In response to the realignment of prisoners to the county jails. L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca has proposed a $1.4 billion expansion to Los Angeles County jails. This expansion would add 393 expensive and unneeded beds to LA's jails. Realignment should be utilized to expand community programs and alternatives to incarceration not to build more cages.

I currently work for a non profit apprenticeship painting program for ex-felons giving them a second chance to change their lifestyles and to be mainstreamed back into society as a viable entity in their community. This program keeps our youth off the streets, a prevention for lowering crime and out of the penal system. We are the only minority apprenticeship in the State of Virginia and partnering with the Department of Juvenile Justice and we cant get funding for these youth. We currently have 21 youth involved in this program, yet they want us to help others but won't support us in our endeavors.

My younger brother was accused of robbery to the 1st degree back in 1989. He went prison and still in Bowling Green Missouri's Correctional Center. He has served his time. We had a petition for Clemency signed by over a thousand people at the request of his attorney I found for my parents who have trusted over a half dozen attorneys over the years that took them for a ride. This attorney was a past judge and has done a great deal of work trying to free my brother. He stated that this was too much time for the crime. He got 30yrs with no parole and no one was hurt or killed at the time this happened. There were a lot of flaws in the report in which that female judge who sentenced him refused to listen to stated by my mother. Michael and his friend was arrested out of jurisdiction. He has changed his life and never had any prior convictions when he went in stated by attorney. This judge retired soon after his sentencing. Please help me help my brother. He is been changing many lives behind bars. He has been in ministry playing music and helping other pastors at the prison. Many prison officials stated from various prisons he had attended, that he didn't belong here. He came from a good family with good christian parents. I'm his older and only sister. I won't be completely happy until he is home with us again. Please help me free him. He wrote president Barack Obama a week ago. Thanks for you all of your time and consideration regarding Michael Hurst and family. The governor has his petition and papers of release on his desk and just haven't signed it. It's been over a year. It has already been to the parole board and back to the governor. Cheryl Foutz

My mother was murdered Aug. 29 2007 in Fairview Park and she was strangled and her head and kitchen lit on fire to cover up evidence. Tim had been arrested for having her rental car and her credit cards after her death and he was one of the last people with her that day. He has a 34 yr criminal history which includes arson,attacking a police officer,possessing bombs and forgery,grand theft,the list goes on. He pretended to be a caring neighbor and handyman all the while to rip my mom off blind. I found forged checks from him out of my mothers checkbook whcih he has not been arrested for. I want the book thrown at him,he is obviously a danger to society and does not deserve to be out of jail on March 14th 2012. If you agree that people like Tim should be kept out of society please sign.

Let's create legislation to stop high density animal production. High production hog farms, chicken farms and feed lots as they exist now are concentration camps for animals.

The profit motive is all the incentive corporations need to foment more laws putting more people in prison for longer terms. They have no motivation to release prisoners. Corporate lobbying, expecially through ALEC has resulted in a dependable stream of prisoners and revenue that will keep our fellow citizens in bondage.

People are dying all over Mexico, due to the Cartels making so much money supplying illegal drugs. Prohibition Failed, so has the war on drugs. More people die from tobacco related Cancers every year, than from all illegal drugs combined. And the US is wasting over a billion a year on enforcement alone!!

Convicted murderer Zachary Schams has requested to be released from custody a mere two and one half years after brutally murdering Tony Edlbeck on 04/01/2009 (http://www.channel3000.com/news/20298658/detail.html). The courts have granted him a release hearing for 03/20/13. Please sign this petition to let the courts know this is not acceptable.

Penn State has managed to successfully cover up the sexual abuse and exploitation of children for decades. The number of victims very well could be higher than the number who have come forward. The university has announced it will conduct an internal investigation of the matter which is sure to continue with its biased approach. In addition, former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, has been released from prison on a measly $100,000 bail--an amount much lower than the $500,000 requested by the Attorney General's office. A request for him to wear a leg monitor was also denied by the judge who also happens to be a former volunteer at Second Mile. Sandusky is only set to pay the $100,000 bail if he does not show up to his court date. Clearly, this case needs to be investigated by an UNBIASED organization--the Federal Government. The voices of the victims were once muted by violence and filth. Please do not ignore the victims' cries.

The State of California is closing the Southern Youth Correctional Reception Center and Clinic (SYCRCC). This is one of the few remaining facilities left in Southern California for Youth Rehabilitation, and it is by far the best. The closure of this facility will require youths to be shipped to other facilities, far away from parental and community support. Furthermore, those facilities are also scheduled to be closed within the next two years, leaving these youths to be incarcerated in adult prisons. The SYCRCC is the most effective of the DJJ facilities. Most youths enter only being able to read at a third grade level; by the time they are released at age 18, 95% have received their high school diploma. This facility is scheduled to close before year end, but recently there has been a push to close by mid-November, leaving these youths one step closer to facing incarceration in adult prisons with hardened criminals where they will not receive the treatment and rehabilitation they need. But you can help. Join us in petitioning the Governor to keep this facility open and to give these children a brighter future.

Mistreatment... forced labor unhumane treatment, Kidnapping murder, Rape,complete injustice! of people of color & Africans. this criminal grave acts went on for centuries, and continue to go on today in time. America has been found GUILTY ...THE TIME FOR JUSTICE IS NOW! WE ARE NOW COLLECTIVELY DEMANDING REPARATIONS!

Oregon's system of capital punishment is broken! We spend many millions pursuing death sentences, but only execute a few who surrender their appeals. We promise justice for victims, but then postpone it indefinitely. Our tax dollars, wasted on the death penalty, could go for schools or health care or effective crime-prevention programs. We call on Gov. Kitzhaber to suspend further executions and appoint a commission to recommend capital justice system reforms--reforms that will keep us safe, hold violent criminals accountable, make justice swift and affordable, and reflect the values of Oregonians.