To: Dean Stensberg, Parole Chairman, Edward Wall, Secretary of the DOC, The Wisconsin State House, The Wisconsin State Senate, and Governor Tony Evers
Petition for Daniel Cerney, Waived into Adult Court at Age 16.
Daniel Cerney is one of the prisoners who were waived into adult court as juveniles. Daniel was 16 when he committed the crime. He was convicted of 1st degree intentional homicide (2 counts), armed Robbery-conversion; Burglary-armed with a dangerous weapon (2 counts), theft-conversion and was sentenced to life with no parole hearing until he serves 45 years. He has not seen the parole board yet and is 32- he has been in prison half his life.
Daniel has used his time well. Below is listing of programs he has taken and his statement:
“I’ve done: Challenges and Possibilities; anger: creating new choices; HSED; vocational –cabinetry, wood tech-communication writing-Communicating effectively-college math 15 credits total; a baptism certificate because I was baptized here, business basics; CGIP-phase 1 and 2; turning point 1,2 3 ; employment skills, a better way, and rational-emotive therapy-and those are just certificates. I’ve done more programs.
I’ve been locked up since I was 16. A Kid! And I acted like a kid back then. But I am not a kid now-I’m 32! I had to grow up in prison, but the key word is “grow up”. I've given my life to God! I’m about family. And doing good! I’m ready for a 2nd chance . All I can do is show that I am ready. Rehabilitation is a very good word for me! And the biggest thing is I couldn’t have done this huge change in my life without God and my family. “
We have been slowly evolving as a society in relation to kids that commit horrible crimes- first the supreme court banned the death penalty for juvenile offenders. Then recently they prohibited life sentences without parole for juveniles and we await their decision on whether that decision is retroactive. Studies and awareness have made more of us aware that the child’s brain is not developed enough to understand consequences or to look ahead- he or she is mostly concerned with peer pressure- belonging to the group . Daniel has made tremendous strides in maturity and understanding his crime and its consequences.
We believe Daniel deserves a second chance- either through sentence modification or parole. He has much to give and we need him is one reason. He has a developed brain now and wants to hep heal our wounded planet. What good will further incarceration do him or the public? Our prisons are stuffed and are very unhealthy places right now- Daniel is one of the more than 2500 Old Law prisoners who doesn’t need to be there. The money not spent on him and the other Old Law Prisoners would alleviate the terrible overcrowding and free up funds for programming and treatment . There is no need for the continued incarceration of this man.
Daniel has used his time well. Below is listing of programs he has taken and his statement:
“I’ve done: Challenges and Possibilities; anger: creating new choices; HSED; vocational –cabinetry, wood tech-communication writing-Communicating effectively-college math 15 credits total; a baptism certificate because I was baptized here, business basics; CGIP-phase 1 and 2; turning point 1,2 3 ; employment skills, a better way, and rational-emotive therapy-and those are just certificates. I’ve done more programs.
I’ve been locked up since I was 16. A Kid! And I acted like a kid back then. But I am not a kid now-I’m 32! I had to grow up in prison, but the key word is “grow up”. I've given my life to God! I’m about family. And doing good! I’m ready for a 2nd chance . All I can do is show that I am ready. Rehabilitation is a very good word for me! And the biggest thing is I couldn’t have done this huge change in my life without God and my family. “
We have been slowly evolving as a society in relation to kids that commit horrible crimes- first the supreme court banned the death penalty for juvenile offenders. Then recently they prohibited life sentences without parole for juveniles and we await their decision on whether that decision is retroactive. Studies and awareness have made more of us aware that the child’s brain is not developed enough to understand consequences or to look ahead- he or she is mostly concerned with peer pressure- belonging to the group . Daniel has made tremendous strides in maturity and understanding his crime and its consequences.
We believe Daniel deserves a second chance- either through sentence modification or parole. He has much to give and we need him is one reason. He has a developed brain now and wants to hep heal our wounded planet. What good will further incarceration do him or the public? Our prisons are stuffed and are very unhealthy places right now- Daniel is one of the more than 2500 Old Law prisoners who doesn’t need to be there. The money not spent on him and the other Old Law Prisoners would alleviate the terrible overcrowding and free up funds for programming and treatment . There is no need for the continued incarceration of this man.
Why is this important?
I am glad there is a national discussion of sentencing and treatment of prisoners. The throwing away of kids is especially appalling. Who gets anything out of this? Wisconsin has many juvenile offenders- people who have spent most their life in prison and although the first years are big learning , most of the time is a terrible waste of resources and lives. Time to change and Daniel is a good place to start.