I was a juror for an inmate that was first sentenced to life at Florence, then transferred to Tucson and now apparently in Lewis. I've followed him through the ADC Web site since his conviction.

Although the final verdict would have been the same, I think his crime was initially accidental. Just as family members carry the burden of having a family member in prison, jurors will also carry this with them forever.

I wish this inmate the best although he was convicted of a horrible crime. Although not appropriate for me to contact him, I silently look after him because I am truly concerned about him. We all make mistakes - he just made a catastrophic one. He's been transferred 3 times in 2 years which I'm sure is a difficult adjustment with other inmates.

He's classified as a 4 custody and a 2 internal, which I assume means he's in general population. How is Lewis as far as general inmate safety, gangs, etc.?

God bless you for your concern and enlightened attitude. Nothing surprises me on PTO! welcome, and I'm sure your questions will be answered.

What a wonderful facet of the legal system that I had never considered! Welcome!!!!!!

I wouldn't advertise that you were on his jury. If you want to keep updated on his well being, that's wonderful, but I would start saying you're his "friend" and leave the details out, you never know who is listening. The ADC site has some info, if you have checked there. Good luck, just don't want to see an honest concern for another person's well being turn into something unnecessary.

Thank you for everyone's public and private replies. I've gotten quite a few.

If I had a friend or relative in prison, I'd definitely be upset in the legal system and it's very obvious flaws. I do know personally that the family of "my" inmate hates the jury members to the core, which is unfortunate. That little yellow jury summons sheet could appear in your mailbox tomorrow and change your life forever too.

Not many people want to be on a jury. I didn't. The 16 others didn't. But, 12 of those 16 had to make the toughest decision in their lives - hands down - to follow the letter of the law and put a young man in prison for life. That burden will never leave us. Over half of the jurors, including myself, had to seek professional counseling due to (1) aftershock from reviewing facts and photos and (2) the guilt of putting a man in prison forever. The latter will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Please, hate the legal system (in some ways I do.) But please respect the jury members. You may not agree with their verdict, but know, first hand, that although the inmate was 100% guilty, nobody - NOBODY, in that deliberation room wanted to impose that sentence.

I think I can speak for most jurors, at least for my group, when I say that our hearts ache for both the victims and the convicted. There are no victories in these situations. The only victories are letting inmates know that however horrible or irresponsible their crime was, God forgives everyone, and it's our duty and responsibility to do the same.

I truly pray that all inmates in prison, including your loved ones, are given second chances and know that even the jurors care about their well-being and value them as people because we are all flawed but deserve respect and love.

The Reluctant Juror

P.S. Thank you to those who have given me information on Lewis Prison.

I realize this is well after your original posting dates, but have you considered looking at the information on the Fully Informed Jury Association?
fija.org
Their information may offer you an additional outlet for expression of the remorse and guilt feelings and emotions it seems you have been experiencing, along with your current activities.
Unfortunately in our country the vote of the jury is often swayed by the directions from the judge who largely favors the prosecution. Not only should a juror not feel that they have to convict someone based on the way a law is written, they should be informed of the consequences of a guilty conviction in terms of mandatory sentencing guidelines associated with each crime. Some of them are extreme and quite excessive and this needs to change.
What can any of us do about it? Plenty, if we start with educating ourselves about the law and working with the politicians and our legal system to have them changed. They will not change by themselves and we cannot afford to wait until a person with "connections" is convicted of a crime to have changes made.
It is a colossal waste of tax payer money to have the prosecution waste time and dollars on some of these cases, especially when they allow the really guilty and dangerous people out, time and time again.
Just something to consider.
Thanks for being involved.