I am curious about others thoughts & opinions on if there is any REAL "hope" for a second chance for "lifers" with a LWOP sentence? I am hopeful for my situation and others but wonder if I am just 'wishful thinking'?

If you stop wanting and wishing - it CAN'T come true!!! As long as you face the reality that it MAY never happen, then why not.....

Mr. D and I live with this motto: Hope for the best, plan for the worst. It works very well for us!

mrs. d

I think there's always hope. MrsDragon and her husband have the best plan. My guy is serving LWOP too, and I think he's still got appeals left, so there's hope. Once you get sentenced, then it's a long hard road to try to get anything changed, but it's never impossible, in my opinion, as long as you have grounds to try to get something changed.

THX,Bryan has a chance for a commuted sentence in a few years and now it seems the state of PA is going through ALL the "lifers" files to decide who they can get out,being so over crowded.Taking the circumstances of the crime into consideration now there's a concept!:rolleyes: They should have done THAT years ago!!! But I am always looking for a way to help any deserving inmates get there lives back on track :)

My husband has a life sentence, it's not lwop but it's still life if you ask me. We're in the process of an appeal that's been granted and there is HOPE. There's always hope because God has the final word!!!

God Bless!!
Kim

I am new to PTO so please bear with me. First of all what is LWOP? I'm trying to figure out if thats what my guy has. He got entangled with the 3 strikes law but never did anything really extreme.

LWOP means life without the possibility of parole. They can appeal, but there's no guarantee they can achieve anything with appeals. When a person on death row gets a commuted sentence, it becomes life without parole, too. It basically means that they're just not going to get out. In some states, I think they call it "natural life" sentence, meaning till they die behind bars.

PSA in regard to 'they can appeal, but there's no guarentee.."

(((Appeal of a verdict obtained by trial is a Direct Appeal...
Having plead to this (or any sentence) waives Direct Appeal.
If a direct appeal fails, or if you've plead and don't have a Direct appeal, the ways back in to Court with the case are some other proscribed motion for Post Conviction Relief, having nothing to do with appellate issues.

In a Direct Appeal you claim the errors IN trial were the reason for the verdict. In the other motions you are able to make claims about other aspects of the case or counsel or evidence NOT presented in trial. If any of those sort of motions are heard and denied by the court ...There can be an appeal of that particular ruling to a higher court, or out of state court and into the federal system. Taking any ruling to the next court up is an appeal of a particular decision, not to be confused with the 'Appeal' in anyone's case.))

My fiance was on the Row for 19 years when his sentence was commuted to life wothout parole by Ryan. He had an appeal going through with claims of actual innocence but, because he's no longer on the Row, he's losing his legel team. They aren't allowed to have that level of aid once they aren't facing Death!!
We know it's going to take a lot longer now to get him free and, without someone to help, it might be impossible. Everyone seems to think he, and others in the same situation, should be thankful they aren't going to die and just accept they'll spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Without hope, and we'll always have that, the situation would be unbearable. We have to believe and hope for a better future.

Rose

Hello all , i am new to this forum and have been lurking for a few now.. :)
my boyfriend has lwop and has been in now, for about 5 years.. he just recently lost his bid for a new appeal trial.. on aug 23rd we are all very devastated and i have not heard from him , we are taking some time out for the shock, dissappointment, and anger to lessen. I know he wants to let me go.. this is a struggle we thought for sure he would get this new trial. I am letting him be, for now.. but i am not going anywhere.. i have been around for over 20 years with him.. this too shall pass and hopefully a new chance will come around.. until then always heavy with the HOPE!!!

Thanks for letting me share..
Donna

Hang in there like you've been doing Donna. My prayers are with both of you. You've been with him a long time----too long to just disappear, even if he wants you to.

Ok I'm new to this stuff, but, Ronnie and I have decided that "hope" is described as the expanctancy of an outcome, not an empty desire for an outcome. He was sentenced to LWOP in 2001, he was in South Central Regional Jail for over a year. He was moved to Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in May 2002 and they had him fill out DOC parole papers, and they called his parents to verify all the information that he had filled out. Now, we know he has parole, we are just not sure how and when. Other than God. Ronnie is classified a "violent offender" but, through his faith in God, and many prayers, we now know he will be home. We are now only "expectantly" and patiently waiting for the day that he comes home to me and his parents. We are planning a wedding for shortly after his release. We are very much in love and if anyone has doubts about their man coming home or if any of your men have doubts themselves about comimg home, Remember this phrase, Psalms 50:15 "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." God promises Deliverance! Put your faith and "expectancies" there. Ronnie has taught me that! God never lets things happen without a reason, and He WILL DELIVER!!!

I am very happy for you Worleysgirl! I will take your verse to heart but if I shared it w/Bryan he'd :rolleyes: but i understand the sentiment so thx!:)

Toi Ama,,, thank you for your encouraging words.. god knows i need them.. i am really struggleing what has gone on the past 3 months. First the prison was locked down.. then i received a crazy letter , than i found out .. his appeal for new trial was turned down.. i have not written in a long time..

i am holding on.. to a birthday card , that i want to send out next week so it will get to him just about on his b day.. and i ordered a book finally " soup for the prisoners soul".. he is going to flip.. cuz he always say's to me.. "DOnna you know i don't like that reliqous shit">> oh well maybe hell soften up .. huh.. hmm he is in so much pain i am also going to wait . and maybe send another book "house's of healing " check it out.. it is on amazon.. looks real good.. well thanks for your reply didn't notice it till today.. DUH!! L:::)))

lOVE YAS.. AT PTO
Donna

Hope to me means never giving up. .i feel like it would feel like death..

To answer ya thare bryansgirl..

Donna

Donna, have you checked out the Lifers Forum here on PTO? If not, you might want to. Feel free to post there and hang out with us any time.

THank you and yes i have checked out the forum.. very good stuff

The support , and love is much needed. I tried other forums before.. i am so happy to whom ever started this lifers up.. i use to belong to another email exchange.. invisible bars..(another great resource) however i always felt overwhelmed with the amount of emails.. and i was not doing short time.. could not identify with "my baby is coming home in )+______days.. " . I was jealous and even more sad.

NOw i feel i have a place to vent.. and just feel stuck.. and lonely and confused.. :)

TOnight i just got a call from Brian's mom and i said to her .. so how is brian and she said "he said he was going to let you go to live your life" why waste your life... waiting on him and he is never getting out. I cried, and said you know .. i knew this is what was going on.. i have been holding on.. not know ing what to do next.. now i know .. his mom said send him a note that we talked.. well "mothers know best "!! right.. :)) thank god.. i love him so much .. i am going to let him know i am still here..

thanks everyone much love
Donna

there is absolutely still hope! I volunteer in a prison and do mentoring also, I have seen many lives changed because of faith in JESUS CHRIST. and I have seen people released who thought they would never get out, the "law" said they would never be out, but with their faith which changed their life totally from the inside. they were able to change the negative behaviors that made them go to prison in the first place...and once they proved themselves, when it was their time, they got released, and were able to stay out because they no longer had the addictions or behaviors that caused their problems in the first place...yes, there is always hope. and I have seen "lifers" with faith in JESUS CHRIST who are happier in prison than they were on the outside because on the "inner" person has been changed.

BELEIVE IN YOUR DREAMS THOSE WHO REACH TOUCH THE STARS. I ADMIRE YOUR LOYALTY TO YOUR LOVED ONES

I'm tempted to ask to print out this thread and send it to my niece. When I feel she is in a little better place emotionally I may.

She is the one who has seemed to have given up hope, I can understand why, at 23 and to have been down for seven years already on a life plus 50.

But, I now have contact again after she had cut me off for seven years, and she will be calling after the 14th of October.

So, I think there is a little glimmer of hope in her heart and mind. Now, to rebuild her hope with a small dose of reality to keep her on an even keel, so that we can start the battle again in the courts.

My family has pretty much put that job on my shoulders, how do I do that?

Any thoughts and advice would really be appreciated.

Patti