PETITIONS
MS- Evelyn Smith; 32 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/p/release-80-year-old-aging-evelyn-smith-mamae-from-ms-mdoc-cmcf-prison-now?redirect=false
NB-Ed Poindexter; 42 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/p/nebraska-board-of-pardons-free-ed-poindexter-from-prison-now
FL-Michael B. Edwards; 27 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/p/florida-clemency-board-give-michael-edwards-his-life-back
MD-Kenny Collins; 33 Years in Prison-https://www.thepetitionsite.com/990/321/719/free-kenny-collins-an-innocent-man-imprisoned-for-30-years/
NY- Michelle West-https://www.change.org/p/president-biden-clemency-for-michelle-west-serving-life-without-parole?redirect=false
PA-Carl Sheldon Daniels; 32 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/su/p/prison-lifer-s-before-and-after-free-the-sincere-one-carl-sheldon-daniels/f
GA-CIVIL RIGHTS ICON -H. Rap Brown/Imam Jamil Al-Amin; 20 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/p/fulton-county-district-attorney-paul-howard-new-trial-for-imam-jamil-al-amin-fka-h-rap-brown
MI- Horrace Peterson; 48 Years in Prison- https://www.change.org/p/gretchen-whitmer-free-horace-peterson-michigan-man-serves-life-in-prison-for-murder-he-didn-t-commit
MS-Mark Sumrell; 17 Years in Prison-https://www.change.org/p/kroger-kroger-should-support-clemency-for-mark-sumrell?redirect=false ---- https://theappeal.org/as-decriminalization-drives-reforms-for-marijuana-convictions-activists-see-others-serving-time-left-behind/
DE-527 YEARS-https://www.change.org/p/governor-carney-life-plus-527-years-sentence-the-unjustified-senten?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=eca63af0-b428-11ea-9b00-8df35aa4f6f7
VA-Terrence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne Have Been Wrongfully Incarcerated For 20+ Years-https://www.change.org/p/sussex-county-commonwealth-attorney-terrence-richardson-and-ferrone-claiborne-have-been-wrongfully-incarcerated-for-20-years-801c7893.
NEWS
IL-Man exonerated of 1995 Chicago murder-https://news.yahoo.com/man-exonerated-1995-chicago-murder-032200760.html. November 15, 2022.
NB-‘Waiting on death’: Nebraska prisoners are getting older, and it’s costing taxpayers-https://journalstar.com/news/local/waiting-on-death-nebraska-prisoners-are-getting-older-and-it-s-costing-taxpayers/article_b42c3956-0680-5d8d-ac1a-d8229770c7c1.html. November 11, 2022.
Dr. Mutulu Shakur-Tupac Shakur’s stepfather to be freed from prison after more than 35 years-https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/tears-joy-tupac-shakurs-stepfather-freed-prison-35-years-rcna41216. November 11, 2022.
AL-'Truth finally comes out': Brothers exonerated after 20 years in prison-https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/truth-finally-comes-brothers-exonerated-205849465.html. November 9, 2022.
AL-Brothers Exonerated After Serving 20 Years in Prison-https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/brothers-exonerated-after-serving-20-years-in-prison/ar-AA146Fe2
AL-New report shows aging inmate population is straining prison system-https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2022/11/10/aging-inmate-population-is-costing-prison-system/69618577007/. November 9, 2022.
CA-Man convicted in 1983 Inglewood murder exonerated by DNA-https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/man-convicted-in-1983-inglewood-murder-exonerated-by-dna/ar-AA13uNQz. October 28, 2022.
NY-A lifetime later, Queens man released from prison-https://queenseagle.com/all/2022/10/23/a-lifetime-later-queens-man-released-from-prison. October 23, 2022.
Federal-Compassionate Release Program Underused as Prison Populations Age: Study-https://thecrimereport.org/2022/10/21/compassionate-release-program-underused-as-prison-populations-age-study/. October 21, 2022.
PA-Legal advocates seek to overturn no-parole sentencing in felony-murder case-https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/legal-advocates-seek-to-overturn-no-parole-sentencing-in-felony-murder-case/Content?oid=22457133. September 21, 2022.
WS-What to know about parole, truth in sentencing and when people can get out of prison in Wisconsin-https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/09/21/what-know-parole-truth-sentencing-and-more-wisconsin/10404271002/. September 21, 2022.
PA-Former ‘lifers’ call on lawmakers to end ‘death by incarceration’-https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/former-lifers-call-on-lawmakers-to-end-death-by-incarceration/. September 20, 2022.
PA-Criminal justice advocates call for end to life without parole sentencing-https://www.abc27.com/news/top-stories/criminal-justice-advocates-call-for-end-to-life-without-parole-sentencing/. September 20, 2022.
CA-Prison to parole: A push for alternatives in California-https://www.corrections1.com/probation-and-parole/articles/prison-to-parole-a-push-for-alternatives-in-california-RAZ4sBM0I43F27mk/. September 19, 2022.
VA-School of Law members raise concerns as dementia rates in prison climb-https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2022/09/school-of-law-members-raise-concerns-as-dementia-rates-in-prison-climb. September 19, 2022.
NATL-At Millions Per Detainee, Guantánamo Prison Stuck in a Cycle of Costly Delays; The mission has relied on short-term fixes for things like housing and medical care for two decades. With 36 detainees left, the prison will soon receive its 21st commander.-https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/us/politics/guantanamo-bay-prison-cost.html. September 16, 2022.
PA-US civil rights groups file complaint against ‘death by incarceration’ to UN-https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/15/civil-rights-us-death-incarceration-united-nations-solitary. September 15, 2022.
MA-Mercy in short supply for frail, incapacitated inmates-https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/mercy-in-short-supply-for-frail-incapacitated-inmates/ar-AA11DiJM. September 9, 2022.
NATL-People Age Out of Crime. Prison Sentences Should Reflect That-https://time.com/6211619/long-prison-sentences-youthful-offenders/. September 9, 2022.
IL-Herman Williams Is Exonerated After Nearly Three Decades of Wrongful Conviction-https://innocenceproject.org/herman-williams-is-exonerated-after-nearly-three-decades-of-wrongful-conviction/. September 6, 2022.
LA-Sullivan Walter, Black man wrongfully convicted of rape at 17, exonerated 36 years later-https://www.fox7austin.com/news/sullivan-walter-man-wrongfully-convicted-of-rape-at-17-exonerated-36-years-later. August 26, 2022.
CA-California may allow more ill, dying inmates to leave prison-https://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article264924524.html. August 26, 2022.
CA-California Prisons Compassionate Release-https://www.clintonherald.com/region/california-prisons-compassionate-release/image_0056a6a7-514f-52ab-9ebc-702aa584957b.html. August 26, 2022.
LA-The Visiting Room Project: Stories from Angola Prison of surviving life without parole-https://boingboing.net/2022/08/23/the-visiting-room-project-stories-from-angola-prison-of-surviving-life-without-parole-%EF%BF%BC.html. August 23,2022.
NY-New York’s ageing prisoners languish with poor medical care and little hope-https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/20/prison-reform-aging-parole-medical-care-valerie-gaiter. August 20, 2022.
VA-ACLU of Virginia sues Department of Corrections over earned sentence credits-https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/08/16/aclu-of-virginia-sues-department-of-corrections-over-earned-sentence-credits/. August 16, 2022.
OR-Appeals court rules Oregon Gov. Brown can transfer commutation power-https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/appeals-court-rules-oregon-gov-brown-can-transfer-commutation-power/. August 10, 2022.
PA-At Lehigh County Courthouse rally, advocates for elderly and ill prisoners urge action on compassionate release-https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-geriatric-parole-rally-20220810-pnkxyagxjva43glqya63ieug4i-story.html. August 10, 2022.
National-The Graying of America's Prison Population/Sentencing Project Report-https://thecrimereport.org/2022/06/23/the-graying-of-americas-prison-population/. June 23, 2022.
TN-New law will increase prison sentences;https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/06/07/new-law-will-increase-prison-sentences-nashville. June 7, 2022.
LA-Louisiana man gets new start after prison release;https://wgno.com/news/louisiana/jefferson-parish/louisiana-man-gets-new-start-after-prison-release/. June 6, 2022.
CA-Aging in Prison: How Older Generations Fight for Dignity and Release;https://rafu.com/2022/05/aging-in-prison-how-older-generations-fight-for-dignity-and-release/. May 28,2022.
Canada-The Supreme Court’s ruling to end the death-in-prison penalty isn’t about the offender – it’s about our own moral code;https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-supreme-courts-ruling-to-end-the-death-in-prison-penalty-isnt/. May 27, 2022.
MA- Compassionate release for aging prisoners isn't enough; https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2022/05/24/compassionate-release-armand-coleman-sarah-laughlin. May 24,2022.
Sundiata Acoli-NJ-Former Black Panther Sundiata Acoli Wins Parole Appeal After Nearly 50 Years In Prison-https://newsone.com/4333929/former-black-panther-sundiata-acoli-wins-parole-appeal-after-nearly-50-years-prison-new-jersey/. May 10, 2022.
Patty Prewitt-Mo. Woman Seeks Clemency After 1985 Conviction for Killing Husband — Did Sexism Put Her Behind Bars?-https://people.com/crime/patty-prewitt-convicted-murdering-husband-seeks-clemency/. May 8, 2022.
VA-Terrence Richardson-State appeals court hears exoneration case of man convicted of police killing despite a federal jury finding him not guilty-https://vpm.org/news/articles/31939/state-appeals-court-hears-exoneration-case-of-man-convicted-of-police-killing. May 6/10, 2022. https://www.notguiltyservinglife.org/
LA-Legislature weighs parole eligibility for longest-serving inmates-https://www.nola.com/news/article_d1ee2f90-c4e5-11ec-b383-9bdb288b24c0.html. April 25, 2022.
IL-Chicago man exonerated of 1991 murder after forced confession from CPD detectives-https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-murder-wrongful-conviction-false-confession-exoneration/11790656/. April 25, 2022.
TX-Texas executes its oldest death row inmate-https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0422/1293623-texas-oldest-deathrow-inmate-execution/. April 25, 2022.
Death Penalty Information Center-One Execution, One Reprieve: Scheduled Executions of Oldest Death-Row Prisoners in Texas and Tennessee Illustrate Aging of Death Row-https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/one-execution-one-reprieve-scheduled-executions-of-oldest-death-row-prisoners-in-texas-and-tennessee-illustrate-aging-of-death-row. April 22, 2022.
CA-Joaquin Ciria: Man wrongfully convicted in San Francisco murder exonerated after 32 years in prison-https://news.sky.com/story/joaquin-ciria-man-wrongfully-convicted-in-san-francisco-murder-exonerated-after-32-years-in-prison-12593738. April 19, 2022.
NY-Prison Officials Block Most Requests from Terminally Ill New Yorkers for Medical Release-https://www.nysfocus.com/2022/04/14/medical-parole-prisons-doccs/. April 14, 2022.
PA-Pennsylvania’s broken ‘compassionate release’ law, by the numbers-https://www.northcentralpa.com/features/spotlight_pa/pennsylvania-s-broken-compassionate-release-law-by-the-numbers/article_2f62ff06-b786-11ec-97d6-4bb5131c0738.html. April 10, 2022.
PA-Broken ‘compassionate release’ rules strand Pa.’s sickest prisoners as costs to taxpayers soar https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2022/03/30/pennsylvania-prisoners-compassionate-release-rules-broken-department-of-corrections-sharif-street-lisa-baker/stories/202203300047. March 30, 2022.
NB-2011 Law’s Goal of Earlier Parole a 'no brainer' to shrink prison population, expert says-https://northeast.newschannelnebraska.com/story/46167848/2011-laws-goal-of-earlier-parole-a-no-brainer-to-shrink-prison-population-expert-says. March 28, 2022.
CT-Judiciary Committee Debates Compassionate Release-https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2022/03/28/judiciary-committee-debates-compassionate-release/. March 28, 2022.
CT-Longest-serving CT prisoner, now 97, released 72 years after Greenwich yacht club murder-https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Francis-Smith-longest-serving-prisoner-released-17017465.php. March 21, 2022.
NY-Parole Reform takes Center Election Stage-https://www.riverdalepress.com/stories/parole-reform-takes-center-election-stage,77869-March 7, 2022.
OR-Brown Responds After Judge Blocks Commutation Orders-https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/brown-responds-after-judge-blocks-commutation-orders/. March 2, 2022.
OK-Proposed OK House Bill Would Prevent those Sentenced to Life Without Parole or Death from Seeking Commutation-https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/proposed-ok-house-bill-would-prevent-those-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-or-death-from-seeking-commutation/. March 1, 2022.
OH-JOSEPH SMITH/NANCY ALLEN-3O YRS-Head Start Case dismissed; Joseph Allen and Nancy Smith are free-https://medina-gazette.com/news/293431/head-start-case-dismissed-joseph-allen-and-nancy-smith-are-free/. February 26, 2022.
CANADA/RENFORD FARRIER-NO WAY OUT Once behind bars, racialized people are far less likely to get paroled when they are eligible. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-racialized-prisoners-in-canada-get-fewer-chances-at-parole-than-white/. February 22, 2022.
CANADA/ RENF0RD FARRIER-One Black Man's Quest for Parole After 30 Years-https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/the-decibel/article-one-black-mans-quest-for-parole-after-30-years-in-prison/. February 22, 2022.
NY-Dinowitz Needs to Take a Fresh Look at Elderly Parole Reform-https://www.riverdalepress.com/stories/dinowitz-needs-to-take-fresh-look-at-elder-parole-reform,77705?. February 20, 2022.
IA-For Iowa Prisoners Serving Life Sentences, There is No Clear Path to Clemency-https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/for-iowa-prisoners-serving-life-sentences-there-is-no-clear-path-to-clemency/. February 18, 2022.
FL-Lawmakers Consider Major Prison Reforms-https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/crisis-in-corrections/lawmakers-consider-major-prison-reforms-during-legislative-session. February 17, 2022.
FL-In Florida, Home of the 97- Year Old Inmate-https://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/florida-prisons/article257273507.html. February 17, 2022.
Fed- Reforming Laws Behind Bars; Prison Reformists-Many of Whom are Serving Long Sentences-Have United to Change the Cruel and Arbitrary Carceral System-https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/personal-journeys/2022/02/16/reforming-laws-from-behind-bars. February 16, 2022.
PA- Op-Ed-Mass Incarceration is a Human Rights Issue-https://www.statecollege.com/op-ed-mass-incarceration-is-an-urgent-human-rights-crisis/. February 16, 2022.
NB-Legislature to Consider Geriatric Parole to Ease Prison Population, Budget-https://northplattebulletin.com/legislature-to-consider-geriatric-parole-to-ease-prison-population-budget/. February 13, 2022.
LA- Brandon Jackson-Louisiana 'Jim Crow Jury' Prisoner Brandon Jackson Granted Parole-https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/2/13/jim-crow-jury-prisoner-brandon-jackson-granted-parole. February 13, 2022.
IN-Governor Grants Medical Clemency to Two Indiana Prison Inmates from Lake County-https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/governor-grants-medical-clemency-to-two-indiana-prison-inmates-from-lake-county/article_93cff0b2-c149-5c29-84b8-37b5e7797bc9.html. February 11, 2022.
NJ-Early Release Opposed for Terminally Ill Prisoner Convicted in 1993 Courthouse Killing Of Newark Cop-https://www.nj.com/essex/2022/02/early-release-opposed-for-terminally-ill-prisoner-convicted-in-1993-courthouse-killing-of-newark-cop.html. February 10, 2022.
DE-Leroy Evans- Family is Hopeful for His Release Soon, 40 Years After A Wrongful Conviction-https://whyy.org/articles/leroy-evans-family-is-hopeful-for-his-release-soon-40-years-after-a-wrongful-conviction/. February 10, 2022.
No More Prison Success Tokenism-https://verdict.justia.com/2022/02/07/no-more-prison-success-tokenism. February 7, 2022.
FL-Leonard Peltier is America's Longest-Held Indigenous Prisoner. He Should Be Freed-https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/02/leonard-peltier-is-americas-longest-held-indigenous-prisoner-he-should-be-freed. February 2, 2022.
VA-Ransom Ronnie Grandel-Family Says A Prisoner's Pardon Has Been Rolled Back By Youngkin Administration-https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/family-says-a-prisoners-pardon-has-been-rolled-back-by-youngkin-administration/. February 1, 2022.
VA- Virginia its Time for Some Real Parole-http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2022/01/virginia-its-time-for-some-real-parole.html. January 29, 2022.
LA-Mama Glo-After 51 Years in Prison Louisiana Longest Serving Woman is Free-https://theappeal.org/mama-glo-gloria-williams-release-louisiana/#.YfQQeKaYurk.twitter. January 28, 2022.
MD-They Were Sentenced to Life in Prison; Who should decide if they get a second chance-https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/28/maryland-parole-life-criminal-justice-politics/. January 28,2022.
MD-Compassionate Release from Prison; A Moral Imperative-https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-0127-compassionate-release-20220126-3moagwv3gzhuhpgy7c2y7kn7zm-story.html. January 26, 2022.
Stressors From Time in Prison Speed up Aging Process for Incarcerated Individuals Research Finds-https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/01/23/prison-time-speeds-up-aging-according-iowa-study-incarceration/6629187001/. January 23,2022.
Gov. Tom Wolf Touts Pennsylvania's Strong Financial Position. Why That's Only Half the Story- https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi-pennsyvlania-budget-projected-deficit-muschick-20220122-uybo7ipikjfhdbd3fnwpeiuv5i-story.html. January 22, 2022.
TN- Joyce Watkins and Charlie Dunn- Tenn. Couple Cleared of Wrongful Murder and Rape Convictions that Put Them Behind Bars for 27 Years; Joyce Watkins, now 74 and Charlie Dunn, who died behind bars, were wrongfully convicted of the 1987 rape and murder of her 4-year-old niece-https://people.com/crime/tennessee-couple-exonerated-murder-rape-convictions-after-27-years-prison. January 21, 2022.
NY-Aging Prison Population Means Higher Costs for New York-https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/45192/20220117/aging-prison-population-means-higher-costs-for-new-york. January 17, 2022.