Ohio Prison Humor....well not really

Ohio has the fifth-largest of all state prison populations.
Larger populations are found only in Texas, California, New York and Florida.
Ohio is located in the USA which, of all countries, has the highest rate of imprisonment,
6.7 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at year end 2002
-- 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults.

More than 25% of all the world's prisoners are in US jails....
"Land of the free?" Well, not if incarceration rates are the measure.
"The costs of the American experiment in mass incarceration have been high,"

PRISON BOOM

At the then present rate of prison population growth,
half Ohio's total population would be incarcerated
by the year 2019. These facts prompted President Reagan to quip:

'Why don't you just fence in the whole State ?'

Prison expenses straining budget 05-28-01

( Michigan, too, is alarmed by its Prison Boom. It increased its prison
budget 121% 1990-2000 to 1/6 of all general fund spending. )

(WI) Jail population doubles since '92 12-02-03

No Hard Time for Prison Budgets 01-19-03 (New York Times)

Study Tracks Boom in Prisons and Notes Impact on Counties 4-30-04 (New York Times)
With Longer Sentences, Cost of Fighting Crime Is Higher 5-3-04 (New York Times)

'A jail is an evidence of the lack of charity of the people on the outside
who make the jails and fill them with the victims of their greed.'
Clarence Darrow in his Speach to Cook County Inmates, 1902

For 28 Cows and Precious Water, a Man's Got to Sit in Jail 5-8-04 (New York Times)

Despite Drop in Crime, an Increase in Inmates 11-08-04 (New York Times)

Corrections takes big chunk out of the Michigan budget 4-10-05 (Oakland Press)
State needs to smarten up on spending

Despite Fewer Lockups, NYC Has Seen Big Drop in Crime 11-24-06 (Washington Post)

"Go to Ohio on Vacation; Return on Probation"

THE INNOCENT SHALL FEAR OUR COURTS

In November 1999, The Chicago Tribune began its news special
"Failure of the death penalty in Illinois."
On Jan 31, 2000, Gov. George Ryan of Illinois
announced a moritorium on the dealth penalty because more death row
prisoners had been aquitted than remained "guilty" (13 vrs 12). He
cited "sham defenses", "disbarred attornies" & "rigged prosecutions"....
And his view is unchanged two years later as he promises to review Death Row cases.
Note that a single bureacrat, flipping a coin, would have produced greater accuracy
than the judiciary of Illinois who were politely not mentioned by Gov. Ryan.
Nor were the police whose
"Coercive and illegal tactics torpedoed scores of Cook County murder cases."

In Ryan's Words: 'I Must Act' 1-12-03 (New York Times)

A bid to end execution doubts 2-26-05 (Chicago Tribune)

Certainly, the capability of defense attornies & public defenders in Illinois rank
among the best available in the US.....The problem is national and involves
all aspects of our justice systems. My background is engineering, not law. But
I'm impressed that if trials for capital crimes were shabbily conducted,
I've no reason to believe that trials for lesser crimes accurately produced justice.

Who cannot agree with Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT) when he said
"One vindication for every seven executions is not a criminal justice
system that is working right" Would we not retrain the soldier who
shot one friendly for every seven hostiles? May his efforts and those of others
like him will yield public concern for the quality of our justice systems !

Governor ignored confession - two innocents remain jailed (TX)

The Albuquerque Journal (archive by charge card) reported 3/24/01
that Joseph Montoya will have no retrial for a death his
identical twin admits as his responsibility.
At least the judge put someone in jail...?

Consider Michael Pardue (freed after 28 years),
William Foster web site, Kerry Max Cook web site,
Betty Tyson 02-07-99, Paul Camiolo 12-21-99, John Maloney web site,
Joe Giarratano 09-15-00, Jeffrey Pierce 05-11-01 Kylleen Thomas 05-27-01
Michael Manning website Charles Wakefield website
Glen Nickerson (freed after 17 years) 06-13-01
and Debra Jean Mike wesite

The following people were freed from death row in the year 2000:

Steve Manning, Eric Clemmons, Joseph Green, Earl Washington,
William Nieves, Frank Lee Smith (died before being released),
Michael Graham, and Albert Burrell.
(DNA testing proved Earl Washington's and Frank Lee Smith's innocence.)

In year 2001, Kenneth Waters (RI ) leads the list
and Michael Blair (TX) or Philip Workman (TN) may come in 2nd.

Steven Avery tastes his first freedom in more than 17 years 09-11-03

In our quest for public safety, we've neglected the importance of keeping
a standard of justice under which the innocent should have no fear.
In this no man can be secure.....
Responsibily for incarcerated innocents is rightly placed
on those judges, prosecutors and defenders whose mediocrity
is contrary to public safety. We have no procedure for this;
we need one; their oaths are not enough . In this regard,
a Harvard Law School forum (audio below) suggests a
"National Innocents Advocate". Created equal to the
US Attorney General, such an office might produce law
giving substance to the concept "innocent until proven guilty."
The simple truth is that our courts, unlike the british system from
which they've evolved, allow convictions on flimsy evidence
and attach severe penalty for failure of the accused to previal at trial. Here,
a jailhouse "snitch" (bargaining for a shortened jail term) can put
an innocent man on death row...only to be later discredited as unreliable
in his testimony when he recants it (for no personal gain).
Ronnie Chandler (Clinton granted clemency) and John W Byrd 8-8-01

On Appeals the Poor Find Little Leverage 04-10-01

Whodunit may not be who you saw 05-27-01
Witness Mistakes Costly for Accused 09-02-02

Wrongly Jailed, 2 Clear Last Hurdle 05-15-01 Sorry Isn't Enough 05-17-01

DNA Clears Louisiana Man on Death Row, Lawyer Says 04-22-03

Consider the condition of the Los Angeles "justice" system
that produced more than 100 criminal convictions based on
11-4-00 Rampart Station police confidently framing citizens.
(It was ruled that the LAPD can be sued as a racketeering enterprise.) 4-20-01
Were not the judges more concerned with expediency (closure) than truth?
How did plea bargaining work ?
Who were the judges, prosecutors and defenders ?
Would you use one of these if you were accused ? Would you know ?
Have any, out of honor, left the profession ?

Would your lawyer sleep at court as did Calvin Burdine's attorney 5-4-02?
Was the judge asleep also that allowed this ?

Could expert testimony be tainted ?(WA)3-20-01
Police Chemist Accused of Shoddy Work Is Fired (OK) 9-26-01

Probe finds cop negligent in jailing of innocent man (MA) 11-29-01

Bruce Carl Toney is the first to be released stemming from
the indictment of 16 Detroit police officers (MI) 12-05-03

Surely, the most powerful nation on earth should not be so
overwhelmed by criminal cases that it must rely on
suspect plea bargaining to eliminate more than 90% of the trials.
Lionel Tate's family did the plea bargaining because he was a minor.
How could a minor (10 yr old mentality) be held to
the bargain that gives him life in prison 5-23-02?
Plea Bargain 09-29-02 The New York Times
New Plea Bargain Limits Could Swamp Courts, Experts Say 09-23-03 The New York Times
Youngster Given Life Term for Killing Gets New Trial 12-11-03 New York Times
Fla. Prosecutors Offer Deal in Murder Case 12-26-03 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

First Death Sentence Imposed Under (NY)'95 Law Is Overturned;
Unconstitutional Plea Bargaining process cited 7-10-02.

How a family crisis turned a career prosecutor
into a dogged defense attorney (OH) 4-18-02

Study Suspects Thousands of False Convictions 04-19-04 The New York Times

How Wrong Man Was Convicted in Killings 10-25-04 LA Times

Presumed innocent? Blake prospective jurors aren't sure 11-18-04 The San Diego Union-Tribune

The price of false witness 01-14-05 The Toledo Blade

Police lineups' flaws spur new approach 02-07-05The Chicago Tribune

U.S. seeks review of fingerprint techniques 02-21-05 Chicago Tribune

Lip-print case flawed, court told 11-10-05 Chicago Tribune

Why Moussaoui escaped death 05-07-06 Chicago Tribune

Paying for a crime she can't remember 12-19-07 Seattle Times

In a Nov 2000 TV ad, a Michigan judge asks that he be re-elected.
He points out his experience, having presided in over 4,000 criminal cases.
He's middle aged. Are you impressed or concerned? (math problem).

INCARCERATED INNOCENTS

The USA has hundreds of thousands of incarcerated innocents.

There's the actually innocent (wrongfully convicted);
If the percentage of innocents found on death row is applied,
these number 170,840 at year end 1999......
(and a like number of actual criminals are at large).

Clearly, there's 283,800 mentally ill in prisons who deserve better than
to be returned to the recently closed hospitals.
The much-heralded, community-based mental health system was not funded.
Los Angles County jail is the nation's largest mental institution.
Shall we next embrace euthanasia ?

Dec 2003 Report by Human Rights Watch....
Ill-Equipped: U.S. Prisons and Offenders with Mental Illness

NMHA: Christine Wilhelm Lesson: Time to Focus on Prevention 07-11-03

Too, there's those convicted of victimless crimes who, by virtue
of prison conditions, are certainly victimized by the state. Depending
on one's definition of "victimless crime" , these number to 800,000.
(About ten times the Allied invasion force that Eisenhower led into North Africa)
For the most part, these are criminals only by virtue of our intolerance.
We not only incarcerate those who enslaved others with drugs,
we incarcerate their slaves as well.

(UK) Prison boss calls for drugs legalisation 7-9-01 BBC

(AL) Innocent remains jailed 8-31-02 BBC

Authorities Look at Wrongful Convictions 01-17-03 (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

4 men get pardons, clean slates After 10 to 27 years, cleared by DNA 01-07-05 (Chicago Tribune)

THE PRICE OF WAR

Apparently, we've not only lost the war on drugs but disabled our
justice and mental health systems in the process. While trying
to protect school children from drugs, we've closed their mental health services.
According to the Coalition for Juvenile Justice,
More than half of all jailed youths need & lack mental health aid
....and for most, this is the only source of such aid !
By this reality alone, parents surrender guardianship.

THE DEATH PENALTY

While the death penalty is rare in foreign countries, the US continues this practice.
Here's Robert Sherrill's compelling views on the subject. On the brighter side,
Michigan became the first english-speaking territory in the world to abolish
the death penalty on March 1, 1848. Incredibly, MI Sen Jaye would
have changed all that with his 2001 resolution (pdf file).
A Poll shows fewer (in MI) support capital punishment 05-14-01
Incredibly, Push for execution vote is forming 09-01-02

Consider Karl & Walter LaGrands (both executed) 12-17-00
and the related World Court Ruling against the US. 06-27-01

June 27 and Aug 23, 2000 announcements by the National Mental Health Association
shed light on executions of persons with histories of mental illness
including persons committing crimes as minors executed contrary to international treaties.
Here is NMHA's position on the death penalty, March 2001.

Gary Graham was one of 14 juvenile offenders executed in the US from 1990-2000.
These executions represent 61% of worldwide executions of juvenile offenders
for that period.The USA is one of only two countries (the other being the
collapsed state of Somalia) that has not ratified the Convention on the
Rights of the Child without reservation. ( ratified by 191 countries) .

Consider Stillborn Justice(SC) 05-24-01

Death Penalty: Executing Young Offenders (CJJ website)
US condemned for youth executions 9-25-02

Consider Eddie Mitchell (IQ 66) on Death Row (LA),
Anthony Porter (IQ 51) saved from execution (IL),
John Paul Penry (TX) US Supreme Court finding 04June2001,
Wanda Jean Allen (IQ 69) was executed (OK),
and Earl Washington (IQ ?)(VA) exonerated,
Antonio Richardson (IQ 70)(TX) Juvenile offender
Thomas Nevius (IQ 57?) (NV),
Jerry Townsend (IQ?) released after 22 years (FL)

Mental Retardation & the death penalty (Death Penalty Information Center)

Supreme Court Bars Executing the Mentally Retarded 6-20-02

Believing he's already dead, Mentally Ill Man Awaits Execution (AZ) 5-8-01
State Can Make Inmate Sane Enough to Execute (AR) 2-11-03

Canada refuses to extradite its citizens to face US death penalties...Rafay & Burns
referencing "Capital attrition: Error Rates in Capital Cases" (pdf file) which observes:
"the overall rate of prejudicial error in the American capital punishment system was 68%."
...'As would be true of any other government or private-sector operation, a 68 percent
failure rate upon inspection, an 82 percent rate upon repair, and only a 5 percent
rate of products working as planned is not cause for congratulations about a well-oiled
quality-control machine but a good reason to overhaul a bankrupt production process.'
James Liebman, et al, Columbia University

Here's a clearly stated view by San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hillinan 3-25-01

Kissed and tucked in (web page)

What if you're innocent ? Apr 2001 (The New York Times)

Analysis: US law and infanticide 6-22-01 (BBC)

Lack of Lawyers Blocking Appeals in Capital Cases 7-5-01 (New York Times)

Last of the Salem witches exonerated PDF file 11-02-01 (The Detroit Free Press)

Scientists say DeSalvo wasn't Boston Strangler 12-07-01 (The Toledo Blade)

House majority backs Death Row DNA appeal 05-15-02 (The Chicago Tribune)

Prosecutor's Policy Raises Questions in Md. 05-20-02 (Washington Post)

Judge Rules U.S. Death Penalty Violates the Constitution 07-01-02 (New York Times)
Second Ruling Against U.S. Death Penalty 09-25-02 (New York Times)
The Death of Innocents 07-02-02 (New York Times)

SUSAN AGER: Execution: A promise not fulfilled 01-19-03 (Detroit Free Press)

(MD) Steele Seeks New Study of Death Penalty Cases 01-26-03 (Washington Post)
Md. Attorney General Calls for End of Death Penalty 01-30-03 (Washington Post)
(MD) A Shrinking Death Row 02-06-04 (Washington Post)

Death-penalty foes offer message of forgiveness 10/01/03 (Toledo Blade) also as PDF-File

Reserve executions for no-doubt cases 05-11-04 (The Indianapolis Star)

Dozens of Nations Weigh In on Death Penalty Case 07-20-04 (New York Times)

Kernan removes convicted murderer from state's death row 01-07-05 (Indy Star)

Supreme Court Ends Execution of Juvenile Murderers 03-01-05 (New York Times)
Juvenile death penalty abolished 03-02-05 (Christian Science Monitor)

Death Row Often Means a Long Life 03-06-05 (Los Angeles Times)

Breeding Psychotics 03-27-05 (New York Times)

Experts testify against lethal injection in state 04-21-05 (Louisville Courier-Journal)

In Family Court, Child Defendant's Welfare Takes Priority 06-01-05 (New York Times)

Why 1 inmate lived and the other died 10-01-05 (Indianapolis Star)

More in U.S. Expressing Doubts About Death Penalty 12-02-05 (Washington Post)

Clemency for Death Row Inmates Rare 12-06-05 (New York Times)

Why not all executions deter murder 12-14-05 (Christian Science Monitor)

California, Florida suspend executions 12-16-06 (Detroit News)

OHIO SPECIFIC

Ohio courts produced the Sam Sheppard conviction....
The idea was to send someone to jail; Facts that shed doubt
on his guilt were routinely suppressed and ignored by officials.

Ignoring the US Justice Department's commission on DNA evidence,
Betty Montgomery, Ohio Attorney General, seeks good PR rather than justice.
No death row convicts have asked for DNA testing under her plan...
prosecutors decide which applications will be accepted.
No help from Montgomery, DNA testing frees Mr Brown
after 7 months in Ohio jail. He's glad he could afford it !
Consider Walter D Smith, wrongfully convicted.

Warning others who might become mentally ill...
Wilford Lee Berry, Ohio schizophrenic was executed.
Next, schizophrenic JD Scott 5-17-01 was executed 6-15-01.
The people of Ohio have no interest of their own to determine a
defendant's sanity...claims of insanity are the defendant's burden.
In 38 years only these 2 persons,
both schizophrenics, have been executed in Ohio, and other mentally ill,
like Jerry Hessler, await execution.
The National Mental Health Association's letter to Governor Taft
may be downloaded as a Microsoft Word File.

Retarded Offenders Lost In Courts 04-08-01
Death Row inmate tests mental-retardation standards 09-25-02

Standard of Sanity at Issue 04-22-01

Bridget Stovall, an insane mother who killed her children,
may be medicated to sanity.........and face execution 05-03-01
Drowning trial of Ohio mom set for April 03-18-02
Happily, the court found her not guilty by reason of insanity

Executions in Ohio soon may occur more often
Many defendants are at last step in process 4-03-01
State prison chief foreses dramatic rise in executions 7-27-01

Under Ohio Law, parole boards consider the original charges against a prisoner
in contemplating any release on probation. This must make it easier for
prosecutors to plea-bargain, but surely results in innocents being
incarcerated. If the prosecutor could support the original charges
with facts, the plea-bargain would not have occured.

Innocent, Kenny Richey is on Ohio Death Row for a crime that
that did not occur. It's hard to imagine a case that presents more
evidence of a flawed judicial system. Yet freeing him remains uncertain 02-22-04.
Federal court asks Ohio to clarify its murder law 04-30-04.
Death penalty, conviction of Briton tossed; blaze killed Columbus Grove girl 01-26-05
Prosecutor decides to retry Richey for 1986 death of child 07-01-05

The case of Anthony Apanovitch is comparable.

Claiming Innocence, Warren Keith Henness website, is on Ohio's death row
and requests your assistance.

The Ohio judge who convicted innocent Antone Luster 3-1-01 couldn't get him a retrial.
Innocence was found an insufficient reason for relief by fellow judges who noted
paperwork flaws. Luster served 10 years in prison.
In July, 2002, Luster, now freed, remains imprisoned by notoriety.
On the other hand, Danny Brown got a new trial based on DNA & polygraph,
having served 19 years on the testimony of a six year old, and is freed 05-04-01
but Legal cloud keeps ex-imate from feeling truly free 11-11-01
and he continues Seeking Closure 01-16-04

State expands DNA data base 06-04-01

Rainey Watkins, 13 years old, joins other youths with broken arms 05-03-01

The Age Of Innocence
As it prepares to lock up 10-year-olds, Ohio creates a younger brand of criminal. 01-04-01

Preschool Police 05-24-01 For now, boy, 9, won't face trial 11-29-01

Dead Men Waiting 04-12-01 (Cleveland Scene)

Some Nagging doubts about the death penalty 05-13-01 (Toledo Blade)

Citing Cost, Judge Rejects Death Penalty 08-16-02 (New York Times)

Innocence Project debuts 10-02-04 (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Ohio House approves bill for study of death-row cases 11-11-04 (Toledo Blade)

Hundreds of job cuts at prisons expected 2-17-05 (Toledo Blade)

Death penalty on decline across U.S., report shows 12-15-06 (Columbus Dispatch)

State's system called unjust 09-25-07 (Columbus Dispatch)

Low IQ may figure in trial 09-27.07 (Columbus Dispatch)

PRISON CONDITIONS

We need prisons that reflect and inspire social propriety and that
are not victimizing persons "incarcerated for their own protection."

"Wheelchair Offered - No Charge"

Stroke victim, seeking enough room to stand on one leg
in his cell, is willing to part with his wheelchair.

The chair is unused and secure. Alas, the tires are flat.

Disabilities act applies to prisoners, inmate in wheelchair argues 11-10-05 Toledo Blade

Our Cuisine is Old Fashioned

(You can tell by the dates on the cans.)

Prison libraries are called twigs because they aren't big enough to be
considered a full branch ABenson2112@aol.com

Our Dentist routinely turns down requests for teeth cleaning
saying 'You'll leave here missing teeth just like all the others.'

'We save money because we skip the ambulance
and bring them right to the morgue'--Ohio Prison Nurse Jackson
"Corporate Watch" 9-27-98

(Inclusion of prior-to-incarcerated medical records is discouraged)

Consider Derrick's Story (OH) 10-26-99

Policy change too late for asthmatic (WI) 10-5-00

Why not treat Jordan, retarded schizophrenic (WI) 10-21-00

Prison Deaths From Inadequate Health Care (WI) 10-24-00

A prison sentence can be a death penalty (WI) 10-21-00

"$9.6Million awarded estate of dead child born in jail" (IL) Chicago Tribune 10-20-00

Having AIDS & being in prison (PA)&(CA) Summer '94

Death without medications (CA) 12-15-00 . Related Article 12-20-00

Prison, Mental Health Systems Failed him (CA) 01-17-01

Felix Jorge, schizophrenic, dies in prison (NY) 02-02-01

Little Sympathy or Remedy for Inmates Who are Raped 04-15-01

Why minors should not be jailed with adults. Joanne Mariner 01-25-01

No Escape: Male Rape in US Prisons 163 page pdf file

Lawsuit: Prison Health Care (CA) 04-06-01

Jailed Mothers Say Hale House Failed to Keep Promises (NY) 04-25-01

Jail doctor's troubling background (NV) 05-27-01

California's Neglect of the mentally ill (CA) 08-01-01

Rising lockup deaths spur plans for action (MI) 11-23-01

Keeping the Old in prison (OH) 08-12-01

State sex offender list ruled unlawful by court (MI) 5-4-02

Isolation of mentally ill inmates criticized (IL) 9-30-02

Infections in Newly Released Inmates are Rising Concern (MI) 1-28-03

Jail, prison officials guard health-care dollars 5-11-03 (MLIVE.com) PDF file

A Jail Tour in Los Angeles Offers a Peek Into 5 Killings Behind Bars (CA) 5-23-04 (New York Times)

MONIQUE: Teen with history of mental problems fights the shadows, voices in a youth offender facility (MI) 9-7-04 (Detroit Free Press)

Few Kentucky inmates will get flu shots.. (KY) 10-28-04 Louisville Courier -Journal

Private Health Care in Jails Can Be a Death Sentence (NY) 02-27-05 (New York Times)
In City's Jails, Missed Signals Open Way to Season of Suicides (NY) 02-28-05 (New York Times)

Treatment of prisoners defines U.S. morality 02-28-05 (Indianapoiis Star)

The Failings of Prison Health Care (5 Letters) 03-06-05 (New York Times)

'I don't know if we have a disease, but there is nothing to indicate that' 03-08-05 (Battle Creek Enquirer)
Inmate deaths cause concern at county jail 03-11-05 (Battle Creek Enquirer)

Death Behind Bars 03-10-05 (New York Times)

Crowding at Prisons Has State in a Jam 03-13-05 (Los Angeles Times)

Prison Clinics Called Dirty, Deadly 04-14-05 (Los Angeles Times)

King County Jail inmates may get methadone 07-07-05 (Seattle Times)

Panel on Prison Rape Hears Victims' Chilling Accounts 08-20-05 (New York Times)

Disabled inmate appeals to Supreme Court 11-10-05 CNN

Granholm orders review of prison health care system 08-22-06 (Detroit Free Press)
Begin Cure of Prison Health Care 08-22-06 (Detroit Free Press)

State's sickest inmates: Sentenced to die? 09-24-06 (Grand Rapids Press)

JEFF GERRITT: Finally, a judge stands up for sick inmates 11-14-06 (Detroit Free Press)

Any inmate can go to the medical "waiting room" for attention

(and the agony of the twelve hour tour of State facilities)

The one week wait for prescriptions amounts to cruel and unusual
punishment as those suffering from an outbreak of ring worm
infection at Marion Ohio prison certainly realized. By the way, officials
were unable to sanitize showers and other likely infected areas for lack
of bleach. (Makes you wonder about the cleanliness of the kitchen too.)

'TB a problem in prisons around the world' - World Medical Association

AIDS epidemic guaranteed - US Public Health Service

Mistreatment of Prisoners Is Called Routine in U.S. 5-8-04 (New York Times)

SEXUAL ABUSE BEHIND BARS 05-23-05 (Detroit News - Special)

U.S. to Seize State Prison Health System 07-01-05 (Los Angeles Tmes)

Cruel and Usual Punishment 05-07-06 (New York Times)

PETITIONS FOR HUMANE PRISON CONDITIONS

Central California Women's Facility

End the death penalty, Gov. Taft (OH)

End death penalty, Gov Hunt (NC)

Allow last rites for prisoners (OK)

Close Cheltenham (MD) Juvenile Facility

For humane prison conditions (TX)

SITE LINKS

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Here's a web page that masks medical neglect & revolving bus tours for inmates needing care

CURE-National Site

CURE-Ohio

Ohioans Against the Death Penalty

Ohio's Death Row

Ohio-Injustice.com

Amnesty International - -Innocent to be executed ASAP (GA)

Families Against Manditory Minnimums

Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama

(OR) Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Derechos Human Rights

Innocence Project - University of Wisconsin Law School

Freeing the innocent

Good Reading

Download (free version) Real Audio Player
execute its installation and listen to a
Harvard Law School Forum 3-15-2000:
'Innocent on Death Row:
The Causes and Remedies for Unjust Convictions'

Harvard's Audio Files Site

Australian Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Common Sense (Prison Reform Newspaper)

Saints Prison Ministry (prison sports & bible mix)

Prison Reform Unity Project

PRISON PROFESSIONALS

PARTICIPATION REQUEST

Support the "Innocence Protection Act". First proposed in 2000, the hearing text is
interesting, especially the comments of Governor Ryan. For 2001, Senators Smith,
Collins and Leahy and Representatives Delahunt and LaHood Introduce Bi-Partisan
Legislation to Protect the Innocent from Wrongful Convictions..with nearly
100 Co-Sponsors in the House....(Senate Bill 325) Mar 2001.
For details visit: The Justice Project . Act can help protect wrongly convicted 09-29-02 Detroit Free Press

Hire an ex-convict, especially if on parole. Parolees generally face instant return
to prison for parole violations. How many other new hires can you find with this
incentive to play it straight? A Flood of ex-convicts Finds Job Market Tight
(New York Times) "One of the things most employers don't know about is the tax
incentive that goes along with hiring ex-felons. They can find this info by contacting
their state department of corrections or the IRS."

Educate yourself to be an effective juror. When you find yourself in a room with
eleven others trying to decide if the accused stepped over the line of law
determine if the line was adequately and reasonably defined before concluding
it was breached. I once served on a jury to determine if a mother had committed
child abuse by wacking her daughter with a belt. The jury was directed to both
determine where the line was and whether the mother had overstepped it. This
was unconstitutional because to be enforcable a law must define what is illegal.
(We found her not guilty without this discussion.)
There is no rule against jurors asking questions in Michigan. The judge decides.
Typically it is handled in concert with the attorneys so all parties are satisfied
with the mechanism employed. Generally jurors will write out questions to
which they would like answers. The judge will meet with the attorneys, review
proposed questions, resolve any objections and the appropriate attorney
(or the judge) will ask the question.

Friends of inmates are welcome to contribute to this page. "Humor" items are intended
to reflect actual conditions or events. This site is inspired by the conviction that all is
not well with Ohio's court and prison systems. While US citizens have good reason to
be thankful for our justice systems as compared to those commonly available in the
World, Ohio's systems (and those of many states) fall short of our general cause for
pride. Cruel and unusual punishment may take many forms besides actual physical
abuse. Unsanitary conditions; absent, delayed, or inadequate medical care; continuous
overcrowding; disregard for safety; dispensation of unfit food; and disregard of a
prisoner's physical or mental condition are such, just to name a few.

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This web page was created by Frank Andreae photo, former officer and honorary board member of the Mental Health Association in Michigan (Michigan's first Torch Drive Agency). It is presented in a spirit of citizen advocacy, volunteerism, and a commitment to justice. Faultfinders will find faults even in Heaven. Please don't count me among these. Rather, understand that I believe in the American dream and in the ability of people to know, when it is threatened, what needs to be done. (Some articles linked show our progress)

The perspectives presented here are my own and are not endorsed by any organization in which I may hold membership.

I may be reached at JeanAndreae@BellSouth.net

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