December 2006

Dear Friends:

On Monday, November 13, 2006, I placed a call to the office of Congressman Danny K Davis to ask him where he stood on the Federal Parole Bill H.R. 3072. The Congressman was not at his office at the time. However, I did converse with Ira Cohen, Assistant to Congressman Davis. Ira stated that since Bull H.R. 3072 did not receive adequate support, that at the end of this 109th Congressional  year, the bill will die.

 

My next question to Ira Cohen was, “Will the Congressman re-introduce the Federal Parole Bill in the new Congress next year?” Ira answered with an emphatical, “Yes,” and went on to say that the Congressman will re-introducthe Federal Parole Bill in early Spring 2007. Ira further stated that this new 110th Democratic Congress will be very favorable to prison reform (parole, extra gain in time, etc.) andwill do something about the disparity in senencing. In addition, Ira stated that Congressman Davis loves to hear from EVERYONE who has an interest in prison reform and in particular those with interest in reviving the Federal Parole System. He ask that I pass the Congressman’s main office  telephone number and address so that they may hear from you. In other words, the Congressman wants to know that there are people out there that will back in up when he re-submitsthe Federal Parole Bill for the third time. The following is Congressman Danny Davis’s office address and telephone number:

 

Honorable Danny K. Davis, U.S. Representative

333 West Arthington St

Chicago, IL 60624

 

Ph: 1-773-533-7520

 

Please take the time to call and/or write to him to express your dsire to come home or to have a love one return home from prison.

 

Don’t sit and wait for others to make this happen. Take part in your fight for freedom. Become and energetic contributor in the struggle for freedom.

 

I believe that we can actually make a change in the law, but we have to take time to work for it. Congress will give you nothing if you wait for others to do your job. I pray to see you all soon, free with your family and friends, the way life was meant to be.

 

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR CONGRESS PERSON

 

 

April 2006

Dear Friends:

 

There are still several very important bills pending in the House and the Senate concerning the Federal Criminal Justice System in the United States. Including, but not limited to, the Bill to Revive the System of Parole for Federal Prisoners (Bill H.R. 3072) and The Second Chance Act of 2005 (Bill H.R. 1704/S.1934). These bills are aiming to reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry of offenders into the community. It will further establish a task force on Federal Programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders, both State and Federal, into the community and for other purposes. This bill now has a sister bill in the senate. It is Bill S. 1934. That is a very good sign for all concerned.

 

However, as you all know very well, nothing will happen this year, or next year, if you don’t do your part and make it happen. You must continue to encourage your faily and friends to make telephone calls to the Congressional Switchboard in Washington, D.C., at 202-224-3121 and request for Congress Representatives to give his or her support to pass Bill HR 3072 “To Revive the Federal System of Parole so that the bill will have a greater chance of passing by the end of this year.

 

Some interesting facts to pass along to family and friends to support you on your request to bring back parole are:

 

1. The costs of incarceration is soaring, both cost of building new facilities and the cost of operating new and existing facilities. This translates into paying more  taxes.

2. Estimated yearly cost to house a healthy inmate is about $40,000. The older and sickly inmates can run as high as $150,000 per inmate per year.

3. As of February 2005, there were over 190,000 Federal Inmates in the Federal System

4. Total yearly cost to house these inmates is over $7.25 Billion per year!

5. The female prison population has increased over 600% in the past 20 years

6. 40% of all Federal Inmates are black, and 17% are Mexican citizens.

7. The majority of federal inmates are NON-VIOLENT drug offenders serving very long sentences.

8. The majority of the above segment of the Federal inmate population is being incarcerated for the first time, thousands of them are serving life sentences for non-violent offenses without the possibility of parole.

9. Prison overcrowding is a real danger to both inmates and staff. Take note that the Federal Bureau of Prisons is currently 40% over capacity and growing. To cope with the soaring costs, prisons are cutting back on guards employed per inmate, a VERY dangerous situation for ALL involved on the inside AND out.

Non-violent drug offenders CAN be rehabilitated and should have the chance to lead positive lives.

 

Once again, we must continue the fight. Please, if you believe in justice, send letters or make phone calls, tell your friends, and family. Call the Washington, D.C. phone number at 202-224-3121 and request that your Congress-Representatives to support the “Reinstatement of the Federal Parole System, Bill HR3072. Thank you for your time and commitment.