I am at the end of my rope, so to speak. Every month I struggle to make ends meet and pay these steep costs (or go back to jail). I feel that I have paid for my crime, since some violent offenders receive less punishment. 13 years at my age (67 at time of sentencing) is the same as a death sentence. I have been clean and sober for three years now and fully intend to stay that way.

My son was abused by his father's girlfriend. Because she was not a direct relative, and did not abuse him more than once, no injunction could be granted. Protecting our children should be the state's number one concern.

This is the 39th year Leonard has been imprisoned with the full knowledge that there is no proof of guilt. The government has admitted this fact. The us courts acknowledgement of both FBI and prosecutorial misconduct alone are grounds to release Leonard Peltier NOW.

My son was sentenced 50 yrs, 1 time offender, at the age of 17.

I have been plagued with hurt. It is a hurt like nothing I have ever experienced before and a situation that has consumed my life.

Damion Hayes is a mentally ill young man who was sentenced to life in prison after assaulting a neighbor without provocation during a mental health crisis. Damion was wrongfully convicted of premeditated attempted murder although he had no animosity toward his neighbor, did not plan the assault, and caused no lasting damage. Hayes was refused mental health treatment before the incident. Hayes is not guilty due to his mental illness. He should not be held criminally responsible for behavior caused by a mental health crisis after being denied treatment. Hayes has been incarcerated for roughly 14 years, mostly in solitary confinement. That is longer than some people were incarcerated for manslaughter. Please replace imprisonment with treatment for Damion Hayes. Nobody should be punished for having a common, treatable health disability. Fred Hayes, Damion's father, invites you to hear his radio interviews and read more about Damion's case at http://dogjusticeformentallyill.blogspot.com/2014/06/mental-illness-made-damion-hayes-fl.html . Damion's father and mother are retired professionals, and his brother works with the Sheriff's Department. The family will provide a good support network for Damion Hayes if he is given a chance to leave prison and finally get the psychiatric treatment he needs and deserves. The U.N. determined that long-term isolation in solitary confinement is torture. Americans with disabilities deserve protection and treatment, not prison torture. Taxpayers are sentenced right along with Damion if they must pay possibly millions of dollars to imprison this young man who had no prior offenses. Hayes was overly sentenced for behavior caused by deprivation of psychiatric treatment. Therefore, we respectfully request the White House and/or Florida's governor to please pardon Damion Hayes.

Under current Delaware law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,150 and up to six months in jail. “Nobody should be saddled with a criminal record simply for possessing a substance that is less harmful than alcohol,” said Rachelle Yeung, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), “A marijuana conviction can haunt individuals for the rest of their lives, depriving them of educational opportunities, employment, and public housing. "Law enforcement officials’ time would be better spent addressing serious crimes instead of arresting and prosecuting adults for marijuana possession,” Yeung said.

Items placed on a grave are generally for the purpose of grieving by family and friends of a loved one. The items are usually pertaining to the deceased and have great sentimental and emotional value. The majority of items placed on a grave by family and friends are valued at one hundred dollars ($100) or less. The emotional distress caused by theft of items from the resting place of a loved one should warrant the removal of these items being a felony, especially when items are removed repeatedly and/or the suspect has the items in possession. Caden Allen was tragically killed in an automobile accident when a box truck pulled a stop sign/red flashing light at the intersection of Hwy 55 and Hwy 242 in Johnston County on July 26, 2012. Items have been stolen off our thirteen-year-old son's grave (Caden Allen) four (4) times since he was buried in Lee-Johnson Cemetery. The first incident occurred on Mother's Day in 2013. The second incident occurred on Caden's birthday, October 21, 2013. Other dates are April 30, 2014 and June 1, 2014. The suspects were caught on camera on June 1, 2014 with items in their possession, including a personalized flag with Caden's name on it. Items from all four (4) incidents were found at the home of the suspects. Items stolen were monetarily valued between eighty dollars ($80) and one hundred dollars ($100) for each incident. Therefore, the suspects were only charged with misdemeanors. By changing the statute to make this a felony, it will impact those who steal from cemeteries and help lessen the emotional distress and trauma for families who have lost a loved one. Rhonda Norris has two family members buried in the cemetery: Annie Pearl Lee (her mother) and Landis Lee (her brother). She has also suffered financially due to expense to replace items and emotionally from the feeling of violation of the resting place of her loved ones. The items had been stolen over a period of time with the last incident occurring on June 1, 2014. Stolen items were recovered from the suspects' home where items belonging the the Allen family and the Johnson family were found. Blinda Johnson was another victim of theft in Lee-Johnson Cemetery. A wind chime had been attached to the headstone of Floyd D. and Christine Williams (Blinda's parents) for a long time. It was stolen on June 1 , 2014 and the suspects were caught on camera at the same time items were stolen off Caden Allen's grave. The persons caught were repeat offenders that have caused emotional distress for at least three families. Our goal is to reduce cemetery thefts by imposing stiffer penalties for such actions. This crime should be a felony.

June 15, 2014 U.S. District Judge Harry S. Mattice Regarding: Carol Chalk I am making an official plea for mercy for my sister Carol Chalk. Carol Chalk arrested and charged with federal “drug” crimes. There is nothing in Carol’s history/background that poses a threat “serious or otherwise” to society. We are requesting she be offered alternative sentencing to imprisonment and/or incarceration as a first offense and no criminal background? Does Carol comprehend her actions and the laws presented to her including, but not limited to “all” evidence and how that evidence was obtained in her case? Does she understand the facts involved or said facts in the decision-making, main choices, does she weigh up the consequences of any choices and understand how the consequences affect her; and can she communicate her understanding? Does stress, grief, depression, certain medical conditions, hearing impairment, vision, etc. affect a person’s decision-making capacity? Does Carol articulate reasoning, is her comprehension consistent over time, and does she understand and/or comprehend consequences? (I’ve known Carol “all” of our lives and I know that she “does not” understand and/or comprehend this whole process. Carol is not a high profile criminal, sex offender, armed robber, serial killer, weapons dealer, and/or NOTORIOUS drug dealer. The streets are NO safer with her absence; in fact, clean ups should start where true “change and safety” can make a difference in society. She signed a “plea” that she absolutely did not understand. Carol is on medication for high blood pressure – Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Carol is on medication for diabetes – If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means too much glucose in the blood,although the reasons may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems. Carol has on-going female gynecological female issues I have been asked to write a letter of plea or explanation as to why my sister should receive a less harsh sentencing, but what do I say? How do I plea effectively to a system that appears determined to imprison and/or incarcerate Carol? How and when does change occur if not by those in a position to make change? I beg you on behalf of Carol’s family and her grandson to please be as lenient as possible or as the law allows. Carol’s criminal history category is not higher than a two and she does not have more than one criminal history point. Meredith and District Attorney don’t want Carol to receive the Safety Valve, but in Carol’s case no one was harmed during the offense, she has little or no history of criminal convictions, no violence or gun was used. Carol is not the leader, manager, or organizer of anything. The Safety Valve is to prevent people from getting more time than they deserve. Federal Prisons are overcrowded and almost half of all federal offenders are nonviolent drug offenders, not violent criminals. Judge we are asking that you sentence Carol as a nonviolent, low-level, first-time offender. We need to save space for violent and career criminals. Public safety is our main focus, concern, and goal, so shy sentence non-violent criminals the same as violent criminals. I know that God judges all. I have faith that he is working in this case as he works in every aspect of our lives. Thank you, Audrey R Harris

Private institutions are profiting from the free-to-low cost labor of people in prison. Prison was created for rehabilitating, not creating an economic bottom line for corporations. Slavery is inhumane and should not exist anywhere in the world.

Corrupt private prison companies have taken over Florida's criminal justice system — making millions by unjustly incarcerating Black and Brown youth in dangerous, exploitative, and inhumane conditions. Private prison companies care about one thing; increasing profit, and they lobby hard to secure state contracts that give them license to harm our communities. Black youth are disproportionately harmed by Florida's private prison racket. Due to continued prejudice in the criminal justice system, Black children are four times more likely than white youth to be committed to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ), and the vast majority for non-violent offenses. We have a unique opportunity to stop this exploitative system. Several private prison contracts valued at $120 million will expire soon. Outgoing Secretary Wansley Walters has the power to block the renewal of these contracts and begin the deprivatization of the FDJJ before she retires on June 30th. We need widespread public pressure to make sure she does the right thing, and we can't do it without your support.

Please grant either ankle monitoring or house arrest for Chantel Jones. From my experience with her I do not believe her capable of the charges in question, and would request her monitored release until such time as this can be resolved as it should be.