OKAY everyone, it is time to get busy. We need to start writing Representatives to get someone to introduce a Bill to reinstate Federal parole. We need to write all not just the ones from our state. Maybe we could make this a PTO project! I am going to begin today!

Please join me...
Brenda

I'm with you Brenda.

Thanks! here is a copy of the letter I am sending:

Dear _____________,

Last September, Patsy Mink died. She had introduced a bill (HR 5296) to reinstate Parole in the Federal Prison System.

I am asking you to please sponsor a bill to “Reinstate Parole”.

Patsy Mink’s bill was an excellent idea. There are a couple of areas of concern. The bill should be retroactive and should apply to inmates serving under mandatory minimum statutes.

A summary of H.R. 5296:

1. It created a parole commission of nine members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
2. Prisoners serving sentences of more than one year would be eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentences, or ten years of a life sentence or a sentence over 30 years.
3. A disclaimer in the bill stated that parole eligibility is not available to those who are ineligible for early release under any other law (i.e. mandatory minimum statutes.)
4. There is no mention of retroactivity in the bill.

Families against Mandatory Minimums was working with Rep. Mink's office to correct a few technical errors that were found in the bill to reinstate parole. Most important among them were:

1. The bill was not retroactive.
2. The bill would not apply to prisoners sentenced under mandatory minimum statutes (primarily drug prisoners).

Clearly, that is not what Rep. Mink, who spoke eloquently about the injustices of mandatory sentencing laws, intended.

My hope, the hope of all FAMM members and many others is that someone will re-introduce the parole bill in 2003 with FAMM's suggested improvements.

Thank you very much for the attention you gave this request. I hope you will consider re-introducing the bill with the suggested improvements.

Sincerely,
Brenda H. Carden

okay where do I send it to?

Here is one recommended rep because she supports FedCure
or
go to http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.php
and pull down a state or letter and start writing.


Constance Morella (R) MD - Rep.Morella@mail.house.gov


Thanks
Brenda

okay I got that, but what is a rep???

okay got that too,it is Representative...I found 11 in Virginia!

I have been working on the petition for this bill and am also going to the public radio station here in Dallas to raise some stink about it. It helps that the program manager is a friend and is more than happy to let me voice my opinion on the air.

If you guys want to know more about it go to www.November.org You will find a lot of helpful info there.

If this bill ever goes through my man could come home early rather than 9 years from now!

Brenda, I'm in...:)

I'll talk to David and the other moderators...I agree, this should be a PTO project. With all the voices we have here, maybe someone will 'hear'...!

Pammie

Way to Go Hilde...I forgot to write out representative,glad you got it. Thanks for all your help.

:yes: Good luck Libra3...it will definitely help my son also. His release date is May 17, 2012
. Yes, it is a good organization. I already belong to that and FAMM ( Families Against Mandatory Minimums)

Pammie...You are SUPER. Thanks. I'll agree, if we work together, we made be heard.

Brenda

he you all I had a response from this REP....yes this soon...listen to what she writes...


Thanks you for your recent email message to my office.

I appreciate hearing from you about issues before the U.S. House of Representatives.

If you live in the 8th Congressional district of Maryland, would like a written response from my office, please include your postal address and phone along with your message.

If you visit my Internet homepage www.house.gov/morella and email me through the Write Your Representative format, please complete the form and include your comments in the appropriate box. Maryland constituents who have included your postal address in their message will receive a reply through the United States Postal Service as soon as possible.

well...how about that???? now I am waitng to hear from the others!!

Good going Hilde. I hope we get a lot of replies.

Brenda

ILL GET A LETTER OUT BY THE FIRST OF THE WEEK.IM GONNA KINDA GO BY YOURS THOUGH I HOPE THATS OK.

Kris, it is fine if you want to use my letter, I use a lot of an update on FAMM. The important thing is to reach as many as we can.
Thanks,
Brenda

I think this is a wonderful idea! I sent out letters to my 2 reps right before Patsy Mink died. One got returned unknown address, I got it off the florida gov't site. The other replied that they had no idea what bill I was referring to. I will re -send them.

Thanks Bella

Hopefully, someone will listen.

Brenda

Brenda...what a great idea!

Thats the way to start a New Year! Let them know we are not going to forget about this! I actually had a rather nice response from one of my reps...he stated he clearly agreed with alot of my thoughts on this issue! So mabey I could bring it back to him!

When does the New Session begin?

I will be sending more letters out! Let me know if this "project" is mentioned somewhere else on PTO! I have trouble finding things! lol

Diane

Hi Diane,

As far as I know it is not posted anywhere else. Pammie said we may try to have this issue a project of PTO. I hope so. I also re wrote the ones I had already written.

I "KNEW" you would help!
Brenda

Just a reminder to all to write our congressmen and congresswomen. Does congress get back together next week?
If so, we need to be sure to send them many requests concerning parole as soon as possible. Thanks to all who are helping.

Brenda

I believe Congress reconvenes either Jan 7th or 8th--yes next week!

Molly

Do you think they may add a part in the PTO Newsletter?? If we get it out all over....mabey we could sart something bigger! Good thought....yes?

There is a general address for all Reps in Washington DC....they usually have their own offices...but each one has one in DC....I will see if I can't find it again!

Diane

I had not thought about the PTO Newsletter. Good Idea Diane! If you find the list, please post it here. I will look also.

I sent the letter to NationalCure and they sent it to FedCure. I haven't heard anything yet.

Brenda

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

The above link will take you to a page where you can write your representative via email...

I'm looking into other email methods, but the bastards have done a good job of hiding their email addresses.

Dont you hate that Harn..

John's Mom, thanks for bringing the need for HR 5296 sponsporship up. I was beginning to feel it was a dead issue. Your letter example was a good one. I found this one on the November Coalition web site and feel it also is a good one. The best point being it addresses the cost $$$ factor involved in federal incarceration. A point that may reach our politicans! So here goes: Dear Honorable__________,

Please sponsor H.R. 5296, a bill to revive federal parole. It is illogical to spend tax dollars on long imprisionment with little incentive for changed behavior. HR 5296 would provide prisoners with an incentive to maintain exemplary behavior in prison and earn early relaease.

Earned early release would foster incentives toward cooperation, study and learning skills that would create a safer envirnoment for staff and prisoners alike. families could be be reunited earlier, with better prospects for successful reeentry into society. High costs of incarcerating drug offenders-$9.4 billion annually-would be would be greatly reduced. Inhumane prison overcrowding would be relieved, the federal system is 31% over capacity and growing more than 9% annually. This bill deserves your support.
Sincerely,

This is the exact wording from their site, we also need to add what John's mom pointed out that 1. it be retroactive and 2.also apply to those serving minumum mandatory sentences. This was Rep. Patsy Mink's intentions when she sponspored the bill. A good point that could also be included is that with funds saved with the passage of this bill would be better spent educating our kids ( who after all are our future leaders of tomorrow and we all know that the school system needs more funding, what better investment is there?) as well as more funding for drug treatment programs. So if you choose to use this letter example include your own personal feelings on the matter. Another fact that might be mentioned is that for every one person incarcerated there are at least 10 people who love them and who also VOTE! Those 10 also have at least 10 people that they can influence on issues, and so on. So as you can see we really are stronger than we think! We've just got to get the message out!! Sorry for being so long winded but I need to do something about this issue, other than just wait and see if someone else does something.

The following is a list of Representatives who might be responsive to this issue ( they had cosponsored a bill HR 1978 that is trying to delete specified mandatory minimums) so I feel that they may listen to our plea for help with HR 5296 to revive federal parole. It's a long list included is their state as well as their district, hope everyone sends each one of them an email.

California
Lynn Woolsey 6th district, George Miller 7th, Barbra Lee 9th, Tom Lantos 12th, Maxine Waters 35th, Bob Filner 50th

District of Columbia
Eleanor Holmes Norton district at large

Florida
Corrine Brown 3rd district, Alcee Hasting 23rd

Georgia
Cynthia McKinney 4th district

Illinois
Bobby Rush 1st district, Jesse Jackson 2nd, Danny Davis 7th. Janice Schakowsky 9th

Indiana
Julia Carson 10th district

Louisana
William Jefferson 2nd District

Massachusetts
John Olver 1st district, James McGovern 3rd, Barney Frank 4th, Michael Capuano 8th

Maryland
Albert Wynn 4th district, Elijah Cummings 7th

Michigan
Dale Kildee 9th district, John Conyers 14th, Carolyn Kilpatrick 15th

Missouri
William Clay 1st district

Mississippi
Bennie Thompson 2nd district

North Carolina
Eva Clayton 1st district, Melvin Watt 12th

New Jersey
Donald Payne 10th district

New York
Gregory Meeks 6th, Major Owens 11th, Nydia Velazquez 12th,
Charles Rangel 15th, Maurice Hinchey 26th

Ohio
Stephanie Tubbs Jones 11th, Sherrod Brown 13th

Pennsylvania
Chaka Fattah 2nd, William Coyne 14th

Texas
Ron Paul 14th, Shelia Jackson Lee 18th, Eddie Bernice Johnson 30th

Virginia
Bobby Scott 3rd

Virgin Islands
Donna Christian-Christensen district at large

wow do my fingers hurt!!! I'm a peck and hunt typer so this was a lot of work but worth it!! I got this info from the FAMM website. I pray that it does some good. Thanks to all that get the message out.

Excellent work Terry. Also excellent ideas!!! I am redoing my letter and adding the valuable info from Novemeber Coalition and your suggestions.

LET'S GO TO WORK EVERYONE!!

Brenda

Thank you also Harn for the web address.

Brenda

Revised letter!! How does this sound? I used suggestions by Terry and our information from Famm and November Coalition.

Dear Honorable__________,
Last September, Patsy Mink died. She had introduced a bill (HR 5296) to reinstate Parole in the Federal Prison System. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON HER BILL!

Patsy Mink’s bill was an excellent idea. There are a couple of areas of concern. The bill should be RETROACTIVE and should APPLY to INMATES serving under MANDATORY MINIMUM statutes.

Below is a summary of H.R. 5296:

1. It created a parole commission of nine members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
2. Prisoners serving sentences of more than one year would be eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentences, or ten years of a life sentence or a sentence over 30 years.
3. A disclaimer in the bill stated that parole eligibility is not available to those who are ineligible for early release under any other law (i.e. mandatory minimum statutes.)
4. There is no mention of retroactivity in the bill.

The Organization “Families against Mandatory Minimums” was working with Rep. Mink's office to correct a few technical errors that were found in the bill to reinstate parole. Most important among them were:

1. The bill was not retroactive.
2. The bill would not apply to prisoners sentenced under mandatory minimum statutes (primarily drug prisoners).

Please sponsor a bill to revive federal parole. It is illogical to spend tax dollars on long imprisonment with little incentive for changed behavior. HR 5296, with these modifications, would provide prisoners with an incentive to maintain exemplary behavior in prison and earn early release.

Earned early release would foster incentives toward cooperation, study and learning skills that would create a safer environment for staff and prisoners alike. Families could be reunited earlier, with better prospects for successful reentry into society. High costs of incarcerating drug offenders-$9.4 billion annually-would be would be greatly reduced. Inhumane prison overcrowding would be relieved; the federal system is 31% over capacity and growing more than 9% annually. A bill to REINSTATE PAROLE deserves attention.

Again, I am asking you to please sponsor a bill to “Reinstate Parole”.

My hope, the hope of all FAMM members, all November Coalition members and many, many others is that someone will re-introduce the parole bill in 2003 with FAMM's suggested improvements of making the bill retroactive and having the bill apply to prisoners sentenced under mandatory minimum statues.

The funds saved through the passage of this bill could be better spent educating our kids who are our future leaders of tomorrow. We all know that the school system needs more funding, what better investment is there? There also needs to be more funding for drug treatment programs.

For almost every one person incarcerated there are at least 10 people who love him or her and who also VOTE! Those 10 also have at least 10 people that they can influence on issues, and so on.

Thank you very much for the attention you gave this request. I hope you will consider re-introducing the bill with the suggested improvements.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Address

Brenda....looks good!

Diane

Thanks Brenda you expressed what I wanted to write but was in a hurry to post the info about the representives that I felt might be responsive to our plea for help, so thanks. Now we just need to get the emails out. This definetley would be a great PTO project. Also anyone who lives in the district where any of the representives serve, who has the time to talk to them in person would be GREAT!! Even if it's just someone from their office would mean so much. From info that I've gathered sending this message via regular mail counts even more. So for those that can please also send this message in the mail. Our loved ones are counting on us, if not for us, who else can they count on? My prayers are that enough of us care to make a difference!! Our actions will make a difference in so many lives. Not just ours but so many others. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!!!!!!

Brenda,

Excellent letter--I commend all of your efforts.

I wonder how this will play out in light of the Newsweek Article concerning Half Way houses in December 2002. My husband was told not to expect to go to a Half Way house for the last 6 months (a reversal of what he was told in early December). We had thought that the new directive would not affect him as he is serving time in a "prison" and is not a "white collar" offender, which seems to be the "real issue". One of the men in his facility was supposed to leave this week for a Half Way house--he was processed and ready--but that all changed--he will serve his full sentence within the confines of the "prison". It did not take long for the BOP to ram this new policy down the throats of inmates and their families.

Just my observations....

Molly

Thanks Molly,
I also thank ontheroadagain for all his input.

Your observations hit the "nail on the head"!

Brenda

I got my letters out last night. How is everyone else doing on this? How many people do we have so far who have sent letters?

http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/mailform2.cgi?site=congressmerge

I like the above link as it will blast out your email to the representatives, senators, vice pres, and president. All in one shot.

From what reading I have done, it appears as though it is best if the letter is not an exact copy, and should always include your name and address. Supposedly our congress only likes to hear from it's constituents.

Maybe someone that knows dave/fedx can get him to host a seperate page dedicated to this endeavor? I would be willing to hack together the HTML and let him pretty it up. I seem to be a programmer out of work these days, can't imagine why...

I figure since I'm a felon, I should get involved in politics like the rest of 'em.

Harn, I think that is an excellent idea. I am almost completely ignorant of computer programs. I hope he takes you up on your offer. And I would hate to see you in the company of those crooks in DC. :D

I agree Harn...excellent idea. I hope it is a go.

Brenda

I was visiting my ma last weekend and he was saying he thought the bill had already been re-written to help those who are currently inside , is this true. I told him I DINt think it had and that it would only help non-violent drug offenders.
Does anyone know, I don't think NOvember.org was clear on it...
Thanks
Carol

Carol, I haven't heard of anyone taking up the bill to introduce in congress. I will try to get info by checking out November.org for any updates. They had been working with Mink's office before she died but the last time I checked the status of the bill...no cosponsors. I believe the bill died because no action was taken. It will need to be reintroduced by another congressman/woman.

Brenda

oh yeah, I understand that....But I'm wondering as it is written now if it will help those already in or if it will help ppl who are in for other reasons than non violent drug offenses.

carol

Hopefully parole will soon be reinstalled for all federal inmates if someone will sponsor the bill...not just ones in on drug charges. I want to see parole for all federal inmates. I will try to see what I can find out.

Brenda

Thanks Brenda, please let me know if you find out anything...it just seems like I heard it wouldnt be reto-active. But I just don't know where I heard that, it sure would be great if they brought it back, my man could come home to me in 6 yeasrs instead of 9 ...and I know you'd be happy to have your son home as well...... Good luck to us all...

Carol

Thanks Carol...we all need luck when dealing with the BOP. Yes, I would love to see your man home three or more years earlier as I would love to see my son returned home in less years. I do know that Nov Org was suggesting it be retroactive. I will do some research this week end while I am off. Hopefully I can find something. I will check in tomorrow. have a good night.

Brenda

I just checked all new legislature introduced in the current session for both the house and senate. NOTHING has been introduced by anyone concerning the reinstatement of parole in the federal prison system.

I wonder if there is someone rewriting it to be retroactive.....and we just haven't heard.
Carol...can you see if he can come up with any names?
I had heard there was a potential rep in NC or something....but that was just hear-say.

It would be great to keep this fight going...it will not be one won overnight! But with us facing lots of time anyhow....we have that time don't we!

Diane

I'll see if Conan knows, he swears it has been rewritten, I'll ask him for any names. He was going to send the full text of the bill to me this week. We only have a few minutes left on the phone, but I may be going back up there on Wednesday, so I'll ask him about it.
I'm trying to get my p's and q's together on it, my buddy who is the program director at the public radio station in Dallas will let me get on the air and rant and rave about it to try to drum up some support. But I need to be better armed with info. Anything you guys can dig up will help...

Again, good luck to us all!!!!!!

Carol

Hi Diane

We certainly have the time...wonder who the possible potential rep in NC is? Perhaps we could write all NC Reps.

Brenda

Carol, oops missed your post. I agree GOOD LUCK TO US ALL! we will keep researching.
Brenda

I don't recall the name...not sure if the even won the re-election.....I will try to see if I can locate the person who told me of this.
I am still getting letter from my reps...the latest saying how the issue was currently dead...but does share "some" of my veiws and hope that in the future...if this comes up again...she will be able to assist. We will see! She is one of the hard noses around here...lol.

Diane