Humanity for Prisoners

  It’s not a day that is posted on most calendars, but it’s a day that should be of interest to you! Today, October second, is International Wrongful Conviction Day. The Innocence Network decided to do something about so many innocent people sitting in prison many years ago. It’s a network of organizations and agencies that provide free services to people who claim they were wrongfully convicted. Their goal is a lofty one: to highlight systematic flaws in the criminal legal system and to advocate for reforms.   I have a particular interest in this topic because my very special friend Maurice Carter had been wrongly convicted, and my 10-year battle with him for his freedom resulted in a dramatic change in my life, as well as the formation of what is now HFP.   But, as I mentioned in today’s headline, the topic should be meaningful to you, as well. Let me explain.   We often think that those who have been wrongly convicted are poor people, often Black, who probabl...

Perhaps you saw the story in the news last week: Families of four dead inmates sue state over unsafe prison railings.   Is it any wonder?   Paul Egan, fine writer for the Detroit Free Press, has been doing an excellent job of following this story for years. It’s not a very nice one.   This new lawsuit alleges that officials knew prison railings at two Jackson-area facilities were unsafe for years and did nothing. The Detroit Free Press has documented six fatal inmate falls from upper galleries and four falls causing injuries at these 2 prisons in Jackson, beginning in 2020. The MDOC ruled 4 of the deaths as suicide. The other 2 were said to be accidental falls.   “The lawsuit notes that, as first reported by the Free Press, an MDOC employee in 2023 complained to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration that the height of the railings was unsafe and that the MDOC's response to the complaint was that no hazard existed,” says Paul Egan. Now t...

David was more than an HFP client. He was a dear friend, and I miss him. It’s a sad story.   I first met this kind, soft-spoken man shortly after the formation of HFP in 2001, back in the days when our organization was still called INNOCENT. Because of that name, his parents contacted me to explain his case. I will not delve into the legal aspects of this story now. I will only state that we had proof that he had been wrongly convicted.   18 years later, while serving time in one of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula correctional facilities. David became ill. It was apparent that this was no common cold. David had pneumonia, and the Michigan Department of Corrections determined that the nearby hospital wasn’t capable of handing this situation.   So, here’s the first shameful step the department took. It piled him into a van, while literally dying, and transported David 160 miles to another UP prison for supposedly improved hospital care! No one will ever know how much this...

Death and dying are on my mind. Earlier on this Saturday I played the organ for a memorial service in our church. That prompted some reflections.   Death and dying have been a part of this old man’s life for decades.   In the 1950s, when I got married, I was a news reporter. My new bride, Marcia, was an emergency room nurse. I covered accidents where there were fatalities . Family was there. Marcia treated patients who didn’t make it. Family was there.   Later in life, while serving some 50 years as a church organist, I played for many funeral services. Family was there . Meanwhile, Marcia became a certified hospice nurse, sitting at the side of men and women in their final moments. The beauty of it was, Family was there .   Well, then came my third career. I began working with prisoners and it wasn’t long before I and my new organization were dealing with death and dying for the incarcerated. The big difference: Family wasn’t there!   Marcia and I cam...

Last week I  mentioned the names of the Humanity for Prisoners team when I reported on the meaningful honor that we had received. No one deserves that Justice Warrior Award more than Mark, Carmen, Sarah, Brad, Jen and Joe! Yes, they all have titles but, in our office, we don’t let title or seniority get in our way. When one needs help, the others pitch in. On this Labor Day I think it’s important that we recognize the dedication to justice, dignity, and advocacy that this HFP group has for those who are often forgotten. It’s a profound form of labor ! As the founder of this impactful organization I know, first-hand, that these efforts are heavy, continuous, and rarely receive public thanks. This team labors year-round in the toughest corners of our justice system to bring hope and dignity to incarcerated men and women in all of Michigan’s correctional facilities.   On Labor Day, 2026, thank you for showing up every single day to be a voice, a lifeline, and a force for chang...

  August 29, 2006, marked the 25th anniversary of Humanity for Prisoners. This is the 14th in a series of reflections by founder Doug Tjapkes.     Back in the days when I was a radio newsman some of the bigger stations in Michigan actually had people assigned to spend their time trying to win station accolades. Their goal: to inform listeners that theirs was “an award-winning” news department.   As the News Director of a small market radio station, I never had time for such nonsense. I, my small news crew and my stringers were too busy trying to do our very best to keep our community informed. Over the years I learned that listeners were able to determine which news operations were “award winners.” They needed no announcements.   I raise the issue today, because it is a special day for HFP! Just as when I was a radio News Director, I had no thoughts of winning awards when I founded this little prisoner advocacy program in 2001. My goal was to compassiona...