Oct. 13, 2013

Plight of a Lifer

From JustUs4Michael by Michael Lucas (author's profile)

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PLIGHT OF A LIFER

I am a lifer in California State Prison. I have served 25 years on a 25 years to life sentence. I am scheduled to go to the Board of Parole Hearings on Oct. 8th 2013. I am a little apprehensive. I have been to 2 previous hearings. Each one increasing my stay. Denials of 4 years, then 5 years. Today the BPH is not as it was 5 years ago. Still, I feel like things are not well as they should be.

Unlike other prisoners in California. Lifers must know why their lives turned out the way it did. What enabled them to become violent? Then they need to fix it and change. On top of that they need to be able to articulate it. Then be able to convince the BPH that this is enough to not be a threat to society. The problem with this. A person can be completely changed and articulate himself well. All it takes is for one or two of the commissioners to not believe him/her for whatever reason and that person can spend more YEARS in prison. To me this is very unfair. I believe this would be a more fair process if ruled by judges. However, things are as they are today. I have to work with what I have to work with. I am completely aware of my old thinking and my new life. I have clear insight into myself, my past and the reason for my life crime. Still, I feel things are 50/50.

I just want to go home and start my new life. I want to be able to spend time with my family and just be free. I have plans that are community uplifting. I just want to come home.

Thank you for hearing me.

MICHAEL
*7)

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