To: FAMM, President Donald Trump, The North Carolina State House, The North Carolina State Senate, Governor Roy Cooper, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Federal Mandatory Guidelines Sentencing: Help Youthful, Nonviolent, and First Time Offenders
Pre-determined federal prison sentencing guidelines are determined and based solely on the weight of the drug and not on an individual's case, and are creating a "one size fits all" punishment. This means that in thousands of cases every year the punishment does not fit the crime nor the person.
Why is this important?
The Petition was created on Move On's Petition site and states, "Pre-Determined Federal Prison Sentencing Guidelines are determined and based solely on the weight of the drug and not on an individual's case, background or morals. The guidelines are creating a "one size fits all" punishment. This means that in thousands of cases every year the punishment does not fit the crime nor the person. "
My son, Terry Matthew Hall, was interrogated by Federal Agents, SBI Agents, and other Law Enforcement Agencies as a teenager in September of 2014 in reference to some alleged illegal drug activity that had been going on in Johnston County...Smithfield, NC for quite some time. Law enforcement and citizens in this County are well known as to what these people had been doing for generations.The Federal and State Agents assisted by local Law Enforcement officers ( Narcotic Division in that County) had been doing a two year investigation on some much older, lifetime criminals in this particular County. While being interrogated about any alleged activity my son was very cooperative.. He was scared and highly intimated so he thought if he "told them the truth" that he could come home. He had no lawyer present, and at such a young age wasn't even thinking on that level.This is a trend and happens to so many of young teens and what they don't realize is "they do need an attorney present!" His attorney told me if he had asked for an attorney to be present he would not be where he is sitting today. But, under peer pressure at such a young age they fold, only to incriminate themselves. He did not get to come home and was arrested right there where the interrogation took place.They arrested him on that day for "Conspiracy", simply because he knew what was allegedly going on. At the beginning of the Federal investigation he was only 16 years old and was introduced to a highly addictive drug by older, well known criminals. He now sits in a maximum security jail where he has been for over a year on 20 hours lock down per day due to his addiction and poor decision making. His lawyer states to me that due to Federal guidelines he is facing 30 years to life. Please print this petition on behalf of him and other youthful, nonviolent offenders who may also be affected by this. Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2015 H.R. 71. Our family is devastated by these guidelines.My son was lost in an addiction at 16 years old. He was introduced to this POWERFUL additive drug by a group of notorious criminals. He got involved with some really bad people, made some poor decisions, and violated the law.This case should be reviewed due to the age of this child, No Attorney was representing him and both him and his family have suffered beyond any sentence this child could ever receive. I pray God has mercy on the souls sentencing these children under this Federal requirement. We are losing young souls that can be rehabilitated.Matt was under major peer pressure. He would never physically harm an individual. Matt is a good life long friend of mine, it devastates me to think that I won't get to see his future unfold. Everyone makes bad choices in life, so, shouldn't we be willing to allow some slack for more adolescent offenders? After all, a one size fits all policy is not JUST. Matthew can be a great person, he has great people and family that love and care about him, He can get him a job, and get on the right path. He was working at 14 years old with a workers permit. But, how long will a youthful child stay sane enough to come out and make this change? If you put offenders in the environment and shove them away like nobody cares and they pretty much don't have a shot at "life" you're only making matters worse for a young offender. Help them. Care about them! I know Terry Matthew Hall can and will become a responsible citizen if given a chance. Of course he needs to be punished, but not for his entire life!
Sincerely,
Regina Morris
My son, Terry Matthew Hall, was interrogated by Federal Agents, SBI Agents, and other Law Enforcement Agencies as a teenager in September of 2014 in reference to some alleged illegal drug activity that had been going on in Johnston County...Smithfield, NC for quite some time. Law enforcement and citizens in this County are well known as to what these people had been doing for generations.The Federal and State Agents assisted by local Law Enforcement officers ( Narcotic Division in that County) had been doing a two year investigation on some much older, lifetime criminals in this particular County. While being interrogated about any alleged activity my son was very cooperative.. He was scared and highly intimated so he thought if he "told them the truth" that he could come home. He had no lawyer present, and at such a young age wasn't even thinking on that level.This is a trend and happens to so many of young teens and what they don't realize is "they do need an attorney present!" His attorney told me if he had asked for an attorney to be present he would not be where he is sitting today. But, under peer pressure at such a young age they fold, only to incriminate themselves. He did not get to come home and was arrested right there where the interrogation took place.They arrested him on that day for "Conspiracy", simply because he knew what was allegedly going on. At the beginning of the Federal investigation he was only 16 years old and was introduced to a highly addictive drug by older, well known criminals. He now sits in a maximum security jail where he has been for over a year on 20 hours lock down per day due to his addiction and poor decision making. His lawyer states to me that due to Federal guidelines he is facing 30 years to life. Please print this petition on behalf of him and other youthful, nonviolent offenders who may also be affected by this. Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2015 H.R. 71. Our family is devastated by these guidelines.My son was lost in an addiction at 16 years old. He was introduced to this POWERFUL additive drug by a group of notorious criminals. He got involved with some really bad people, made some poor decisions, and violated the law.This case should be reviewed due to the age of this child, No Attorney was representing him and both him and his family have suffered beyond any sentence this child could ever receive. I pray God has mercy on the souls sentencing these children under this Federal requirement. We are losing young souls that can be rehabilitated.Matt was under major peer pressure. He would never physically harm an individual. Matt is a good life long friend of mine, it devastates me to think that I won't get to see his future unfold. Everyone makes bad choices in life, so, shouldn't we be willing to allow some slack for more adolescent offenders? After all, a one size fits all policy is not JUST. Matthew can be a great person, he has great people and family that love and care about him, He can get him a job, and get on the right path. He was working at 14 years old with a workers permit. But, how long will a youthful child stay sane enough to come out and make this change? If you put offenders in the environment and shove them away like nobody cares and they pretty much don't have a shot at "life" you're only making matters worse for a young offender. Help them. Care about them! I know Terry Matthew Hall can and will become a responsible citizen if given a chance. Of course he needs to be punished, but not for his entire life!
Sincerely,
Regina Morris