Hey Freepers, I got a PETITION for you to sign!

[Joanne98]

http://www.petitiononline.com/fedparol/

To: U.S. Congress

ATTENTION:

Our Tax Dollars Are Being Wasted!

Federal Prisons are being overcrowded with thousands of non-violent 1st time offenders. Some of these offenders are mothers with small children and no criminal history and are serving unnecessary 24 year sentences for first time non-violent offenses thanks to unjust sentencing guidelines and mandatory sentences.

Many of these offenders pose no threat to public safety and don’t need imprisonment. The cost to house just one prisoner alone is over $29,000 per year. The prisoners aren't being paroled because The Federal system no longer has Parole since Congress abolished Federal Parole in the mid 1980’s and passed harsh sentencing laws. However, State prisons still offer parole to state prisoners. Due to Lengthy sentences and no Parole for Federal prisoners, there have been a major increase in the incarceration rate among non-violent first time offenders that are not likely to repeat their offenses. Longer sentences are not necessary for these offenders that could be serving shorter sentences or sentenced to prison alternatives like community service, home detention, or mental and drug treatment programs. The savings could mean billions for tax payers. Money could be applied to schools, colleges, healthcare, housing assistance, job training, small business grants, social security retirement, etc. Instead, federal leaders are wasting money by throwing 1st time offenders in prison for long periods of time at the tax payer’s expense. Imagine the cost, over $29,000 per year per inmate x 24 years. Not a smart solution!

State leaders across the U.S. are currently reforming State sentencing guidelines, drug and parole policies. Federal leaders are urged to do the same. Over $9.4 billion annually and growing is the high cost of incarceration in USA. Unjust sentencing guidelines are forcing some people to accept plea agreements for 10 year sentences even when they are innocent just to avoid trials that could lead to life sentences. Federal punishments are not fitting the crimes. Many Federal judges are refusing to hear criminal cases because they disagree with sentencing guidelines. Instead of saving tax dollars by using prison alternatives that other countries have used with proven effect for non-violent 1st time offenders, federal leaders just rather construct more prisons. Driving the cost up even more. More money is being spent on the construction of prisons than schools and colleges. Long term prison sentences are unnecessary for small offenses, especially when the criminal is non violent, non murderer, non sex offender, non bank robber, and non child abductor.

Some of these 1st time non-violent offenders are mothers that could be at home with their children and working while serving home detention instead of sitting in prison. Many children are placed in foster care which cost the Government an extra $2,500 per month for each child. A waist of tax payer’s money. These families are being ripped apart when they are already struggling which only makes matters worst. After being released, most prisoners must start from nothing. It is difficult for felons to turn life around and live normal productive law abiding lifestyles when they are constantly being discriminated against, turned down for employment, and banned from receiving Pell grants to attend college. The punishment seems to go beyond the sentence.

HELP! OUR FEDERAL SYSTEM NEEDS REFORM URGENTLY! Together our voices count! The current Federal sentencing policies are unjust, don’t work, and are costing tax-payers too much money. Theses expenses won't stop crime, but will be the cause of matters getting worst. The cost can be cut by more than half by reviving the Federal Parole System, reforming sentencing guidelines, using prison alternatives, and creating more early release incentives for non-violent non-repeat offenders. We can go on complaining about our tax dollars being wasted or we can do something to about it. It is everyone’s problem. Together we can fix it! Please show your support by petitioning to bring back Federal Parole! Your support is very important! You can also help by writing your House Representative.


Sincerely,

The Undersigned

PLEASE HELP JAMES O'KEEFE!

SIGN THE PETITION!!!!!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/fedparol/petition-sign.html




:rofl: :spray:

[alfredo]

1. If it is one of their own, maybe they will think. Naw, not a chance. They'll

denounce him as a closet Liberal.