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September 19, 2007
Economics driving prison reform in Mississippi
This local Mississippi editorial, entitled "Prisons: Crowding costly, counterproductive," provides yet another example of how correction costs leads to unexpected advocates of reduced imprisonment terms. Here are excerpts:
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee, composed of representatives and senators, began two weeks of hearings Monday to receive budget requests from state agencies; topping the list was the corrections commissioner with an unusual request. Rather than asking for more, as it the usual request of lawmakers, he asked for less: inmates, that is.
Commissioner Chris Epps, indeed, asked for $20 million more in funding over last year (to $348 million in the fiscal year that begins next July), but begged lawmakers to change the state's sentencing guidelines so fewer people will be incarcerated. More nonviolent inmates should be on house arrest or eligible for parole to cut rising costs, Epps said, noting that more than 50,000 people are in prison or on parole and under his supervision. He predicts a 4.5 percent prison population increase in the next year. That means even more expenses.
Epps is already under fire for a rash of violence at the 1,000-bed maximum security Unit 32 at the penitentiary at Parchman, which is the target of a class-action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union. The biggest problem isn't the hardened criminals, but the numbers of inmates.
The culprit is the "lock-'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key" mentality that produced Mississippi's "85 percent rule" in 1995 that mandates stiff terms for even small offenses. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy: Take people who have committed minor crimes and treat them like career criminals and they become career criminals. And it sustains itself, creating ever more grist for growth: Now, we have private prisons and work centers all over the state.
It's "big business." We have three state prisons, six private prisons, 11 regional facilities, 17 work centers, and three restitution centers, not to mention 82 counties with jail cells — adding 6,000 beds and more contemplated. We spend more per inmate in state dollars for prisons than we do per student in public education. Some 67 percent of those in prisons are non-violent offenders.
As the number of inmates grows, 22,000 now, up from 10,699 in 1994, the prison budget continues to grow. In 1976, the total prison budget was $23 million. In 1994, it was $45 million. The budget Epps is requesting for fiscal 2008 is more than 15 times that of 30 years ago!
September 19, 2007 at 09:06 AM | Permalink
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This 85% law has to be changed, especially because of what they are doing in some counties. My son was a MSU student, who went to Starkville with a totally clean record, not even a traffic ticket. He has never been in trouble, but he is naive as to the "real world" and was set up by a coded informer who was working for the District attorney/police dept. to reduce his own sentence. This was someone who was in big time trouble and "set up" enough people to reduce his time to one year of house arrest (I know this because we found out that our attorney was also representing the kid that set my son up and he told us this immediately after my son was sentenced. My son was charged with transfer of marijuana because he picked up marijuana for this informant who was wearing a video. The amount of marijuana was over an ounce but less than 2 ounces. In setting him up they made sure the bag contained over an ounce. My son was sentenced to 3 years in a state penitentiary, where in any other county he would have been put in a diversion program or served probation, community service, etc. A kid who has never been in trouble, is in school, holds a job, should not be locked away for something like this because he made a stupid choice. I know he broke the law and there should certainly be consequences, but I know here in the Hattiesburg area, there is a diversion program for first time offenders. This is a proven success. 90% of the time, these people never get in trouble again and go on to live productive lives. These are not "criminals" but people who just made a poor choice. Who hasn't done that at some time in their life?
What they are doing in Oktibbeha County is insane. Especially, since that police officer was killed last year in Oxford, I am told that these judges are being extremely tough to make an example of these kids. From what I am hearing, 3 years is a small amount of time compared to what some kids are getting. They are being locked away for 7, 10, 15 years or more. Who can I write to encourage this law to be changed.
Posted by: Heartbroken Mom | Sep 29, 2007 9:41:23 AM
My 2 sons, in a VERY similar situation - got 6-8 years in prison for an ounce of pot each. It was suspended, with 6 months in boot camp after I paid 23000 dollars in lawyer fees. One ounce of pot - I'm sorry but BIG DEAL. North Mississippi lives in the dark ages and egages in draconian/evil prosecution. Destroying lives is not justice.
Posted by: scared dad | Nov 30, 2007 4:51:21 PM
My 2 sons, in a VERY similar situation - got 6-8 years in prison for an ounce of pot each. It was suspended, with 6 months in boot camp after I paid 23000 dollars in lawyer fees. One ounce of pot - I'm sorry but BIG DEAL. North Mississippi lives in the dark ages and egages in draconian/evil prosecution. Destroying lives is not justice.
Posted by: scared dad | Nov 30, 2007 4:52:49 PM
I HAVE A BROTHER DIETRICH RUCKER #29050, IN MARSHALL COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, IN HOLLY SPRINGS MISSISSIPPI. HE IS SERVING 15 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT(FORCING HIS WIFE TO PERFORM ORAL SEX ON HIM) AND 15 YEARS FOR ARMED ROBBERY ( TAKING $3.00 AND A PIECE OF JEWELRY ESTIMATED VALUE $300.00) FROM HIS WIFE. HE DIDN'T HAVE A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED OVER 8 YEARS AND THREE CHILDREN TOW HAVE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL AND TWO IN COLLEGE AND GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, MY BROTHER LOVES HIS FAMILY SHOULD BE AT HOME BUT CORRUPT LAW OFFICIALS AND HIS WIFE (WHO BY THE WAY WORKS FOR THE COURT SYSTEM IN TUNICA COUNTY) FRAMED MY BROTHER. AND THEY GAVE HIM THE MAXIMUM FOR THESE TRUMPED UP CHARGES. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TOLD ME AND I QUOTE, "THEY SURE DID RAILROAD YOUR BROTHER'" I HAVE SOUGHT HELP FOR MY BROTHER HIGH AND LOW, WE ARE LOW INCOME FOLKS AND WE NEED HELP. HE HAS DONE 11 YEARS ALREADY, AND HAS COMPLETED FOUR VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL COURSES. OUR FAMILY NEED MERCY FOR HIM. THE TOWN OF TUNICA IS CORRUPT AND THE LAW OFFICALS, THEY CLAIM HE GOT JUSTICE, SO I WON'T ASK FOR JUSTICE, I ASK FOR MERCY FOR MY BROTHER, WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US GET THIS WRONG CORRECTED, AND ALLOW MY BROTHER TO COME HOME. PLEASE HELP US PLEASE.
RESPECTFULLY
EVELYNN JACKSON-MATTHEWS (901-362-2880)
EDNA JACKSON-RUCKER-HIS MOTHER 662-363-0117 OR 662 519-1221.
Posted by: EVELYNN JACKSON-MATTHEWS | May 4, 2008 2:23:45 AM
I am sorry that anyone would have to go to bootcamp for a tiny amount of pot, and I am also sorry that someone's brother was railroaded by a well-connected wife. I come from the other side of the debate, though. My father was bludgeoned to death two years ago. A cousin and his brother's "common-law" wife planned to rob him for crack money. The male beat him and left him for dead, while the female, who saw a bloody piece of clothing and knew my dad was bleeding, waited outside. She also instigated another robbery of him the next day--right across from his dead (or possibly still dying) body. She had two other arrests around that time, and got 5 years. However, she lied in court about her involvement. Because she was making a plea, the judge didn't even challenge her or ask her about the facts of the case. She claims she only sheltered my cousin after the murder, though she told police a lot more. The judge just sentenced her in a routine way, and I know she will soon be up for parole. I will never have my father back. The maximum for Accessory to Capital Murder after the Fact is 5 years. That is ridiculously low! I am sure that if my father were connected to a senator, she would have gotten a heavier charge. The coroner said it took him hours to bleed to death, while she smoked crack and planned the next robbery.
My male cousin did get life without parole, so that was good. I want to fight for a higher maximum for accessories to violent crimes.
Posted by: M.E. Davis | May 27, 2008 2:04:42 PM
I have a brother awaiting transport to rankin county.He was givin 1 year for 1 dilaudid.He has not been in trouble in 28 years .But he still could not get probation.He was taken from his family of 2 sons and a wife .How rediculous is this??????
Posted by: charles | Jun 10, 2008 5:01:52 AM
I have a brother who was given a life in prison for accessory to a murder. The district attorney and the sheriff in Pascagoula, Mississippi had prior knowledge that he did not commit the murder. In fact, he was initially arrested on accessory charges, according to the sheriff. His attorney claimed that he would seek assessory after the fact but that changed. I do not believe he had an effective counsel, and that his sentence is excessive under Mississipp law.
Posted by: Cynthia | Jun 18, 2008 11:58:31 PM
My husband is serving a 30 year sentence in Mississippi for a possession charge that caries a five year term. Mississippi laws are pathetic. Instead of changing the books they allow judges and attorneys to make the rules as they go. He has served five years with twenty five to go with no possibility of parole and what they are charging him of possessing was not in his possession at all it was in an open field. If you are poor you get no justice and it haws always been like that here in Mississippi and until we start to stand up and fight it will continue to be like this. A minor drug offender should not be sentenced as a murder. Even murders and child molesters don't get as much time as a drug offender it;s sad. Mississippi has it's priorities mixed up.
Posted by: mrs johnson | Aug 8, 2008 11:07:00 AM
Regardless of what ineffective laws exist in Mississippi, the institutions that house these inmates in NO WAY help reform or prepare inmates for a life walking a straight path. The man who shot my husband was released earlier this year after serving 13 years for aggravated assault, and within 30 days committed armed robbery. He will now be temporarily released until he stands trial for these new charges. A released convict, with posession of a weapon who 13 years ago attempted to murder a police officer, committed armed robbery within 30 days of release will now walk free until he stands trial yet again. Who knows what can happen during that time. Our great state will lock up a drug offender for 30+ years but let those to deserve to be behind bars and show no sign of reform, walk free.
Posted by: PJ | Nov 6, 2008 4:29:43 PM
My father was sentenced for child explortation. The people that had to come to Fulton to get him were not even from Fulton, but from Oxford. What the officers for Oxford did was that they came to the house and knocked on the door, my baby brother answered the door, when they asked for my father, my borther went to get him, but what the officers from Oxford did was follow my brother to my parents room and insted of putting my brother to the side they kepted him in the middle of it all. Then after they had my father and had taken him to Oxford, they railroaded him every which way they could. They gave him a public defender, who did nothing for him, but to tell him to plead guilty. Since he has been in the State Prison system, they have not given him his medication for his heart failure. The medication is all that keeps him alive. They do not want to give him the medication because that do not want to pay for it.
Posted by: Kelly | Dec 6, 2008 3:35:53 PM
My boyfriend in serving a 33 year sentence for residential burgulary due to a crack cocaine addiction in which his on father introduced him to for the first time at the age of fourteen. When the officials searched his home they took all his clothes and personal items. When he went to court he did not have any clothes to wear and the jail brought him a t-shirt with racial slurs on the back of the shirt. He told them he did not want to go to trial with this type clothing on and they told him he would have to. There were three black jurors that I'm sure they were not happy with what he had on. So he was railroaded! He has served 8 years already and completed many programs. He is only 32 years old and a very intelligent young man. Thirty-three years seems alittle stiff when there are inmates in prison that are serving much less sentences for murder and other more violent crimes. Are there anyone that can help us?
Posted by: Kathy | Feb 20, 2009 1:57:47 PM
I HAVE A BROTHER THAT WAS RAILROAD TOO,HE'S BEEN LOCKED UP FOR THIRTEEN YEARS AND THEY GAVE A TERM OF LIFE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT A TERM OF LIFE IS IN MISSISSIPPI. BUT I DO KNOW THIRTEEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE IS ENOUGH TIME PAID. THIS 85% LAW IN MISSISSIPPI NEEDS TO BE CHANGE,IT'S NOT GIVING A PERSON A CHANCE TO PROVE THAT THEY HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE THING THEY DID WAS WRONG AND CHANGE.IF THERE'S ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH A LITTLE POWER THAT'S CAN HEAR THE CRY OF THE FAMILY'S OF THESE INMATES PLEASE CHANGE THIS 85% LAW.
Posted by: VICTORIA BROWN | Apr 12, 2009 9:31:48 AM
My son was sentenced to a mandatory sentence for a crime he plea bargained for. He was not guilty of armed roberry. He was there and witnessed it but no way can two people pull a shotgun on one male. He was not guilty of a crime and yet he got a five year mandatory sentece. It destroyed his child life, my life, and my familes lives. Thanks again for such great public offenders. They only see an inmate a few seconds and never look over the cases so with tha I will say we are doomed if wea re poor and innocent. The abuse, neglect, and being beaten by officers will forver ahunt him. His life is older. He had never comitted a crime before but he is still there and thanks to our great state many will suffer. because of poverty.
Posted by: patty Mills | Jun 16, 2009 2:46:56 AM
My husband is in jail right now for child support on a child he has not seen in 8 in half yrs and paid over 5000 to. He is only 7000 behind. I agree that you should have to pay child support. The child just now after he got sensentced to five years found out that she had two brothers and that the man she had called daddy for ten years was not her real dad. The woman he had the child with her family has pull in the town where he was sentenced at. We live in La and the child lives in Pike County Ms. Pike county is very crupit. There is no justice I know people who are 38 thousand behind in child support and the dont touch them. How do they expect anyone to pay child support in jail and it just last adds up every month while hes there. The woman that has child support on him has now come to La and chaged him with child support here so now they say when he gets out of jail in Ms. he will go to jail here in La on the the same child support charges. The mother of the child would not allow him to see the child at all and Ms. says child support and visition is two totaly different things. And with out money for an attreny me and my two children are on our on for five yrs. nd cant get help from the goverment cause if you do then they want to charge him for child support on my two kids to. Tell me where the justice is when he can go to jail for five yrs and I watched a nconvicted drug dealed walk out of the court room the same day with just a slap on the wrist.
Posted by: Michelle | Oct 14, 2009 12:00:13 AM
My sister is currently serving a 3 year mandatory sentence for shoplifting in Mississippi. The prison is horrible. The inmates are been beaten, cursed out, have no air condition, bugs in the food, bullied,overcrowed, sleeping on floor, in this prison. Mississippi needs to change it laws...quick!!!
Posted by: Angie | Nov 14, 2009 6:37:26 PM
Hi, I have a 20 yr old nephew who was sentenced June 1, 2009 for Armed Robbery charges.He did not handle the gun, he did go into the building but left out before the other young man took the money (150.00) from the business owner. My nephew, like some other young men and women, had never gotten into trouble before, not even a traffic ticket. There were three others involved however, only two got prison time, the young man(17yrs old at the time) with the gun got 10yrs(he is a habitual offender) and my nephew(18yrs old at the time) got 7yrs. The two oldest offender (who both are repeat offenders as well only got probation, and one of them was the owner of the gun.Their ages are 21 & 19(at the time of the offense.) My family is still wondering what happened. We changed from a court appointed attorney, to a hired attorney, the DA got mad about that,then they accepted a plea of guilty but did not consider the facts per person. The case manager at the facility were he is currently housed do not understand the timesheet,because it does not add up. He has 7yrs to serve with 5yrs probation,suspended 8yrs. She asked us to get a copy of a Motion of Discovery from the county,but we tried to the clerk says that she do not have that, only the DA and the defense Atty has copies. The caseworker also stated that with his record that first-time offenders are usually put on house-arrest and or probation for a set time. She dont know what they were doing here in Pike County,MS....... If anyone can assist us please contact me at 601-810-3140. We have no experience with the law at all.
Posted by: Alesia Butler | Dec 21, 2009 10:52:46 AM
I am trying to fine out about my brother. I am not going to lied he did try to cash a forged check at the casino for 500.00 while on crack he admitted to it. We went to Tunica to let them know because he has changed his life. GOD is in his life now the check situation was in 2004. How much time will he have to do in Mississippi Prison? The Judge sentence him to 5yrs in rankin and he must complete the drug program and 5 yrs on paper. He has been in jail since May 2009 and got him time in Feb.2010
Posted by: Cathey | Feb 26, 2010 10:21:40 AM
this part of the commentary I hit to me: ""It's "big business." We have three state prisons, six private prisons, 11 regional facilities, 17 work centers, and three restitution centers, not to mention 82 counties with jail cells — adding 6,000 beds and more contemplated. We spend more per inmate in state dollars for prisons than we do per student in public education. Some 67 percent of those in prisons are non-violent offenders.""
Posted by: free dental care | Apr 29, 2010 1:46:51 PM
Protest to be held in Jackson Ms on president Street
in front of Commissioner Epps office.
concerning health care holding pass release date and abuse
Posted by: Dr.LeRoy Gillam | May 9, 2010 10:33:37 PM
My son was convicted of less than one ounce of marijuana and aggravated assault. Yes, my son did wrong but had never been in trouble before. He graduated from H.S in 2009 and was going to go to college, but my husband lost his job of 17 years because of the recession and they closed down, which lead to money issues. What my son did was wrong but he was set up by an informant on the drug charge and the aggravated assault results from his sister being beat by her kids father and he shot him. We hired a lawyer but my son still got 5 yrs,and 10 yrs on paper after he does his time. Mississippi needs to change the 85% law. My son is a good kid who needs a second chance but with a criminal record now it will be even harder for him.
Posted by: TBN | Dec 16, 2010 11:20:42 PM
I am 26 years old and am currently a student at Delgado in Louisiana where I live. I was 22 years old and received 15 years in prison for my first felony offense for prescription fraud while all 17 other people involved only got probation for helping the D.A. work against me. Inside prison I saw a world so corrupt and learned more things than I ever knew out here. It is an institution of higher learning on drug. There is no rehabilitation for drug abusers. I begged everyone for help for an extreme heroin addiction and the judge did not even reccomend an alcohol and drug program. I sat in there and made a promise to myself that when I made parole I was going to defeat all the obstacles and beat the odds. I have done everything that everyone said I never would. I am currently studying a buisness degree and have a goal to go to law school. I want to be a defense attorney and I will do it. To everyone with non-violent charges and have been given hard time when all you need is some help, hang in there. Hold tight to God's word and show society you are capable...shame them. God Bless and much love.
Posted by: Rachel | Nov 15, 2011 7:55:17 PM
Where or what can we do to try and change thus 85% rule its pathetic because I know people who are in jail for murder and they will get out of jail before my boyfriend who was charged with armed robbery
Posted by: Tricia | Dec 28, 2011 4:37:48 PM
Does anyone know if the law is in the process of being changed because that's what the lawyer told my boyfriend (the mandatory law) I need help bad if anyone know anything to help please post it the laws in Mississippi are ridiculous!
Posted by: Tricia | Dec 28, 2011 4:41:31 PM
I have a daughter that committed 2 residential burgularies and 1 attempt in 2010 at the age of 19 with someone that had committed this crime before in 2 counties and with whom she had only known for 4 months. She was sentence to 10 years. She was addicted to meth. She had also gotten in trouble in Illinois in 2009 when a 37 year old man talked her into coming there and she was charged with a tenth of a gram and was put on probation for 2 years. Yes she was on probation at the time of the burgularies. She has a GED and plus 15 hours of collage credit. She tutors the other inmates on getting their GED. She is in a lot of programs but she told me just this week that she was not on the list which she signed up for to take the A & D class. Which I don't understand why because that is what got her in this mess. When I visit her, the guards always makes a commit to me how sweet and respectful she is to them and to others. She is now 21 and she is a beautiful young lady that will go far in life. She wants to go to collage. I need help reducing her sentence.
Posted by: Christan | Aug 11, 2012 11:25:35 AM
My cousin was give 60 years in Mississippi DOC. The attorney said the judge was in a bad mood on his sentencing day. We pray that God will place in the judges heart in the right place and give him a sentence that fits the crime. The arresting officer said my cousin was high when he pulled him over. Of course he was he was an addict. His attorney told him to plead guilty to 3lbs of marijuana, 9oz of cocaine and oz of crack. The attorney is appealing the courts based on the fact that the judge was in a bad mood.... Mississippi voters need to vote out the old and bring in the new. I don't care if they are black or white or any other color. If you have been in office over 7 years and the there are laws on the book since the 1800's you need to be voted out. People of Mississippi stop voting these same OLD SORRY LEGISLATURES in office ask them WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY!!!! ME meaning our people. The people of Mississippi should and deserve better than the current status of our state.
Posted by: Leslie | Aug 13, 2012 6:45:34 PM
My son was given 20 years for arm robbery. No gun was found. The one who committed the robbery confessed and said my son had nothing to do with it, he even wrote a letter to this. But the judge gave him 30 years suppended 10 and so he must do 20. If it was mandatory how can some of it be suppened? They just do what they want when they sit on the bench.Things need to change. Killers get less time or the time is not mandatory. They took a life, how can that be. something is not right in the state of Mississippi. Who can help us? When you go to a lawyer he want 15 to 20 thousand dollars off the back, who has that kind of money.Help me if you can. Every year they say a new law is comming out, but it never do.Who will help me? I need my son home. I,m old and sick, I need him.
Posted by: Rita | Mar 30, 2013 3:13:30 AM
I think the Mississippi laws are corrupt just like some of the officials that serves this state. The laws, I feel are here to suit these officials. MS is a republican state as you can see. The poor and minority people are treated differently than people who have money. If you can't afford a good attorney, then you're screwed. You will get an public defender who will assume you're guilty and don't want to put in the time to work on your case. You will get a judge who is baised or don't like the way you look or dressed. Sometimes if you're innocent and you know you are, then an officer will try and find a way to make sure that you're guilty.
I have lived my whole life in MS and I've seen how they treat each other. I feel that there is no justice for the poor and the minority. There are first time offenders (who have never seen the inside of a prison) sitting in prison now wondering why the judge didn't reduce their sentence while they're reducing the sentences of offenders that committed murder.
I'm a concerned citizen and a student majoring in criminal justice in hope of trying to change the laws in MS. I think that if we get rid of the corruption in the police departments, courts, and governments, then MS will become a state worth living in.
Posted by: lisa | Mar 31, 2013 7:07:20 PM
I am the fiance of an offender here in Mississippi with and armed robbery sentence that made all his time run concurrently, me and a few more women are currently trying to get people to sign a petition to take to the legislature to change the 85 percent law to 65 percent if you are interested or know anyone else please email me at [email protected] we need at least one thousand signatures for them to even look at it but we want more
Posted by: Lashonda | Nov 27, 2013 7:05:24 PM
DEAR Douglas A. Berman November 30 ,2013
I am a disabled 71 year old senior citizen and I’m writing to you on behalf of my son, Atiba Parker #125115. I seriously need help with his case. It is my belief that Atiba’s Civil and Amendment Rights have been violated in retaliation.
The most important and immediate help I need right now is a thorough investigation of the harsh charges brought against him as a Habitual offender.
My research of the Mississippi Habitual Statue, Atiba does not fit the criteria of a habitual offender on the basis that he has NEVER had any prior felonies nor has he served one year or more in any state and/or federal penal institution.
On August 25, OF 2009 the 16th. District Court brought Atiba back from a Satellite Facility. He was doing 34 years for two sale charges count 1, (14 years for .23 grams) and count 2, (20 years for .07 grams of cocaine). Then they charged him( 8 more years as a Habitual for the possession of less than .1 gram). The two sales and one possession charges all occurred in 2005 within the week of July 13, 14 & 20th. He was eligible for early release because of Governor Haley Barbour’s Senate Bill 2136 for First Time Non-Violent Offenders.
IN REGARDS TO THE NEW HB 1231 TRUTH IN SENTENCING TASK FORCE, I'M ASKING,WILL YOUPLEASE INVESTIGATE INTO THIS BILL. SINCE GOVERNOR SENATE BILL 2136, WHY WAS ATIBA BROUGHT BACK FROM A SATELITE TO BE SENTENCE TO A HARSH AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT OF RACIAL DISPARITY? BY HIM BEING A FIRST TIME, NONVIOLENT OFFENDER, HOW COULD OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM GIVE HIM A TOTAL OF 42 YEARS AS A HABITUAL FOR A TOTAL OF LESS THAN 2 GRAMS OF CRACK COCAINE, WITHOUT DURING A LEGAL AND THROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION?
I ADMITTED ATIBA INTO THE PINES FOR REABILITATION IN 2005, HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE CLASS, GOT HIS CERTIFICATE, A JOB AND CLEANED HIS LIFE UP AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY MORE TROUBLE SINCE.
While I in no way condone criminal activity, I do believe he was given an excessive and unjustifiable sentence. Further, is the fact that when his case was presented in court, his lawyer left him without proper legal representation. This is why, I am asking for your assistance in helping me gain justice in my son's case. I have retained all original documents detailing the events of his case beginning from early 2005 to August 2009, including a DVD. I can provide these and anything else necessary in assisting you with questions and concerns.
Please feel free to contact me via this email address. Thank you in advance for your attention to my son's case and any assistance you may provide with our Judicial System being broken!
Sincerely,
Ann L. Shelton
Posted by: Ann Shelton | Nov 30, 2013 3:55:13 PM
My son is in prison in Marshall County. He was in a major wreck back in 2005 and was in Intensive Care for a month. After that, it seemed things went wrong. He dropped out of school, he could have been a doctor, he is very smart. He got into pot and committed armed robbery in 2009. He got 20 years armed robbery, 5 years for accessory and 5 more for something else. These judges and lawyers never took into account that he had a major head injury in the wreck and it could account for his actions. I have no money for a lawyer, but son is a good guy, just made bad choices. His court appointed lawyer got him to plead not guilty, when if he had plead guilty he would only have gotten 15 years. She would not even let me speak on his behalf. He didn't even plan the robbery, his girlfriend's sister and her girlfriend planned it all. I have a letter telling what the girls planned and how he was being the one doing it. According to a psychologist I talked to said that they needed to bring up his wreck and head trauma but they didn't. He has a son who is only 5 and the mother won't let any of us see him. He has not seem him in a long time and he misses him. Any lawyers out there willing to help me?????
Posted by: Sharon | Dec 17, 2013 3:29:18 PM
I work for a hospital as a Customer Service Assoc.
Posted by: Sharon | Dec 17, 2013 3:30:41 PM
