Denials are arriving by the boatload in the Michigan prison system. Many inmates
who deserve a second chance are not being considered for clemency by Governor
Snyder. And that’s a shame.
Darnell Epps, student at Cornell University who served 17 years for a
violent crime, wrote a great op-ed piece in the New York Times, titled: The
Prison ‘Old-Timers’ Who Gave Me Life. “Aging inmates,” he said, “some serving life
sentences, helped me turn my life around.” His next sentence is important: “They could do even more good on the
outside.”
We’re tough
on crime in Michigan! We like to “throw away the key.” Right now more than 8%
of Michigan prisoners are 60 and older…some 75 of them over the age of 80!
Our friend
Doug, age 54, who has served 33 years, has had the door slam shut on every
opportunity for reentry into society, and that saddens us. A teacher, mentor,
and a person who has done so much good behind bars, he deserves a new crack at
freedom. Besides that, he could do
even more good on the outside!
In a rare
rant this week, he said,
“When this place opened I
worked around Ed Rozek. His comment about the MDOC erring by keeping people too
long is something I'm only really appreciating now, 23 years later. He said
most guys steadily improve, but rather than release at the peak, the State
keeps people not only when they plateau out, but start sliding back downhill,
having given up on all the rhetoric about second chances. With decades served
and no end in sight, Ed's observation has finally sunk in. Now don't fret that
I'm on some downward spiral of despair, but at the same time I'm not going to
pretend this disillusionment with a system I've wanted to believe in despite
the growing evidence to the contrary doesn't hurt. A large part of my joining
the Marines was because I really believed in America being the best country of
all time, that a person really could be whatever they want, and, yes, second
chances even for screw-ups were available. Far too idealistic for my age and
circumstance, I admit, but up to now it's gotten me through this sentence. Now,
my idealism is gone, replaced with resignation. I still don't want to ever use
the word "unfair!" given what I did to get myself here, but, well,
damn, in a fair, objective review I can't help but think I'd finally get to go
home before any more of my family passes away from old age.”
Says Darnell
Epps: We must seriously consider whether society would benefit by letting
reformed offenders re-enter their community, and whether it’s economical and
humane to punish solely for the sake of retribution. When I hear of all the gun
violence on Chicago’s South Side, for instance, I can’t help wondering what
would happen if Illinois’s many reformed old-timers, who hail from those
neighborhoods, were granted parole with a mission of working to reduce the
violence. It’s not unreasonable to think they’d have a better chance of reaching the younger generation
than the local police or federal law enforcement.
One shameful
certainty: It won’t be happening in Michigan!
3 comments:
Thanks, Doug, for another peek at the sad reality of our criminal "justice" system
The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project is working with a handful of "old timers," who not only could be contributing to the outside but also didn't commit the crime they are serving time for.
As someone who was recently released from the MDOC after serving 48 years, I've witnessed up close and personal the impact I'm having on my Community. This Younger Generation believes my Tenure behind bars is a Badge of Honor. I correct this perception indirectly by sharing and Showcasing my Journey. I don't Preach......I listen and answer questions......and offer them advice when its requested. I can't count the times when during one of these conversations, I would think.......I wish so & so was out to share his story or discuss this topic. There is an Army of both Women and Men Convicted Felons currently serving time, many for decades, who should be released, and would have such a powerful impact. To be fair Governor Rick Synder has been more aggressive then Former Governor's in creating an Atmosphere that will allow more Old Timer's their release, but more needs to be done. The business of Revenge doesn't work and only does greater harm to the State. People CHANGE.....both in and out of Prison.
Post a Comment