HARD TIME VIRGINIA Vol.6, No. 3, Dec. 2021 Holiday Edition!

HARD TIME VIRGINIA is an occasional newsletter by and for incarcerated persons on my address list, originating at

1540 Hawthorne Circle

Harrisonburg, VA 22802

Pathetically Few Parole Releases Celebrated This Year

There are over 2,574 parole eligible incarcerated persons in Virginia's Department of Corrections, yet there have been only 143 combined release grants through October, as follows:

Regular Grants: 89                                  Board Review Grants: 7                          

Geriatric Grants: 23                 Violators continued on parole: 39

Dual Grants: 24                                    Discharged sentences: 15

Most of the releases appear to have been granted for juvenile and Fishback cases, and very few for the approximately 1200 original old law men and women who were eligible prior to adding juvenile, Fishback and Three Strike cases to the parole eligible pool. 

As a stark example, since January a total of 157 interviews were conducted with parole eligible men at the Augusta Correctional Center. Many of them felt their interviews went well, and large numbers of them had created impressive records of achievements in the years they had spent behind bars since parole was abolished in 1995, and have demonstrated years of infraction-free behavior in prison. 

After decades behind bars, a large percentage of these men were also eligible for geriatric release. Not only have many "aged out of crime," but scores have worked hard at becoming truly changed men who deserve a second chance. And many of their counselors and members of the prison staff agree.

Yet as of this date none of these men at ACC have been granted release. Not one. For all who have truly turned their lives around, this is heartbreaking, and reflects a failure of the board to carry out its mission. I know the political pressure they feel is enormous, and that their jobs are dependent on the will of the governor who in turn is under pressure by tough-on-crime legislators who resist having anyone found guilty of a violent crime return to society. 

But as the name implies, the mission of our Department of Corrections is to correct, and not merely to punish. If we fail to acknowledge and release truly deserving men and women in our prisons, we are admitting our expensive "corrections" system is a failure. 

- Harvey Yoder, with thanks to Jonathan White for some of the above information

Lunenberg Correctional Center Thanksgiving Menus

Noon Meal (Great!)                   Brown Bag Dinner (Interesting!)   

Honey Ham                                        Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Chicken Leg Quarter                        Beverage package mix

Mac & Cheese

Candy Yams

Bread Dressing

Greens

Gravy

Cranberry Sauce

Cake w/icing

Sweet Potato Pie

Beverage package mix with water

Some Holiday Reflections From Inside Virginia Prisons

"Thanksgiving in prison is a day that we all can be thankful for family and friends who truly care and help us to remain strong and unbroken in our hope for freedom." Jonathan White, ACC  

"I miss being with my family and seeing their faces light up and enjoying the spirit of Christmas time and just being with my loved ones, visiting friends and enjoying the good food. I thank Jesus for all He's done for us."    Robert Lee Ayers, BKCC

"I am grateful for family, my health and those that work tirelessly to ensure that he parole process is based on accomplishments, programming and behavior while in prison and not solely on the "serious nature of one's offense." This is what I am thankful for"  Dennis Berry, ACC

"Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks to those who helped me find a home plan for my pardon request. I haven’t had this much love and support in a long time."  Richard "Rick" Webb, ACC                

 

"I am truly thankful for my family and friends who have supported me over the years of my incarceration. I appreciate each and everyone. Happy Holidays!”   Lloyd Whetzel ACC

"My mother is not able to care for herself. She needs me home to care for her and her affairs. I miss all of my loved ones, my two sons, my sisters and my niece and nephews. I love them all very much and only desire the best for them."  Charles Zellers BKCC                                                                                                                                       

"Holidays can be the most difficult time of year, and especially Christmas. After 27 years, I still become melancholy when watching "It's A Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" because in actually, it's not a wonderful life, only an existence! The only thing that keeps me going and doing right is remembering that Christmas means the birth of my Savior and the promise of eternal life."   Mike Missett, BKCC 

                                                                                                

“Taking in the bulbs of light

The smell from evergreens pine 

Hot chocolate by a fire this night

With family and friends such delight

All this is to me yet real

Surely God's grace is what we feel

So don't feel lonely, don't feel sad

This just might be the best we've had.

Merry Christmas from our Prison Land"

                                John Hanner, BKCC

Tidings of Great Joy (Isaiah 9:6)

“For unto ____________________ a child is born, a son is given

He will be your governor, and his name shall be

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”