Providing help to get out

OK. Let’s say you’re a high school dropout. Many incarcerated men and women fit into that category. Because of that, let’s say you don’t read very well. A National Adult Literacy Survey shows that 70% of all incarcerated adults cannot read at a fourth-grade level. But, you’ve spent decades behind bars, have changed your life and deserve to be released. You want to ask the Governor of the State of Michigan to commute your sentence. How to get started? The clemency application form itself is a challenge to many.

That scenario explains why HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS is so appreciated by inhabitants of our state prisons. Sarah Ebidon, our Volunteer Manager, explains the role HFP plays in helping many with their clemency applications, regardless of how well they read.. “In addition to our Clemency Guides publication, we offer to type, format, fix grammatical errors and make suggestions for improvements.” It’s an invaluable service for many. We don't stop there. We also have volunteers to help in preparing a proper cover letter. 

Last year, our team provided these services to 52 Michigan prison residents, a service that provides notes of thanks like this (in all caps) from Jim: WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB! I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE KINDNESS AND TRUTHFULNESS YOU PUT INTO THAT SUPPORT FOR ME. "WOW!"; I AM SO TAKEN BY SURPRISE! WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB! GOD BLESS.” 

And while we’re on the subject, the HFP team just received some great news. Governor Whitmer recently granted five requests for clemency. Out of those, two HFP clients, Felicia Hale and Charles Benson, had their sentences commuted. Commutations are a form of clemency that reduces the severity of a sentence. 

HFP volunteer Harley Trecey deserves special credit for providing compassionate assistance to Charles Benson, age 69, who had been in prison 35 years. That brings the total to 3 successful commutation applications from HFP clients in the past 2 years. Quite significant, in that Governor Whitmer has only granted about 200 commutation requests since taking office in 2019. 

One more statistic: Our volunteers spent more than 72 hours assisting those 52 clients with their applications in 2025! 

Proud of this organization, founded 25 years ago and serving thousands!

 

 

 

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