@JusticeReform is a great source of prison-related news and articles on Twitter. It is run by Pat Nolan, Vice President of the Prison Fellowship, also a worthy organization. Check it out on Twitter: @JusticeReform and on the web: Prisonfellowship.org
In case you missed these stories over the past week:
Wrongful Convictions
Death Penalty
Other Prison Issues
Clarence Darrow was one of the leading members of the American Civil Liberties Union and one of history’s most famous lawyers. He wrote a lot of books, including Crime; Its Cause and Treatment. This book is a must read for anyone interested in criminal justice or prison issues. His views were extremely liberal for his time, and he had some amazing ideas that helped shaped the ACLU we know today. One of the foremost themes of this book is the idea that crime is not a product of reason. Which, those of us who understand that prison is no real deterrent to crime, pretty much think is obvious. If criminals stopped and reasoned with themselves before they committed a crime, there would be far less crime. The book is in plain English and is extremely easy to read, with little Lawyer jargon. This is a must read. Go check it out:
From the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:
Dear Friends,The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty wants to be sure you are aware that Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has postponed for the second time the scheduled execution of Richard T. Smith, who is now scheduled to be killed on May 25th as punishment for his murder of John Cederlund.
Last week, Governor Henry’s office issued the following statement:
(Oklahoma City) In order to complete his review of a pending clemency recommendation, Governor Brad Henry has extended a brief stay of execution to an Oklahoma death row inmate.
Richard Tandy Smith, who was convicted of first degree murder in the 1986 shooting death of John Cederlund, was facing a May 4 execution date. The execution has been rescheduled for May 25 to allow more time to review of the case.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recently recommended the governor commute Smith’s sentence to life in prison without parole.
In preparation for his decision, Gov. Henry has interviewed both prosecution and defense attorneys and is reviewing the case file, other supporting evidence and tapes of Smith’s clemency hearing.
During Gov. Henry’s term in office, the State Pardon and Parole Board has recommended clemency for six death row inmates, but he has approved only two, commuting the sentences to life in prison without parole.
As noted, the Pardon and Parole board has recommended clemency, and this is the second stay Governor Henry has issued in the case. YOUR ACTION TODAY could help convince Governor Henry to grant clemency in this case. Please call, fax, and e-mail Governor Henry with a brief message encouraging him to grant clemency to Richard Smith by commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment without parole.
Further details and background are available in this Urgent Action from Amnesty International.
Governor Brad Henry
State Capitol Building, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212
Oklahoma City, OK 73105, USA
Fax: 405 521 3353
Phone: 405 521 2342
Email: http://www.gov.ok.gov/message.phpThank you for taking action today!
–abe
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director of Affiliate Support
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
I’ve been holding off on doing this one, even though it seems like a no-brainer because I know more about it than most others, because it’s where my friend is locked up, but with today’s news of Raymond Towler being released, I thought, what the heck.
Grafton Correctional Institution is located in Lorain County, Ohio and opened in 1988. It is a minimum to medium security camp, housing 1,515 offenders, of whom the majority are African American. It is a highly sought after prison for inmates doing longer bits and offers a myriad of programs and industries such as:
- Dope is for Dopes
- Heart to Heart
- Adopt-A-School
- Crocheting/Quilting
- Ohio Reads
- Kids in Need
- Love-A-Pup
- Braille Transcription
- Bottling of Fragrances
It also offers GED education and courses from Ashland University.
It was also home to Raymond Towler, who spend 29 years in prison for a rape he did not commit. He is being freed today.
More on Grafton:
Grafton Correctional Institution
Grafton Correctional Institution/Prison-Grafton, Ohio [Archive] – Prison Talk
Grafton Correctional Institution
These are the stories that keep me going, because, as most of you know, totally immersing yourself in what is wrong with the American Criminal Justice system can be entirely draining. But, these stories, the stories of things finally going right, are what make me keep doing this.
When I first read this story, I was angered by sheer length of 29 years. An innocent man sat in an Ohio prison for twenty-nine years. How was this allowed to happen? How is this allowed to happen so often? I was irate. But then I read what Raymond Towler, convicted of a rape he did not commit, had to say about his 29 years behind bars:
“This is the greatest day of my life,” he said. “I prayed and hoped for all these years, and finally we have the truth. I’m only feeling pure joy no hate or anger toward anyone. I feel very sorry that the victim went through this, and I wish her nothing but the best. I certainly have no anger toward her.”
His conviction was based on the eyewitness testimony of children. That’s it.
I hope his lost 29 years were not in vain and that people are moved to continue the fight against wrongful convictions.
Read the article here: Cleveland man to be freed from prison after serving 29 years for a rape he didn’t commit | cleveland.com
This is the Twitter stream for Death Penalty Focus, one of the largest organizations in the USA devoted to the abolition of the death penalty. From their web site:
We believe that the death penalty is an ineffective, cruel, and simplistic response to the serious and complex problem of violent crime. It institutionalizes discrimination against the poor and people of color, diverts attention and financial resources away from preventative measures that would actually increase public safety, risks the execution of innocent people, and does not deter crime.
Follow their Twitter stream and you should expect to see great news and updates from the fight against the death penalty in the USA, as well as event announcements, links to articles in the mainstream media, surveys on capital punishment as well as engagement with their followers. Whether you support the total abolition of the death penalty or not, you should follow these guys for stats, news and to be educated in your opinion either way.
Go follow them: @DPFocus
As we all know, last Wednesday, Frank Sterling was freed after DNA testing requested by the Innocence Project proved his innocence. He spent nearly 20 years in prison for a crime he didn’t do. With the help of the Innocence Project, he is working on readjusting to life on the outside.
In order for the Innocence Project to continue DNA testing for other clients who remain locked up, they need funding; they need your help. Please consider donating to the Innocence Project so that more innocent men and women can experience freedom once again.
On March 24th, 35 minutes before his scheduled execution, Hank Skinner was granted a stay of execution. Not from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, not from Texas Governor Rick Perry, but from the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, he pleads with district attorney Lyn Switzer to test DNA evidence that has never been tested.
Family members of the victims, defense lawyers and national experts have all asked repeatedly for this evidence to be tested. But so far, nothing has been done.
Now Skinner wrote a letter to District Attorney Lynn Switzer. He says if she’ll test evidence, he’ll agree to take a polygraph exam.
Skinner writes: “I’ve thought of all kinds of ways to honestly try to present this to you. what if I fail to say the one thing that could persuade you to do the right thing? … Don’t let me die for something I didn’t do, please.”
Read the Rest: Skinner Speaks Out – Exclusive – KFDA – NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo, TX: newschannel10.com
In case you missed some of these stories over the past week:
Wrongful Convictions
Death Penalty
Other Prison Issues
genpop.org is a blog devoted to bringing prison issues to light. It is run by volunteers who want to bring positive change to the American Criminal Justice system for the benefit of both victims and perpetrators. If you would like to contribute to this blog or if you have any suggestions for Sunday Sites or post topics, please email me: vlu777@gmail.com
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