Humanity for Prisoners

August 29, 2001…the date that the bylaws were signed for a new non-profit organization called INNOCENT! Years later, the agency’s name would change to HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS to more accurately reflect its work and its mission.   One might think that, when I started this organization 23 years ago, I had lofty goals in mind and knew exactly what I was doing! Couldn’t be farther from the truth.   I was successfully selling church organs, and certainly needed no more tasks or responsibilities in my life. BUT, I had this good friend residing in Michigan prisons, serving time for a crime he did not commit. We were five years into the fight for his freedom, as partners or, as we preferred to call it, “brothers.” And this brother of mine kept insisting that we should start an organization to help others with similar plights. It should be pointed out that Maurice had little-to-no support, only a few close family members, and no money.   Maurice was no “lone wolf,” he insiste...

OK, fellow church goers. A quick question for you. When’s the last time you heard either the topic of incarceration, or more specifically the incarcerated mentioned in your church prayer list?   Some of the most beautiful prayers in the history of the church, in my opinion, are found in the Book of Common Prayer. Granted, we seldom use this type of English in our prayers anymore, but take a moment to read this:   O GOD, who sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath rememberest mercy; We humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness to comfort and succour all those who are under reproach and misery in the house of bondage; correct them not in thine anger, neither chasten them in thy sore displeasure. Give them a right understanding of themselves, and of thy threats and promises; that they may neither cast away their confidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Relieve the distressed, protect the innocent, and awaken the guilty: and forasmuch as thou alone bring...

A resident of one of Michigan’s prisons sent a lengthy letter to our staff recently, grumbling about a lot of things. After all, when one spends time behind bars, one will find a lot of things to grumble about. Today I just want to repeat our stand on two issues.   First, take a look at what an incarcerated person has to say about wages:   The prices at the prison commissary are extremely high with what little we are paid. Food service workers make between $.17 -$.33 per hour. Yes, that's cents. Someone mowing grass or shoveling snow makes $.94 a day. The average job in here makes around $25.00 - $30.00 a month. Our commissary prices aren't affordable for what we get paid. Go to michiganpackages.com to see our store prices. We have no choice but to burden our friends and family to survive in here, as we get fed so poorly. Prisoners do all of the work inside and outside of these fences. Staff only watches. So why are Michigan prisoners paid so poorly? Wisconsin prisoners ...

It’s a rare occasion, indeed, when somebody does something positive for Michigan’s incarcerated who are suffering with serious illness. Well, it has happened. It’s a very small step, and there’s still a lot to be desired. But, at the very least, there’s movement.   It happened without fanfare in late July, when Governor Whitmer signed 39 bills. Buried in that stack was a measure that was of keen interest to HFP: Senate Bill 599 . The governor’s signature on that bill improves on a 2019 statue which allows the Michigan Parole Board to release prisoners with declining health if they are not a threat. The new changes will not only allow the parole board to review more cases, but will also enable the board to expedite its review of situations in which an inmate is dying.   I realize that it all sounds heavenly, but the rest of the story will bring things crashing back to earth.   First let me talk about the original bill, the one from 2019. Sounds like an exciting break...