Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Jerome White-Bey Letter Appeal – Enough Is Enough!

The Missouri Prison Labor Union is an anarchist driven prison initiative that was organized by prisoners and supporters in the hope of bettering the living and working conditions in the State of Missouri prison system. One of their goals is to establish minimum wages for prisoners and to stop all prison abuse. They were lawfully given recognition by the Secretary of State in Missouri on August 3rd of 1998. The MPLU is an organization that fights against oppression, repression, torture, brutality, rape, corruption and exploitation of prisoners both male and female. In this struggle they seek to regain their human dignity.

Jerome White-Bey is the founder and president of the MPLU and is now asking for help with a letter campaign. He has been in prison for over 30 years and is scheduled for his next parole hearing in December 2009 and is hoping that if people write to the Governor in support of him it would help his chances of getting a parole date.

A sample letter is below. You can write to Jerome at:

Jerome White-Bey, MDOC#37479,
S.E.C.C., 2B-211,
300 East Pedro Simmons Drive,
Charleston, MO. 63834

All letters in support of Jerome White-Bey being granted parole are to be mailed to:


Mr.Steven Long - Chairman

Division of the Board of Probation and Parole
1511 Christy Dr.
PO Box 267
Jefferson City Mo.65102
USA
Phone number (573) 751-8488

Subject: Parole Jerome White-Bey #37479


Dear Mr Steven Long,


I am writing this letter in support of Jerome White-Bey's application to the Missouri Parole Board to grant him parole in his forthcoming hearing, scheduled for December 2009.

Mr.White-Bey was arrested on June 26 1978 and charged with four counts of First Degree Robbery; Second Degree Murder; and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, which he pleaded guilty to and was subsequently sentenced to a 50 year term of imprisonment. On 10/11/1979 Mr.White-Bey entered Missouri State Prison in Jefferson City. Under previous sentencing guidelines he was initially given a release date of June 2007. However following changes in penal procedures his release date has been put back to 12/25/2015.

I would like to make some points about Mr White-Bey in support of his parole application. His early admission of guilt demonstrates that he took responsibility for his actions and accepted his punishment. He entered prison a young man and over his 30 years of imprisonment Mr White-Bey has matured and developed as a person. His work with the book program and other prisoner support is evidence that Mr White-Bey will be able to adapt to life and make a fruitful contribution to society should he be released. I strongly believe Mr White-Bey is a very different person now to the young man that entered prison in 1978. I ask that you consider the progress he has made and also consider the fact that he has already passed one release date due to changes in sentencing guidelines.



Sincerely

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