Dear Editor,
I said it once a few years back in this paper in an article titled, “Give inmates incentives to better themselves.” We need help too.
Your article on Jan. 15, 2020 has a lot of merit, but inside the system it is flawed.
Nonviolent habitual offenders need help. There is no doubt about that. But the problem no one wants to discuss is the first-time violent offenders. We are the ones clogging the system. We (first time violent offenders) who were not sentenced to natural-life in prison or death, should have a shot at redemption. We serve day for day with no hope for early release – regardless of our behavior.
So until the public presses lawmakers to make changes to this outdated system, costs and prison populations will continue to skyrocket.
The simple solution for our lawmakers would be to pass a retro-activated law that would give all first-time offenders not serving natural life or sentenced to death, a chance of parole. Based on our conduct while serving our sentence (behavior, classes, work programs, etc.) give nonviolent offenders a shot at serving 25 percent of their sentence, and give violent offenders a shot at serving 50 percent.
It is that simple. Let our actions and behavior determine the outcome of our sentence.
Ivy “Dale” Manseill
Inmate 123447
Carrol/Montgomery Regional
Correctional Facility
