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| Photo by Tim Gruber, Kentucky State Reformatory |
I received the following letter recently regarding Virginia’s Geriatric Parole Statute (Code § 53.1-40.01.:
Dear Mr. Yoder:
My name is Stephano “Steve” Colosi, Jr. #1037581, and I am writing you as a result of receiving a letter from my brother in Christ and dear friend Pete Mahoney.
Pete suggested I inform you of my project, which has to do with the gross under-utilization of geriatric release under the above referenced statute. The statute is designed for the release of inmates sixty years old after ten years of incarceration, and inmates sixty-five years old and older with a minimum of five years of confinement.
Currently I am incarcerated at Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Virginia 23936. Each day I am in the company of many inmates over 60 and up to 80 years old who are obviously incapable of being a danger to anyone. Often times the Department of Corrections keeps inmates so long that their support system (friends, relatives, potential employers) are deceased or out of business, and unable to offer the safety net required to facilitate reintegration into society.
In my housing unit alone, we have an 80-year-old inmate who is nearly blind, a 74-year-old who recently returned from MCV after congenital heart failure (he has been locked up for 50 years), and another man who is a 74-year-old Israeli expatriate who needs a cane to walk, and whose family makes the trek from Israel once a year for a three-hour visit!
I could go on and on, as these few examples are only the tip of the iceberg. My estimate is that there are, at minimum, 200 men at Buckingham alone who meet the criteria for Geriatric Release.
Admittedly, many of them are in for violent crimes or other crimes that would shock the senses. However, after 10, 20, 30 or even 50 years, I suspect that society has extracted their pound of flesh. At some point the public must realize hat keeping folks locked up without end becomes a diminishing return for society, and the cost is astronomical at an average of $68,000 per year (compared to $24,000 for younger inmates).
Many localities have overcrowded jails, and plan new construction costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Why not release (with caveats) geriatric inmates, many of whom can be self-sufficient with family support, social security and/or VA benefits. For every geriatric inmate released, two teachers could be hired to benefit the public and help circumvent the cycle of young men going to prison.
State Senator Walter Stosch of Henrico County (Innsbrooke Centre, 4551 Cox Road, Suite 110, Glen Allen, VA 23060-0740) is an advocate of geriatric release utilization and was recently quoted in the Richmond Times-Dispatch stating that, “We can no longer afford the expense of keeping geriatric geriatric prisoners locked up at more than twice the rate of regular prisoners.”
I believe if the taxpayers were made aware of the condition that exists, they would respond favorably to the statute/law which has been in existence since 1995 but rarely used. At some point, Christian values must outweigh needless vengeance associated with the mantra of “tough on crime.”
Thank you for your time and effort on behalf of likely several thousand inmates in the Department of Corrections who would benefit by implementation of geriatric release, as well as their families and friends.
You might want to express your concerns to:
State Senator Mark Obenshain at mark@markobenshain.com
Assembly Delegate Tony Wilt at DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov
Here are two good articles on this issue:
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/10/10/assisted-living-prison-cells-aging-prisoners-on-the-rise/
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/20743-the-graying-of-our-incarceration-nation
10 comments:
As one of the jurors for Mr. Colosi I recommend you deny his release. This men are there for "horrific" crimes. Leave them there.
He is not asking for himself to be released. No wonder you convicted this guy. The two men who killed Steve's wife stated in front of other employees that they would get back a Steve for firing them. That alone should have given you reasonable doubt, but you probably don't even know what that is.
Hmmm...I do know what is reasonable doubt. You didn't sit on the jury or deliberate this particular case. Yes, I understand he is asking for others; however, what is his motivation? I don't disagree with some of the cases he mentioned, but age alone should not be a factor. If they were getting back at him, why were there so many phone calls between them. Why did he pay them money? I heard all of the evidence presented in court.
Thank you for your comments and concerns. I have met and corresponded with Mr. Colosi, and as you say, he is advocating for others and not only for himself. I am not weighing in on his or others' guilt or innocence, but could mercy and compassion be a possible motive? Or should we sentence every offender to life in prison and simply rename our prison system the Virginia Department of Everlasting Punishment?
Here's another piece on parole release for aging prisoners: http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/08/are-we-not-men-amnesty-for-aging-inmates.html
Mr. Colosi terrorized other women besides Ms. Rogers. He never once showed any remorse for his actions toward his wife or the women he previously terrorized. I believe he has alternative, selfish motives to his sudden compassion for his fellow inmates. He should never step foot outside of a prison for the rest of his miserable life.
I understand the feelings of outrage any of us have about horrifying crimes. Are you recommending we simply execute everyone who has committed rape or murder? If so, we should not send them to a Department of CORRECTIONS.
Mr. Colosi deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. Period!!!! His motives although they seem compassionate are absolutely self-serving too!
I’m his son fuck you for wanting him in there
You're his son? Well, now, the apple does not fall too far from the tree. You need to have your mouth washed out with soap.
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