10 signatures reached
To: Cederick Mohammed
Justice for Kyam Washington
Peace,
My name is Kyam Washington, and I am serving a 21-year sentence, with about eight years completed. I am writing to seek support for my release and to raise awareness about the prison system and what I believe are its historical and structural roots.
I want to begin by sharing who I am. I am a father and uncle, and I play an important role in my family by responsibility and circumstance. I maintain strong connections with my siblings, cousins, and extended family, many of whom I consider like brothers and sisters. I also have nieces and nephews I have never met due to my incarceration, which is deeply painful.
I see myself as a conscious individual aware of both personal responsibility and the broader political environment. In my view, incarceration is not separate from politics, law, and policy, and I understand my situation within that larger system. I am also an artist, educator, and student of life. While I do not hold formal degrees, I rely on lived experience as my education and teaching foundation.
I am the founder of Universal P.E.A.C.E., a nonprofit focused on at-risk youth. My belief is that change must begin with young people, especially those most vulnerable to cycles of incarceration. I was once an at-risk youth myself and did not receive the guidance or support I needed, which I believe contributed to my path. My goal is to help interrupt that cycle through mentorship and outreach.
I also study how society defines crime and criminal identity. From my perspective, crime is not only an individual act but also a social category shaped by institutions. Society often divides people into “law-abiding citizens” and “criminals,” which reinforces unity for some while excluding others. In this way, labeling can play a role in how groups are formed and controlled.
I also reflect on the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery except as punishment for crime. In my view, this exception allowed forced labor and coercive systems to continue under a legal framework. After slavery, laws such as Black Codes and vagrancy statutes restricted newly freed Black people and criminalized basic survival. I believe these systems contributed to mass incarceration and economic control through convict leasing and related practices.
From this perspective, incarceration became part of a larger system of social and economic control. I also believe that when people are denied access to legitimate opportunities, some are pushed toward illegal means due to structural inequality. Ideas like strain theory help explain how pressure to achieve success without access to resources can shape behavior.
My early life reflects some of these realities. By age 13, I had been arrested three times, mainly for fights in environments where conflict was common. I did not fully understand the legal consequences at the time. I was placed in juvenile detention, where I believe I was exposed to conditions that reinforced harmful patterns rather than correcting them.
I take responsibility for my actions and do not deny accountability for my conviction. However, I believe my sentence does not reflect the conduct that can be proven.
I was held accountable for about 30 grams of drugs, which is supported by evidence and would carry a limited sentence. However, I was also sentenced based on an alleged conspiracy involving over 8 kilograms of heroin. From my perspective, there was no physical evidence supporting that quantity. It was largely based on testimony from a cooperating co-defendant who had strong incentives to reduce their own sentence. I believe this led to unreliable claims that significantly increased my sentencing exposure.
As a result, my sentence increased from what would have been approximately 60 months to about 264 months. I believe this disparity is based on uncorroborated allegations rather than verified evidence.
Finally, I understand 21 U.S.C. § 841 as a statute that separates drug offenses into tiers based on type and quantity, with increasing penalties for higher-level trafficking. These ranges are intended to distinguish between lower-level and major operations. In my case, I believe those enhancements were applied in a way that did not accurately reflect my actual role as supported by evidence.
For these reasons, I am seeking reconsideration and support for relief, while continuing my efforts to grow personally and contribute positively through education and mentorship for at-risk youth.
My name is Kyam Washington, and I am serving a 21-year sentence, with about eight years completed. I am writing to seek support for my release and to raise awareness about the prison system and what I believe are its historical and structural roots.
I want to begin by sharing who I am. I am a father and uncle, and I play an important role in my family by responsibility and circumstance. I maintain strong connections with my siblings, cousins, and extended family, many of whom I consider like brothers and sisters. I also have nieces and nephews I have never met due to my incarceration, which is deeply painful.
I see myself as a conscious individual aware of both personal responsibility and the broader political environment. In my view, incarceration is not separate from politics, law, and policy, and I understand my situation within that larger system. I am also an artist, educator, and student of life. While I do not hold formal degrees, I rely on lived experience as my education and teaching foundation.
I am the founder of Universal P.E.A.C.E., a nonprofit focused on at-risk youth. My belief is that change must begin with young people, especially those most vulnerable to cycles of incarceration. I was once an at-risk youth myself and did not receive the guidance or support I needed, which I believe contributed to my path. My goal is to help interrupt that cycle through mentorship and outreach.
I also study how society defines crime and criminal identity. From my perspective, crime is not only an individual act but also a social category shaped by institutions. Society often divides people into “law-abiding citizens” and “criminals,” which reinforces unity for some while excluding others. In this way, labeling can play a role in how groups are formed and controlled.
I also reflect on the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery except as punishment for crime. In my view, this exception allowed forced labor and coercive systems to continue under a legal framework. After slavery, laws such as Black Codes and vagrancy statutes restricted newly freed Black people and criminalized basic survival. I believe these systems contributed to mass incarceration and economic control through convict leasing and related practices.
From this perspective, incarceration became part of a larger system of social and economic control. I also believe that when people are denied access to legitimate opportunities, some are pushed toward illegal means due to structural inequality. Ideas like strain theory help explain how pressure to achieve success without access to resources can shape behavior.
My early life reflects some of these realities. By age 13, I had been arrested three times, mainly for fights in environments where conflict was common. I did not fully understand the legal consequences at the time. I was placed in juvenile detention, where I believe I was exposed to conditions that reinforced harmful patterns rather than correcting them.
I take responsibility for my actions and do not deny accountability for my conviction. However, I believe my sentence does not reflect the conduct that can be proven.
I was held accountable for about 30 grams of drugs, which is supported by evidence and would carry a limited sentence. However, I was also sentenced based on an alleged conspiracy involving over 8 kilograms of heroin. From my perspective, there was no physical evidence supporting that quantity. It was largely based on testimony from a cooperating co-defendant who had strong incentives to reduce their own sentence. I believe this led to unreliable claims that significantly increased my sentencing exposure.
As a result, my sentence increased from what would have been approximately 60 months to about 264 months. I believe this disparity is based on uncorroborated allegations rather than verified evidence.
Finally, I understand 21 U.S.C. § 841 as a statute that separates drug offenses into tiers based on type and quantity, with increasing penalties for higher-level trafficking. These ranges are intended to distinguish between lower-level and major operations. In my case, I believe those enhancements were applied in a way that did not accurately reflect my actual role as supported by evidence.
For these reasons, I am seeking reconsideration and support for relief, while continuing my efforts to grow personally and contribute positively through education and mentorship for at-risk youth.
Why is this important?
It is important because your petition connects personal experience with broader systemic issues that affect more than just one individual case. By sharing your story, you are not only explaining your own circumstances, but also highlighting how laws, policies, and sentencing practices can shape outcomes in ways that have long-term consequences for families and communities.
From the respondent’s perspective, the importance lies in several key points:
First, it provides context. It helps explain who you are beyond the conviction—your role as a father, family member, and mentor, and the work you are trying to do through youth outreach and education.
Second, it raises awareness of systemic concerns. Your statement points to issues like sentencing disparities, the use of cooperating witnesses, and the broader impact of drug laws. Even if someone does not agree with every interpretation, it encourages reflection on how the system operates in practice.
Third, it shows accountability alongside reflection. You acknowledge responsibility for your actions while also questioning whether the punishment matches the proven conduct. That balance is often important to decision-makers because it shows you are not avoiding responsibility, but also believe fairness should be examined.
Finally, it emphasizes future contribution. Your focus on mentoring at-risk youth and trying to break cycles of incarceration shows a forward-looking purpose, which matters when evaluating rehabilitation and potential community impact.
From the respondent’s perspective, the importance lies in several key points:
First, it provides context. It helps explain who you are beyond the conviction—your role as a father, family member, and mentor, and the work you are trying to do through youth outreach and education.
Second, it raises awareness of systemic concerns. Your statement points to issues like sentencing disparities, the use of cooperating witnesses, and the broader impact of drug laws. Even if someone does not agree with every interpretation, it encourages reflection on how the system operates in practice.
Third, it shows accountability alongside reflection. You acknowledge responsibility for your actions while also questioning whether the punishment matches the proven conduct. That balance is often important to decision-makers because it shows you are not avoiding responsibility, but also believe fairness should be examined.
Finally, it emphasizes future contribution. Your focus on mentoring at-risk youth and trying to break cycles of incarceration shows a forward-looking purpose, which matters when evaluating rehabilitation and potential community impact.