every person in prison is not guilty of a crime

July 13, 2012 292 EXONERATED
	Madeleine, I’m writing to let you know about important news from Washington that I know you’ll be excited to hear. Yesterday, lawmakers in both houses of Congress introduced legislation that will help prevent wrongful convictions by bringing reliable, science-based standards to forensic evidence. Leaders of both the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Science Committee took a tremendous step towards improving the criminal justice system by introducing legislation that would ensure that forensic sciences are based on the best science. The bills would put experts working at science-based agencies in charge of conducting research to ensure that forensic science disciplines have a strong scientific backing and are governed by consistent and meaningful standards. The bills are designed to address problems that were outlined in a 2009 National Academy of Sciences report that found that, with the sole exception of DNA evidence, none of traditional forensic science disciplines – including hair microscopy, fingerprint, bullet and bloodstain analysis – have been scientifically validated. This has resulted in practices that both hamper law enforcement’s ability to solve crimes and that have led to wrongful convictions. Faulty forensics have contributed to a staggering 50% of the DNA exonerations. I am especially thankful to the lead sponsors of the two bills, Sen. John D. Rockefeller and Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Donna Edwards and Daniel Lipinski. The Innocence Project urges Congress to act quickly to pass this legislation and to develop and support mechanisms for the practical implementation of the resulting research and standards.

Quality vs Quanity

Metal on metal, the sound reverberating through the brain; the very sound frightening.What next for those locked away for an indeterminate time?
Guards who resemble archetype 20th century SS officers more than 21st century enlightened correctional officers, food you won’t feed your pet and living conditions that make the slums seem like gold coast homes.
What can a family do? Maybe we cannot change the big things but the little things that contribute to the quality of life can be changed.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.
It is the little things that do make a difference; sending paper so they can write rather than having to buy it at 35% over retail in the commissary, is one way. It is allowed, there is no law that says it is contraband, as long as it is in the original wrapping.
Lobbying so they can order shoes, especially work boots, from another source than commissary as long as the shoes are within the guidelines allowed by the DOC, instead of 35% over retail.
We can lobby IDOC and the Governor’s office to stop allowing Consolidated to charge usury phone rates.
I know IDOC earns money from Consolidated; however, they only earn a small percentage, why not let the contract go out for bid and, their earnings would be the same but the rates charged the families would be significantly lower. Families who least can afford the expense of a phone call from prison is paying 300% of the normal tariff.
Call the Governor’s office and ask who is being paid off by Consolidated, call your local paper, call your representative, if we don’t nothing will happen. 217-782-7884.
Someone must have been paid. One of Blagojevich’s largest contributors has the contract to provide the women’s prisons with makeup sold through the commissary, doubt they would have been so generous if the commissary sales were not a money machine.

Fallen Angels

Today Governor Pat Quinn commuted Debra Gindorf's sentence to time served.
Gindorf was suffering from severe post-partum psychosis in March of 1985 when she gave her 3-month-old son and 23-month-old daughter lethal doses of sleeping medication and then tried to kill herself.
She has been at Dwight for over 20 Years, more time in prison than out.
I wonder how she will adjust?
The rules of survival in prison are different then the rules outside, kindness is often punished, IE a ticket for loaning a coat in the cold, offering someone a piece of candy results in C grade, no phone or other privileges may even result in segregation.
Guards are often bullies and abuse their status, just because they can not because it is right,resulting in the prisoner's feeling like less than a human being.
Common courtesies are almost non existent. A hello, what is happening is often regarded as an intrusion on privacy.
It is not a normal by any stretch existence.
Adjustment will be hard, but in her case she has a loving support system. She will survive.
Congratulations to all who dedicated their lives to helping one 'fallen angel'.
20 is young, as i get older I realize just how young twenty is, too lose the next twenty years to a system that demands retribution is wrong.
If the prison system would implement Electronic Home Detention, maybe, just maybe,justice would not be delayed.
Justice delayed is justice denied, but guaranteed when it does happen it still feels great.
Congratulations to all who helped this fallen angel, now on to the next.