m proud to say that our country’s forefathers considered that possibility. Here’s how the UCLA Law Library words it: " The right to counsel under the U.S. Constitution is actually a fairly simple concept. If you are charged with a crime for which you face potential time in jail, then you have the constitutional right to have a lawyer to assist you in your defense. And if you can’t afford to hi...
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A firing squad? What the….?

Brad Sigmon was shot to death last week. It was his choice.   Sigmon, age 67, was executed by firing squad on March 9 in South Carolina. He was the first person to die by firing squad in the United States in 15 years.   If there were such a thing as humanity for prisoners, our organization would not exist. But, even with what little humanity you might find in our justice system, it took a step backward last week! Having experienced some horrific experiences with lethal injections, the State of South Carolina responded by offering alternatives to prisoners facing execution. After being convicted on a murder charge, Sigmon was allowed to choose between three inhumane methods of execution—lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad.   A personal note. It's not at all uncommon or unexpected that I consistently criticize capital punishment. Early in my career as a prisoner advocate I actually witnessed an execution. My buddy/client Charles Anthony Nealy was executed...
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No awards for helping prisoners

Call it vanity if you wish, but when I was a young, aggressive broadcast journalist I coveted the title “award-winning” for my news department.   As a teenager I aspired to become a good radio news reporter. I had no formal training in the field, so it was up to me to establish and follow my own curriculum. I worked hard at it, and eventually became a respectable and respected newsman. Over time my small-market radio news department became incredibly good and nationally recognized. But, I wanted awards. We never got them.   Some radio news departments that were receiving honors were so large they actually had staff members preparing materials for annual award entries. Others had large enough departments to assign team-members to prepare documentaries and investigative features hoping for awards.   But, here’s what I’m finally getting.   While these award-seekers did their best to get recognition every year, my little team and I were doing our darndest to serv...
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In Michigan prisons: Toothache = Pain in the butt!

One of my teeth broke a few months ago. I’ve learned that the teeth of octogenarians are not as strong and healthy as those of teenagers. I immediately contacted the office of my dentist, fearing the worst because it’s an incredibly busy office. No worries. A very nice member of the staff found a cancelation, and I was able to get an immediate appointment.   That reminded me of a situation I encountered years ago. I was working solo in a much smaller Humanity for Prisoners back then. A Michigan prisoner complained by letter that he had suffered a broken tooth and was experiencing pain from an exposed nerve. Upon contacting the prison dentist he and was informed that he could be seen in about a month!   I’ll bet money that that situation ended up with a removal of the tooth. We continue to hear horror stories about prison dentists…removing teeth instead of repairing them. One dentist explained to an inmate, “I don’t get paid to fix teeth!”   I bring up the issue beca...
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