Perspectives on incarceration, redemption, and mercy from people with lived experience, all of whom we have had the honor of working with
Raymond Wallace at “Beyond the Block”
Our client Raymond Wallace, known by friends and family as Rasheed, recently gave a speech that is the best case for “second look” legislation we have ever heard. Please watch, listen carefully, and share.
Filmed at Hudson Link’s 2024 “Beyond the Block” event at Sing Sing Correctional Facility
“Death By Incarceration Is Punishment With No Room For Redemption” by Stanley Bellamy
As days turn into months, months into years and years into decades, incarcerated people dream of one day being free; of returning home to their families and communities as productive members of society. They participate in all mandatory programs in prison hoping to enhance their chances of a successful transition back to their families and communities. Some go even further by creating therapeutic programs, enrolling in college, taking care of other incarcerated people, maintaining family ties or finding innovative ways to give back to the community.
Jacob Rouse was 18 years old when he was the getaway driver for a robbery that ended in his accomplice shooting and killing another person. Jacob was convicted of murder and sentenced to 22 years-to-life in prison under New York’s “felony murder” rule that permits participants in certain felonies to be charged with murder if anyone dies during the commission of that felony despite the participant not committing homicide.
From Crip to Crochet Artist: How an Unlikely Hobby Changed My Life in Prison
Published by The Marshall Project on December 2, 2022
I used to hide this cathartic craft because Crips don’t crochet. But making items that fellow prisoners can give to their loved ones has allowed me to create a peaceful new identity.
Craig Jackson
Craig Jackson has been in prison for 30 years for a crime he did not commit after a suspect in a homicide falsely claimed 16-year-old Craig was the shooter. He is now one of three incarcerated priests in New York, and also spends his time facilitating other programs. He is deeply missed by his wife and child.
“The Correctional Institute of Nothing” by Frank Pruitt
Published in City University of New York Law Review in Winter 2022
I call this article “The Correctional Institute of Nothing” because prison offers you nothing. Correctional facilities add college courses, updated technology, and even offer reduced sentences to incentivize growth and rehabilitation, but these only treat symptoms of deeper problems. I say this because prison lacks sufficient therapeutic treatment. Therapeutic treatment is needed to help address the inner person of many who unfortunately get caught up in the system. In New York City, the average processing time for cases not disposed at arraignment is 125 days. During this critical waiting period, therapeutic treatment can occur to investigate whether mental health issues, childhood traumas, or drug addictions exist and are related to why the crime took place. As we see from New York State’s recidivism rate…
“Redemption is Possible” by Robert Ehrenberg
Year after year, incarcerated people dwell upon our past mistakes and the serious harm we caused that can never be reversed. We try to do all we can to transform our lives and the lives of those around us. This is especially true for the thousands of us serving life sentences with little hope and few, if any, avenues for release.
Anthony Ruffin has been in prison since he was 16 years old, when he accidentally shot a 17-year-old boy during a robbery. He has now been in prison for more than half his life.
“Pandemic Life In Prison” by David Santana Sell
Since the pandemic began, I have witnessed a change within our prison system.
As the number of prisoners contracting COVID-19 increases, prison conditions are
changing for the worse. Some policies make sense, while others seem to be
senseless and feel more like punishment. My name is David Sell — and this is what doing time in New York State prison looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic…
Frank is serving a sentence of 50 years to life in prison for a crime he committed when he was 18 years old. He has been in prison now for more than 30 years.
“I’m Watching The Knicks Playoff Run From Prison” by Darrell Powell
Published by the Prison Journalism Project on April 24, 2024
The team hasn’t won a championship in over 50 years, but their recent success gives me hope as I seek clemency from life without parole.