REINSTATE FEDERAL PAROLE TO RELIEVE THE FINANCIAL STRAINS OUR COUNTRY IS ENDURING AND GIVE THESE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS A SECOND CHANCE.

MORE THAN ONE IN 31 ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE IN JAIL, PRISON OR ON PAROLE OR PROBATION! COSTING THE TOTAL NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL SPENDING $68 BILLION A YEAR!

(72%) OF THE FEDERAL PRISON POPULATION ARE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS!

When I was working for the D.C. Department of Corrections (Lorton), an incident occurred that had a lasting effect on me. It was a lesson well learned. An inmate jumped me, which led into an investigation. After the investigation was over, I went back to that inmate and asked, "Why did you jump me for telling you to do something as simple as picking up the trash?"  He stated, "I have 'life' and I have done 15 years and I don't have anything to live for. Officer Jones, this time gets to me every now and then and I lash out; I don't have hope anymore."

That inmate's statement remained in my mind for a long time. I forgave that inmate and I did not press charges against him. But as I walked many yards of six prisons, (State and Federal), I observed two things: these institutions were filled with people who had no hope and with people who had resigned to the fact that there wasn't anything they were able to do to receive help.

 THE PRISON POPULATION HAS GROWN IN RECORD NUMBERS,  INCARCERATING   ONE IN 100 HUNDRED ADULTS...

IT IS COSTING US TOO MUCH MONEY TO HOUSE PEOPLE FOR SUCH UNNECESSARILY LONG PERIODS OF TIME!

OUR ECONOMY CAN NO LONGER HANDLE THIS PRESSURE!

ADVOCATE 4 JUSTICE