The Sword #1: Commencement Issue
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![Dear Reader: In initially conceptualizing this zine, my initial intent was to simply spread knowledge and wisdom amongst my peers, and those whom love and support us. But once I actually began] the process of compiling the segments/content for this com- moncenent 1seue, T recognized the fact that it 18 not in me, specifically, after all I’ve been through to ignore, disre- gard, or overlook the fact that many people in my situation have yet to muster the mental fortitude and courage to care about and respect themselves to stand-up and show-out for. themselves (if need be!), when they’ve been wronged, and that| 1’d be further remiss if I failed to address such a topic in this commencement issue of The Sword. WE MUST LEARN TO AD- DRESS SYSTEMATIC ABUSES IN THE PROPER WAY! I’m not so sure that T subscribe to the notion that pulverizing C.0.’s (Cor- rectional Officers) in retaliation for being wronged is the proper response or remedy - but I overstand - and, oftentimes| agree, that that is what a good mumber of them deserve. But, truth-be-told - that isn’t a solution! It is selfish, and only provides a false sense of retribution! And, in-the-end, is exactly what the evil ones want. They want to be beaten, so they can be sent home Twith often trivial injury), with pay, and to use such incidents as justification to continue to sow discord between the individuals-in-custody, their ad- vocates, and society, by pushing the false narrative that these incidents provide proof of who we are - and why they (and their institutions) are needed! So, T say, ag;ié, indi- vidual (and group) attacks on C.0.’s are selfish, reckless, and only aid in the reversion of progress that our advocates | make on our behalf - and also includes those of us whom have | elected to vage our part of this war by rebuilding the minds, | | | hearts, and spirits of prisoners, as well as their condi- tions! Reframe your MINDS! Reframe YOUR INTENT! Respect.](the-sword-1-commencement-issue-toola-taylor 4.png)







![v. Bt beginning in Issue 12 of Words of Fire, o sharing your full name and town in print Tell s if you have other preferences. Words of Fire Prison Books Collective PO Box 625 Carrboro, NC 27510 See more ot www.PrisonBooks.info. BIART DREAMING] About What It Means to Be Alive](the-sword-1-commencement-issue-toola-taylor 12.png)
![BLACK LIVES MATTER! That vas the reason for their very existence. And fi / when those acting under the falsehood of the color of law - that they vere just doing their jobs as police offi- Cers, prosecutors, etc., etc. = Cross that line, and Black people end-up dead, Mustafa and his covert group of professional hitmen dish out their own brand of justice! But, organized, funded, executed, and hidden by-and- through the Dark Web - for years - they suddenly find their whole existence compromised when they discover that one of their secret accounts has been "swiped” of $32- million by Man-Man and his crew of former street denizens who call themselves The Lick Clique. To protect their ex- istence, Mustafa and his organization, The Outfit, must g0 to war with people they’ve sworn to protect. But The Lick Clique is no push-over. They have an unknown advan- tage - and his name is Black - a true gangster ... Who will come out on top?! Especially, with practically every law enforcement agency known to man hot on their tracks!! [GET YOUR GOPY AND FIND OUT!!!] Send $15.00 (shipping/handling included) to: Toola Tay- lor, 3205 Kiya Court #C5, Peoria, IL., 61604. [ Breakoutmediallc.com Breakout Media provides publishing serices exclusively 0 nmates W understand the noeds and chalenges tht incarceracd publishers face bringing ther work to market. Book Publshing! sping proofresding and cover . sting books and -books on Amazon and Barmes and Nobel LC formation. + Music and An Insta Pics: Give us the name of your favorites and we can. send you pics through Amazon! Contact fo details! Breakout Media Email POBox 1157/egt. W admin@reskoumedislc com State College, PA 16804](the-sword-1-commencement-issue-toola-taylor 13.png)
![Everyone has a story e, Now’s the time to write yours! = P fters Bresking nto Prin - time-tested, customized. rtessionatwrtingcoureswi: " Ona-on-snencrctonwith a0 uthr o dfr Customias coursowark o ¢ i i gous Pyt wark st your un pacsand o your schckle - Foudoackdtaling yourwriSnsrngineand so5gesions o neone o on oo arktyor submissn-resdy st START by taking our Writing Assessment! STEP Complet the ritng Assesament uressesamen s 3 e o gotyour castive i Rowing €5 and iy STEP 2 Rocav YourResuits urprofesionsovlators wi rview your srssion s 7o Uty Y b Dt 30 author o ctr 8 o prsoal et Yok ety i ey s ot et e r onmsson’s o, o0t o FREE copy compteand md e copon ety Wel a0 SR ity yodd o e el Thres o oG rial i e ] YS! Pess sond m your FREE Wrting Assesamant ssering yous comin 1 fction/nanfctionpragram. | nrsand hat ¥ as: | may Sl bt et 1 roigsten G R ) | gy i G The American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) s a growing publc, internet-basec collection of non-fiction writing about direct experience with the U.S. prison syster. ‘Anyone who has been incarcerated or has volunteered insids can send handw or typed pieces. Allwriting skil evels are welcome. 5,000 word limit. Visitusat: PRISONWITNESS. ORG ‘Wereadandrespond to llwriting Noreadingfees or SASE required. A signed Permics ons Juestcnae (PO)form i required for writng t be included I the APW. For mare informatian, o receie o #0 form.plesse writeto: Amertcan Prison Wrtng Archive N Johns Hopkins Univers \ SLCON. Chries St 3 — Batimore, M0 2213](the-sword-1-commencement-issue-toola-taylor 14.png)









![After all, the fact is, most criminals will be freed, someday. Would you’prefer that that person be a well-adjusted, producie] ive member of society - or remain angry, with a high likeli- hood to offend again and, perhaps, even worse than before? If| a safer society is wnat you seek, then the answer is clear. This is a logical conclusion that I have reached. Here’s another logical conclusion. Some in autharity, with the power to make these decisions, are not interested in| a safer society. The criminal justice system in Americh has become big business. As crime affects most of society, somel are completely oblivious to it. They make money and build| their riches off of the backs of the average American.| They could care less about rehabilitation. Their rhetoric inpires| the clueless to believe that a prison’s sole purpose is to| punish. It is only wnen their greed has taken such a hugd tolll on the American public that even politicians start to jagreel that we can no longer afford it, that they decide that some- thing must be done. Open your eyes. Society is being used. Is your commnity safe? Do you have family members whom are incarcerated? Does tnat incarcerated individual have kids? Fowl do you think their incarceration is affecting their comminity? Are there families in your community dealing with such ldsses? Does the punishment fit the crime? These are all questions that we need to address. We’ve been going backwards, for far| t00 long. Qur prisons need to focus on renabilitation. e havel many otner issues to deal with before prison becomes the| answer; but once one’s situation becomes that dire, it sHould- n’t get worse. Our criminal justice system is failing us. WE| are failing... | America is SUCH an unforgiving society. In Florida, 257 of the adult population are unable to vote, due to past felony| convictions. America has 5% of the world’s population, byt 257) of tne world’s prison populace. A disproportionate numder of| these inmates are Black. It is incredibly difficult td find| employment if you have a criminal backzround. It’s| even| difficult to find housing. Tnese issues CAN be fixed. [It is| imperative that they decome the basis for discussion. Our sys-| ten is failing society. Prosecutors aren’t even interested in one’s guilt or innocence. A suspect has been arrested, and|](the-sword-1-commencement-issue-toola-taylor 24.png)





ration, and the
lel - objectives
, their commun-
port generated
Wor
Life isn’t a DIY project
THE SWORD Zine Submission Guidelines
Send us your writing, artwork, or poetry!!
Submissions must relate to prison issues, prisoner rights,
prison advocacy, or the spread of knowledge, wisdom, moti-
vation, inspiration, etc., etc., with the goal and intent
of promoting change and attaining the parallel objectives
between prisoners, their advocates, families, their com-
munities, organizations, and victims, alike. Drawing upon
your own personal experiences is encouraged; however, we
will not publish writings detailing the writer's own le-
gal case. Hand-written submissions will be accepted - as
Tong as they are LEGIBLE! Send submissions to: Submissions
to THE SWORD, c/o Barbara Bryant, 3205 Kiya Court #CS5,
Peoria, Illinois, 61604. Writings submitted by
email may be sent to TheSword2024@gmail.com with the Sub-
ject line: "Submission for The Sword". Articles/essays
limited to 500 words, may suggest a title for such,
and nay be submitted anonymously or with a pen name (pseu-
donym). In addition, submissions may be considered for in-
clusion in THE TRUTH: The MidWest Journal of Injustice
Across America, and/or The In-Crowd Movement Prison Advo-
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sider ALL submissions - there is NO GUARANTEE of publica-
tion. Submissions may be edited, but no substantial
changes will be made to the content.
222 Ol
2L IZYING
A New Beginning Awaits Us All
Editor's Log.
The Scoop
Spotlight
A Broken System (Essay)
From the Belly of the Beast
(Thrown to the Wolves)
Painting Grim Pictures of Violence
The Seven Shades of Wisdom
| A Prison Story (Poem)
Establishing a Legal Defense Fund
The Meaning of Life: A Case for Abolishing
Life Sentences
10 Principles From the Greatest Salesman
in the World
CONTRIBUTORS
Robert Bey
The Marshall Project
Cecil G. Truman
Nicholas Giles
Jody Cramer
Christopher Santiago
The Prison Journalism Project
Dear Reader:
In initially conceptualizing this zine, my initial intent
was to simply spread knowledge and wisdom amongst my peers,
and those whom love and support us. But once I actually began]
the process of compiling the segments/content for this com-
moncenent 1seue, T recognized the fact that it 18 not in me,
specifically, after all I've been through to ignore, disre-
gard, or overlook the fact that many people in my situation
have yet to muster the mental fortitude and courage to care
about and respect themselves to stand-up and show-out for.
themselves (if need be!), when they've been wronged, and that|
1'd be further remiss if I failed to address such a topic in
this commencement issue of The Sword. WE MUST LEARN TO AD-
DRESS SYSTEMATIC ABUSES IN THE PROPER WAY! I'm not so sure
that T subscribe to the notion that pulverizing C.0.'s (Cor-
rectional Officers) in retaliation for being wronged is the
proper response or remedy - but I overstand - and, oftentimes|
agree, that that is what a good mumber of them deserve. But,
truth-be-told - that isn't a solution! It is selfish, and
only provides a false sense of retribution! And, in-the-end,
is exactly what the evil ones want. They want to be beaten,
so they can be sent home Twith often trivial injury), with
pay, and to use such incidents as justification to continue
to sow discord between the individuals-in-custody, their ad-
vocates, and society, by pushing the false narrative that
these incidents provide proof of who we are - and why they
(and their institutions) are needed! So, T say, ag;ié, indi-
vidual (and group) attacks on C.0.'s are selfish, reckless,
and only aid in the reversion of progress that our advocates |
make on our behalf - and also includes those of us whom have |
elected to vage our part of this war by rebuilding the minds, |
|
|
hearts, and spirits of prisoners, as well as their condi-
tions! Reframe your MINDS! Reframe YOUR INTENT!
Respect.
=SCO0P!:
IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEAL OR
EXPUNGE MY CRIMINAL RECORD?
| WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? HOW LONG MUST I WAIT BEFORE
| T CAN TRY? AND CAN IT BE DONE FOR FELONIES, AS WELL?
|
[
| When a criminal record is expunged - it is GONE. |
| COMPLETELY destroyed. Obliterated. NOBODY will ever be able |
to find it/see it. However, sealing a record simply hides |
|1t from the public. This means that the record still exists |
and can be located and revieved by law enforcement and other|
government. agencies. In other words, someone looking for it |
at the courthouse, from the general public, will not find |
it. |
| Since expungement is more extreme, it is harder to do.
| What makes it most hard, in particular, is the fact that
|it's only even possible if there are no convictions, at all,
|on your record. This, of course, would logically beg the
| question: “IE my record is "clean", why does it need to be
expunged? Right? Vell, there are several possible answers;
but, the simplest, is that, under the law, court supervi-
sion, and certain kinds of probation - once successfully
conpleted - are no longer considered convictions! But most
| le (including those subjected TO said supervision or
“‘?:Ziemnn do %: know tha{, and job interviewers will of-
ten reject applicants if the check with the local circuit |
clerk, or any other website containing the information, and |
|see "supervision" or "probation”. And, although it is il- |
legal to refuse to hire someone just because of an arrest |
record, an employer may not hire despite the fact that the
charges were dropped (but still reflected on the arrest re-
‘wfi - and, of course, they'll never tell why they didn't
|actually hire an individual.
|
If you have a conviction somewhere on your record that |
cannot be expunged, you may still be able to have it sealed.
Most misdemeanors can be sealed, but only a few felonies.
In Tllinois, the law was broadened in 2014 by expanding
|£elonies which could be sealed. Previously, only felony con-
victions such as prostitution, or a few drug offenses could
be sealed - and only if they were of the lowest Class (i.e.,
Class 4).
At the time of this writing, there are now 10 different
Class 4 felonies that can be sealed, as well as five differ-
ent Class 4 felonies; amongst others, this includes theft,
vetail theft, forgery and deceptive practices.
The The vaiting periods to try to expunge or seal these re-
lcords vary. There is mo time period to wait to attempt to ex-
punge or seal a record vhere the charges vere dismissed. It
is two years, however, to try to expunge a record or success-
Fully completed supervision, and five years to expunge a re-
lcord of successful completion of the kind of qualified proba-
|tion possible in certain drug cases.
On January 1, 2015, the waiting period to try to seal
lconvictions was reduced from four to three years. Further,
there was also a new provision that went into effect which
eliminated the waiting period for attempting to seal a con-
viction if someone got their GED, or other degree or certifi-|
cate, during their "sentence, after-care release, or manda-
tory supervised release
You MUST file a petition to expunge or seal in the ORI-
IGINAL CRIMINAL CASE. That petition gets served on the law en-
Forcenent agency responsible for you arrest, their attorney,
the state's attorney who filed the charges and the State Po-
Lice. In Tllinois, they have 60 days to respond/object. I
Ino one does, chances are good - but mot certain - that your
petition will be granted!
Now, in closing, this information may not be applicable
to most of us - but it could be a game changer - if you have
this knowledge and may be able to use it to help a loved one
in need.
!
1 was released from prison in May 2015. While The Marshal Project existed at the
time, News Inide did not. I 2017, 1 founded The Ladies of Hope Minisries (The
LOHM) with an EPIC vision to End Poverty and InCarceration of women and girls
globally. | joined the board of directors for The Marshall Project in October 2078,
coinciding with the preparation ofthe launch of News Inside. In that capacit, |
get to see the impact that News Inside is having on incarcerated people in helping
o bridge the informationl gap between society and the forgotten world behind
those wall. As a previously incarcerated woman, | know firsthand the importance
of getting access to current and relevant information. My abilty o gain access was
necessary for a successful reentry, and | want that for il of my brothers and sisters.
Dr. Topeka K. Sam is the founder and CEO of The LOHM and president of EPIC
Financial, TKS Ventures LLC, and Faces & Voices Inc. She also serves on the
board of irectors for The Marshall Project, Pure Legacee, Operation Restoration,
and United Justice Coalition. Most recently, Dr. Sam was appointed as the UN
Ambassador for social justice and incarceration for the Global Creative Economy,
named the first Social Impact Award recipient from Google at the Variety/Lifetime
Power of the Woman Summit, received a full and unconditional Presidential Pardon
‘and her Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from NYTS. She has worked and continues.
to work selflessly and relentlessly in her fight for the dignity, decriminalization, and
decarceration of women and girls.
All Social Media Handles: @Topekaksam
A BROKEN SYSTEM
by
Robert Bey
Given the current state of our country's criminal jus-
tice system, it has become apparent that our system is broken
and needs to be fixed. Tnere are many different reasons, and
many differeat factors involved, but the conclusion is Still
the sane. Some may only reach this conclusion because of the
incredible finacial toll it has taken on us as tex-payers,
and the state and federal budgets and deficits of our govern-
ments. But there is another side to this story.
First-and-forenost, it snould be noted that America, by
far, has the hignest prison population in the world. I suppose
sone think that this is a good thing. I do not. Is this making
America safer? Conversations need to be had, by society, on
these issues. To begin with - Waat is the purpose of a
criminal justice system? Yost would agree that it is to fight
crime and make people feel safer. The big discrepancies don't
come into play until you start asking questions like, 'Is ori-
son meant to punish or renabilitate?” Tnis very fundamental
issue needs to be addressed. If we, as a society, can't fig-
ure-our the criminal justice systen's purpose, then it has
failed. A goal must be establisned before it can be attained.
To begin such a discussion, some would immediately
state their opinion that some criminals can't be renabilitated
due to the nature of their offenses. I would counter that by
stating the obvious: "some” criminals does not mean ALL crimi-
nals. In fact, those that fall into the 'some’ criminals cate-
gocy, are probebly the minority. Also, more than likely, they
are mot first-time offenders. Had renabilitation been tne
30al, in the beginning, pernaps the situation wouldn't have
regressed so far. The nigh rate of recidivism shovs that rena-
bilitation has never been the goal. That's wnere the heart of
this problen lies. If you keep locking-up the old criminals,
plus the new ones, chances are you will end up with an expen-
sive, over-populated, unproductive system like the one we
nave. The goal, all along, snould have been to re-habilitate.
By Cecil G. Truman
Craigsville, VA
Thrown
to the
Wolves
This is a true story about a kid we will call Max. I met Max
afew weeks ago in Bible study. Upon speaking with Max, I
ould tellthat his heart and mind were very young. At the
age of 19 Max was sentenced to 40 years for what he was
convicted of. Furthermore, Max was very young and even I
could tell that Max was suffering from the pressures, trau-
‘ma, and stress inflicted upon him from the unfair things in
life—many of which he was powerless to prevent and were
not a result of his choices.
Max suffered domestic abuse for God knows how long,
Kkilled 2 family member, and was condemned to pretty
much the rest of his lfe in prison. All o these things
thrown upon this young man are more than anyone would
wish to bear. Max killed himself. In this heartless, cruel,
and inhumane criminal justice system, this young man was
mercilessly condemned, his emotional and mental needs
‘were ignored, and he was thrown in prison stripped of
hope and justice. Anyone could see that this young man—
barely older than a child—needed help processing the
tragedies and suffering this i afflcted him with. Instead
Max was thrown in prison. Max was a level 3 and they were
raising his security to level 4. It s truly a tragedy that Max
would be in high security prisons and no care to his safety
or mental and emotional state considered.
| By Darrell Sharpe
Mass. Correctional Tstituton
| Norfolk, MA
i
| First and foremost, I would like to apologize
| for the picture | am about to show you because
| of wha it has done to me, and what it will
likely do t0 you, I searched through my stack
of pctures arefully to find the one that would
vividly illustate to you the lossthat violence
bringa. But there were no pictures to convey
the gravity of what [d lke to share.
SoT have to paint one. A picture with words.
Long before I stepped inside of a prison cell,
Tknew what violence could take away. Most
of you think you know too, but want you to
take another look
Lvant you o be asintimate with the los that
comes from violence as | am. Violence s the
| voice of my threelte sisters sying, “re you
going o jail? What did you break?”
Violence is my it nepher tlling his nana “ ”
thatif he eats his vegetables, his muscles will Grief .
| tum t rocks because all he remembers o his by Aleksey Trapeznikov
uncle s squeezing his arm in a prison visiting
| Violence s my youngstersser who received
the brunt of my easing and tauning,crying as
| she lee out the candisbecause al he wished
for was her big brother to come home
Violence i a teen boy trying to prove just how
tough and brave he is by jamming a knife into
| the stomach of another teen boy.
Violence s the lst thoughts of the other boy as
he bled to death ina school hallway, and a death
certificatethat says, “Parens too distraught to
sign”
Violence s the emptiness that s lef behind. Darrell Sharpe
Violence s the guttural sound that escaped
‘my mother’lips when the judge sentenced me. Violence s th e tha I told my
‘mother when I sid, “Everything’s going to be alright”
Violence i the many years I've spent trying to atone for something for which there |
s no atonement. It s the tears that treaked down my face and sained this page. |
It the picture that I've painted with words, a picture o horror and despair that [
Tonly hope and pray you never have o paint this picture for yourselves, because
folence is not the answer. #
THE SEVEN SHADES OF WISDOM
v. Bt beginning in Issue 12 of Words of Fire,
o sharing your full name and town in print
Tell s if you have other preferences.
Words of Fire
Prison Books Collective
PO Box 625
Carrboro, NC 27510
See more ot www.PrisonBooks.info.
BIART DREAMING]
About What It Means to Be Alive
BLACK LIVES MATTER! That vas the
reason for their very existence. And fi
/
when those acting under the falsehood
of the color of law - that they vere
just doing their jobs as police offi-
Cers, prosecutors, etc., etc. = Cross
that line, and Black people end-up
dead, Mustafa and his covert group of
professional hitmen dish out their
own brand of justice! But, organized,
funded, executed, and hidden by-and-
through the Dark Web - for years - they suddenly find
their whole existence compromised when they discover that
one of their secret accounts has been "swiped” of $32-
million by Man-Man and his crew of former street denizens
who call themselves The Lick Clique. To protect their ex-
istence, Mustafa and his organization, The Outfit, must
g0 to war with people they've sworn to protect. But The
Lick Clique is no push-over. They have an unknown advan-
tage - and his name is Black - a true gangster ... Who
will come out on top?! Especially, with practically
every law enforcement agency known to man hot on their
tracks!!
[GET YOUR GOPY AND FIND OUT!!!]
Send $15.00 (shipping/handling included) to: Toola Tay-
lor, 3205 Kiya Court #C5, Peoria, IL., 61604.
[ Breakoutmediallc.com
Breakout Media provides publishing serices exclusively 0 nmates
W understand the noeds and chalenges tht incarceracd publishers
face bringing ther work to market. Book Publshing!
sping proofresding and cover .
sting books and -books on Amazon and Barmes and Nobel
LC formation.
+ Music and An
Insta Pics: Give us the name of your favorites and we can.
send you pics through Amazon!
Contact fo details!
Breakout Media Email
POBox 1157/egt. W admin@reskoumedislc com
State College, PA 16804
Everyone has a story e,
Now’s the time to write yours! =
P fters Bresking nto Prin - time-tested, customized.
rtessionatwrtingcoureswi:
" Ona-on-snencrctonwith a0 uthr o dfr
Customias coursowark o ¢ i i gous
Pyt wark st your un pacsand o your schckle
- Foudoackdtaling yourwriSnsrngineand so5gesions o neone
o on oo arktyor submissn-resdy st
START by taking our Writing Assessment!
STEP Complet the ritng Assesament
uressesamen s 3 e o gotyour castive i Rowing €5 and
iy
STEP 2 Rocav YourResuits
urprofesionsovlators wi rview your srssion s
7o Uty Y b Dt 30 author o ctr 8 o prsoal et Yok
ety i ey s ot et
e r onmsson's o,
o0t o FREE copy compteand md e copon ety Wel a0
SR ity yodd o e el Thres o oG
rial i e ]
YS! Pess sond m your FREE Wrting Assesamant ssering yous comin
1 fction/nanfctionpragram. | nrsand hat ¥ as: | may Sl bt et
1 roigsten
G R ) | gy i G
The American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) s a growing publc, internet-basec
collection of non-fiction writing about direct experience with the U.S. prison syster.
‘Anyone who has been incarcerated or has volunteered insids can send handw
or typed pieces. Allwriting skil evels are welcome. 5,000 word limit.
Visitusat: PRISONWITNESS. ORG
‘Wereadandrespond to llwriting Noreadingfees or SASE required. A signed Permics ons Juestcnae
(PO)form i required for writng t be included I the APW. For mare informatian, o receie o #0
form.plesse writeto:
Amertcan Prison Wrtng Archive N
Johns Hopkins Univers \
SLCON. Chries St 3
— Batimore, M0 2213
T
S
oy (e
el
QRDFP ForMm
£
|
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The Meaning of Life:
The Case for Abolishing Life Sentences
Review by Christopher Santiago
Columbia, SC
More than 200,000 people are serving life sentences in the
United States. Thats more lifers than in any other country,
and despite declining crime rates, their number is grow-
ing.
In The Meaning of Life: The Case for Abolishing Life
Sentences (2018), Marc Mauer and Ashley Nellis of The
Sentencing Project succeed in drawing from a wide range
of sources plenty of evidence to make their case against
life imprisonment. They explain how life sentences con-
flict with human rights norms, contradict the principles
of rehabilitation, contribute to mass incarceration, and
result in diminishing returns for public safety as prisoners
“age out” of criminal behaviors. Life sentences dispro-
portionately affect vulnerable populations and people of
color while having lttle or no deterrent effect on crime.
‘The book provides a roadmap for research-based crimi-
nal justice reform and policy recommendations at a time
when there is bipartisan support for decarceration in
America, “To lay the groundwork for a realistic challenge
o mass incarceration and to provide a better approach to
public safety;”the authors write, “sentences in American
prisons should be capped at a maximum of twenty years,
except in circumstances in which the individual sillrep-
resents a clear threat to public safety.”
Mauer and Nellis thoroughly debunk the notion that
life sentences are an alternative to the death penalty. They
show that lfe imprisonment is a more protected from
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ey s s proceuuran sateguards and
public scrutiny. At the top of the sentencing scale, lfe sen-
tences exert upward pressure on the severity of all other
sentences, resulting in longer prison terms that distort
how criminal justice resources are allocated. Aging pris-
oners cost twice as much as younger prisoners to house
and are far less likely to reoffend. If those funds were real-
located to reentry services, education, employment, hous-
ing, and substance abuse treatment in under-resourced
neighborhoods, the book argues,they would produce bet-
ter outcomes for public safey.
Spread throughout the book are six profiles of liers
written by award-winning author and former lifer, Kerry
Myers, Its hard to read the profiles without pangs of sym-
pathy for these six people. Lifers are condemned to live
in hopelessness and despair, withlittle reason to pursue
an education or refrain from violence. But these stories
reveal, again and again, that humans have the capacity for
positive change and personal transformation. They de-
serve a chance a redemption.
“Itis long past time to join the rest of the democratic
‘world by scaling down the excessive nature of punish-
‘ment that has become the hallmark of mass incarcera-
tion.”
1s time to end lfe imprisonment. For more informa-
tion, visit feimpri Lorg. =
Christopher Santiago is a prisoner serving life without pa-
olein the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
This piece was taken from the National Lawyers Guild
Guild Notes publication, Volume 44, Number 3/4. If you,
lor anyone you know, may be interested in submitting to
Cuild Notes - or to become a Jailhouse Lawyer member! -
submit/write to: National Lawyers Guild Foundation,
Post OFfice Box 1266, Dgk. 84D, New York, NY 40009. If submit-
ting an essay/article, add "Guild Notes Submissions" to
the address, and keep said submissions below 600 words.
For more info on writer's guidelines, send a SASE to the
|above address, or go to: wiw.nlg.org/submission-guide~
17
Please don't let Max be forgotten. He deserved a sen-
tence that would have allowed for his rehabilitation. He
deserved alife, but because of the heartless atrocities of
the Commonvwealth of Virginia he was given more than he
could bear—more than any 19 year old kid should have to
bear.
The prison system in Virginia does more than incarcer-
ate people: it kills hope, deprives humans of dignity and
justice, it is the enemy of truth and crushes the light of
Love (charity) at every opportunity, it promotes death in
its practices, and in every way stealslfe from the human
heart. It stole Max’ life and has broken the hearts of his
family and friends.
The Commonwealth of Virginia condemned Max to die
and now the world i less without him. I am less without
‘him. We are less without him.
The inhumanities of the sentencing practices combined
with the neglect for the mental and emotional care of the
human beings coming through these prisons s just too
much. Our prisons have become an industry for profting.
‘The hearts and lives of the human beings incarcerated are
ignored and the whole of our society suffers because of
it. We are enslaved, deprived of the basic care needed to
promote healthy living and productive social growth. We
are made o live in unsafe conditions, fed an improper diet
conducive to mental and emotional development, and in
all confined to hellish conditions. There is nothing about
prisons that helps human beings become healthy and more
productive citizens upon release. We need to really exam-
ine what is being done in our criminal justice system, and
for the sake of society and the human condition, start pro-
gressing towards real change to heal the hearts and minds
of so many of us suffering human hearts that the criminal
justice system has labeled “criminal.” »
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family members, corections offcers. prison educators and others invaied i 1 o
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indivicual cases or that are accusatory about speifcperson. roup o nstutin. e
82101 pubisn academic esearch paprs, aigious SErMOnS o okt IENGe for 8
Generalaucence. Ary data tht s mentionmd must b attibuled 08 soutcs Wo reserse
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hat can e published 35 part of you i farof rprsal. ready estabished asa
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REPORTED NEWS AND FEATURES: Articies basec
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| WRITERS WANTED!! The Com-
| mencenent Issue of "The
| In~Crowd Movement Prisoner
Advocate, Pen Pal & Leisure
Time Mixbook" is scheduled
for release in late-2024
and is searching for essays,
articles, short stories,
poens, etc., etc, pertaining|
to Justice issues, street
life, the prison experience,
support & advocacy for prisoners, their families, and vic-
tins, alike - or anything that you believe may be of inte
est to such! Experienced, unexperienced, published and un-
published writers are all WELCOME to submit! Forward work
with a short bio and picture (if available), along with a
$10.00 administrative fee (vhich will be returned if your
work is chosen for publication!) to: Myriad Publishing,
a Bryant, 3205 Kiya Court’C5, Peoria, IL 61604.
WRITERS WANTED!! Founded in 1971, the PEN Prison Writing |
Program believes in the restorative, rehabilitative pover
of writing and provides hundreds of prisoners across the
country with skilled writing teachers and audiences for
their work. It provides a place for prisoners to express
themselves freely and encourages the use of the written
itimate forn of power. The program sponsors
n annual writing contest, publishes the free Handbook for
iter's in Prison, provides one-on-one mentoring, con-
rkshop, and seeks to promote prisoners’ work pu-
blicly through literary publications and readings. Con-
EN Prison Writing Program, 588 Broadvay, Suite
, NY 10012, 212-334=1660, wv.pen.ors/about/
son-writing.
TOGETHER
Second Edition of "Labor
of Thought, Struggle of
Change" (First Edition
available at Lulu.com)!
Purchase your copy at
f
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| Great tabletop book of
poems and essays about
el the author's experiences
of prison life, family, friends, and the struggle of trying
to comnit to self-rehabilitation despite the situation and
circunstances!
ALL SALES TO BE DONATED TO CHARTTY!! ———
Second Chances
Clemency Consulting, LLC
$1,000
(Payment: plans available!)
Includes (but not limited to): Typing,
editing/proofreading, clemency prepa-
ration, preparation of Motion for Resentencing by the
People, speaking at the hearing (Illinois Only at this
tine). For Tntake Packet write: Second Chances Clemency,
Consulting, LLC, 850 Main St. NW #1104, Bourbannais,
IL., 60914. Secondchancesclemencyconsulting.com
After all, the fact is, most criminals will be freed, someday.
Would you'prefer that that person be a well-adjusted, producie]
ive member of society - or remain angry, with a high likeli-
hood to offend again and, perhaps, even worse than before? If|
a safer society is wnat you seek, then the answer is clear.
This is a logical conclusion that I have reached.
Here's another logical conclusion. Some in autharity,
with the power to make these decisions, are not interested in|
a safer society. The criminal justice system in Americh has
become big business. As crime affects most of society, somel
are completely oblivious to it. They make money and build|
their riches off of the backs of the average American.| They
could care less about rehabilitation. Their rhetoric inpires|
the clueless to believe that a prison's sole purpose is to|
punish. It is only wnen their greed has taken such a hugd tolll
on the American public that even politicians start to jagreel
that we can no longer afford it, that they decide that some-
thing must be done. Open your eyes. Society is being used.
Is your commnity safe? Do you have family members whom are
incarcerated? Does tnat incarcerated individual have kids? Fowl
do you think their incarceration is affecting their comminity?
Are there families in your community dealing with such ldsses?
Does the punishment fit the crime? These are all questions
that we need to address. We've been going backwards, for far|
t00 long. Qur prisons need to focus on renabilitation. e havel
many otner issues to deal with before prison becomes the|
answer; but once one's situation becomes that dire, it sHould-
n't get worse. Our criminal justice system is failing us. WE|
are failing... |
America is SUCH an unforgiving society. In Florida, 257
of the adult population are unable to vote, due to past felony|
convictions. America has 5% of the world's population, byt 257)
of tne world's prison populace. A disproportionate numder of|
these inmates are Black. It is incredibly difficult td find|
employment if you have a criminal backzround. It's| even|
difficult to find housing. Tnese issues CAN be fixed. [It is|
imperative that they decome the basis for discussion. Our sys-|
ten is failing society. Prosecutors aren't even interested in
one's guilt or innocence. A suspect has been arrested, and|
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Books Behind Bars
The following is short list of organizations that provide|
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DON'T LET THE TIME DO YOU!! Organizations prefer that you, at|
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Books 2 Prismers Books for Prisoers
P.0. Box 515 /o Left Bank Bookstore
Urbera, IL 61808 92 Pike St. Bax A
\aas.bocksZprisers.or, Seattle, W %BI0L
Provices up to 3 books at & tire. Re-|
quest by sibject - m religion o le-
Bocks 2 Priscrers £l book requests.
1631 Elysian Fields Ave. #117
New Oclesrs, [A 70117
Priso ook Project
P.0. B 3%
‘The Bodks for Prisers Qrar Averst, M 01004
/o Hobo odstore
P.0. Box 19065
Ciredmati, G 45219 Providerce Books theu Bers
/o Myepic Books
5 South Angell Street
Books for Prisoners Providerce, RT Q2905
/o Grardiark Bocks
023 Student. Ganter:
La Jolla, O 92057 Miduest. Pages to Briscners Prefiect
/o Barear Hooks & Gomiity Genter
48 E, 6th Street
Bloorington, IN_ 47408
MEE TO QE...!
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THE POWER
OF WORDS