Model Prisoner, 47, Denied Parole Seven Times

Mr. Zellers (front left) with some of his friends

Charles Edward Zellers, Sr., was born April 10, 1968, in Mecklenburg County, and was incarcerated at age 25. At the recommendation of his court appointed attorney he entered an Alford Plea, being led to believe he might get the death penalty if he had a jury trial. He was also told by his attorney that he would likely be released on parole after seven years if he maintained a good prison record. 

I do not post details about any inmate's case unless at their request or with their explicit permission, but Charles clearly takes responsibility for his past and is eager to do whatever he can to make a positive contribution to society and to his family. He especially wants to be able to help his widowed mother in her declining years and his two younger sisters, one a single mother with four children who also very much need his help and support.

In his own words:

"I agreed to the Alford Plea only because of the coercion of my court-appointed public defender. He was actually my second attorney in this case. The first one came to the jail in the middle of the night and verbally offered me a plea for, I think, 50 years. If I had known then what I know now, I would have accepted it. I would be mandatorying my sentence in two more years."

The following record of his achievements demonstrates his commitment to being model citizen:

*PIEDMONT REGIONAL JAIL (January 25, 1993 to March 22,1994)

Charles served 421 days there and completed numerous Bible classes while there and corresponded with a pastor who visited him, the Rev. Zada Lovelace.

*POWHATAN RECEPTION & CLASSIFICATION CENTER

Here Charles  earned his GED November 29, 1994 and completed numerous other biblical courses,. He was a model citizen there and also attended AA and church services plus completing the A+ program. 

*AUGUSTA CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Upon arrival at ACC Charles was provided a job in yard maintenance and was given an inmate job performance review that stated that he was "an excellent worker and his achievements consistently far exceed the position's objectives." Later while at ACC Charles went to work on a special inmate work crew created by then Assistant Warden Mr. Jack Lee to complete special projects such as building retaining walls, segregation recreation cages, VCE loading dock, kitchen loading dock, concrete drains, and hanging fences with razor wire, painting housing units using the firetruck boom, replacing tiles in the showers, and many other projects. He completed more biblical courses while there and was a model citizen.

Charles did receive two disciplinary actions: 1). 2/7/1995 - 213 - Failure To Follow Count Rules - Reprimand (he said he did not hear the officer announce count because he was asleep). 2). 3/14/1995 - 224 - Possession of Contraband - Reprimand. Since it was his first time in prison, he innocently bought a calculator from another inmate which violated policy. 

*KEEN MOUNTAIN CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Charles completed many more biblical courses while there and received his first job as a temporary concrete worker installing a sidewalk around the recreation yard. He signed up and completed the masonry vocational program on March 30, 1998 and his supervisor Mr. Shrader liked his work ethics so much he hired him as a masonry tutor and was assigned special institutional projects to complete like the sign "Welcome to Keen Mountain Correctional Center" and the circular brick structures in front of the KMCC support building. Mr. Shrader noted in his performance review that he was an excellent worker and his achievements exceeded objectives and that he continued to improve his skills. His major job responsibilities were to assist in the daily operation of the Masonry Class. On February 8, 1999, Charles completed CustodialMaintenance Vocational trade. 

Charles received five DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS while there. 1) 1/2/1997 Commit Fraud By Mail/Phone - 2 Days in Isolation. The mail room staff opened his outgoing mail which had numerous letters sealed in envelopes all in one manilla envelope so his sister could mail the letters for him because lacked money for stamps. 2) 9/20/1997 Failure To Follow Count Rules - 30 Day Commissary Loss. (Charles did not hear officer announce count time). 3) 2/1/1999 Possession of Contraband - 30 Days Commissary Loss, suspended for 120 days of good behavior. Involved wire my cell mate used on Christmas tree lights. He did not want to lose his good time because of the charge so he told Officer it was Charles's even though it was found on his cell mates bed. 4) 3/7/1999 Possession of Contraband - 15 Days Lost Good Time. Officer charged him for rubber bands, paper clips and a highlighter. 5). 3/1/2000 - 201 - Disobeying Direct Order - 30 Day Telephone Loss. An inmate had been requesting an Emergency Grievance and he told the rookie officer but he never took it upstairs to the inmate so Charles got it and gave it to the inmate. The rookie officer was angry and wrote the charge.

*SUSSEX ONE STATE PRISON

Charles was hired April 22, 2002 in his unit for Housekeeping. He cleaned the showers which is a job not every inmate wants. While he was there Charles received the following certificates:

1). 2/6/2001 - Associate of Biblical Studies

2). 3/6/2001 - Graduate of Biblical Studies

3). 3/28/2001 - Bachelor of Biblical Studies

4). 5/1/2001 - Master of Biblical Studies

5). 5/2/2001 - Dr. Robert L. Johnston wrote the following letter.

"Charles has been a student with the PMI Center for Biblical Studies only since September 2000 and has already completed five academic years of study. His work habits are well disciplined, with a positive attitude and a steadfast commitment... I can say unequivocally that Charles E. Zellers, Sr. is one of our top students." 

He had no infractions.

*SUSSEX TWO STATE PRISON

Charles worked as pod laundry man and completed many biblical courses, a money management course, a fathers course, the Productive Citizenship Program, a history course, a seventeen-week substance abuse psycho-educational program, and an exercise and relaxation course in 2004. No infractions.

*AUGUSTA CORRRECTIONAL CENTER (2nd time here)

Charles was hired to work in the kitchen. In less than a month he was promoted to lead man in the tray room where he supervised other inmates. On 9/29/2004 he completed the Breaking Barriers Program. He continued going to church and completed more biblical courses. No infractions.

*BUCKINGHAM CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Charles started working a pod Houseman and then in the Virginia Correctional Enterprise Sheet Metal Shop. He started in janitorial then relocated to the Drawer Section where he was promoted to supervisor.

On March 2005 he completed the Captivities Course, on July 29, 2005 he completed the Sex Offender Program Action Committee (SOPAC), on 10/2/2007 he received the Preventing Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Training Class Documentation and on August 17, 2011 he completed the Preventing Recidivism by Educating for Parole Success (P.R.E.P.S.).

Charles also completed biblical courses here and continued to be a model inmate with the lowest Class Level Assignment one can get.

From 1995 to 2002 Charles also worked continuously on his family history tree. He has since learned a lot about Microsoft Applications and has proposed a program for inmate education using Microsoft tablets.

*ZELLERS PAROLE TURNDOWNS

04/22/2005 - Decision Not to Grant Parole - Helen F. Fahey

Serious nature and circumstances of crime

05/05/2006 - Decision Not to Grant Parole - Helen F. Fahey

Serious nature and circumstances of crime

07/06/2007 - Decision Not to Grant Parole - Helen F. Fahey

Serious nature and circumstances of crime

06/18/2008 - Decision Not to Grant Parole - Helen F. Fahey

Serious nature and circumstances of crime

Defer case for 3 years

04/26/2011 - Decision Not to Grant Parole - William W. Muse

Serious nature and circumstances of offense

Crimes committed

Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime

Risk to the community

Defer for 3 years

07/08/2014 - Decision to Not Grant parole - Karen D. Brown

Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime

The Board considers you to be a risk to the community.

Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).

The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.

05/14/2015 - Decision to Not Grant parole - Karen D. Brown

Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime

Crimes committed

Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).

The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.

Another Heartbreaking Parole Board Denial

Mr. Zellers in 2015, with some of his friends, when he was
in much better health.

Charles E. Zellers, Sr.
VADOC No. 1036758
Buckingham Correctional Center
Post Office Box 430
Dillwyn, Virginia 23936

Re: Recent Virginia Parole Board ("VPB") Decision

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Dear friends and family:

It truly breaks my heart to have to write you and give you the sad news that I've been denied a parole grant again. That was my eleventh not grant decision from the VPB and I've been eligible for release since July 30, 2005.

I was seen by the VPB Examiner on April 4, 2023 and my family and advocates met with VPB member Mrs. Michelle Dermyer on June 21, 2023.

The following not grant decision was handed down on September 29, 2023, and was certified on October 2, 2023.

I plan on filing an appeal since I do have a new medical issue which I didn't have prior to my advocates meeting with the VPB staff. My pulmonary doctor told me that he wants me to go back on supplemental oxygen. I will be transferred to Deerfield Correctional Center when this happens, probably sometime in January. I requested that I be permitted to stay here at Buckingham Correctional Center until I complete the Resilience Education Course I'm currently enrolled in through the University of Virginia's Darden Business School, one of top five in the country.

If you would like to contact any of the Board members, below are their email addresses*:

Patricia.west@vpb.virginia.gov (Chair)
Lloyd.banks@vpb.virginia.gov (Vice-chair)
Michelle.dermyer@vpb.virginia.gov
Samuel. boone@vpb.virginia.gov

Thanks to each of you for all you have done and hopefully will continue to do to help me obtain a parole grant. And pray for my aging mother, Judy Zellers. She is really taking my getting another turndown hard.

Respectfully submitted,

Charles

* Editorial note: There is still a parole board vacancy to be filled to bring the number of members to the required five. 
And here is the standard, computer-based response Mr. Zellers received:

Dear Charles Zellers:

The Virginia Parole Board recently reviewed your case for potential release on discretionary parole. As you know, the goal of the Parole Board is to release on parole those eligible offenders deemed suitable for release and whose release will be compatible with the welfare of society and the offender.

The Board, in determining whether you should be released on parole, considered a number of factors, including, but not limited to, whether your release would be compatible with public safety and the mutual interests of society and you; whether your character, conduct, vocational training and other developmental activities during incarceration reflect the probability that you will lead a law-abiding life in the community and live up to all conditions of parole, if released; sentencing information; facts and circumstances of the offense(s) including mitigating and aggravating factors; prior criminal history and information regarding adjustment to previous probation or parole, if any; personal history; institutional adjustment such as your response to available programs; changes in attitude toward self and others; release plans; evaluations; impressions gained when interviewed by the parole examiner; and any other information provided by your attorney, family, victims or other persons.

In accordance with Code Section 53.1-155 and in consideration of the factors listed above and the information available to us, the Virginia Parole Board's decision to "not grant" parole on September 29, 2023 is based primarily on the following reasons:

> Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime
> The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.
> Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).
> History of violence.

While this may not be the answer you hoped for, please continue your hard work. The Parole Board made every effort to balance your rehabilitation needs with the public safety considerations on behalf of the citizens of Virginia.

If you believe that the Board made errors or that there is new or different information not available to the Board when the case was decided, you may request reconsideration of the decision. Requests for reconsideration must be received by the Board within sixty (60) days of the decision date on forms furnished by the Board to the institution; however, please be advised that the Board will reconsider cases only for specific errors or significant new or different information that was "unavailable" to the Board when the case was decided.

Sincerely,

By direction of the Virginia Parole Board:

Patricia West, chair

Here are some of blog posts which are about, or are written by, Mr. Zellers: 

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/11/model-prisoner-47-denied-parole-seven.html
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/search?q=charles+Zellers

Guest Post: "Virginia's Prisons - No Place For Those 65 And Older"

Mr. Charles, Zellers, Sr., is on the front and left

Here's a thoughtful piece by Mr. Charles, Zellers, Sr., a Virginia inmate and a tireless advocate for those deserving geriatric release:

I've been incarcerated over 23 years and I've met some amazing elderly men. I'm 48 years old and I have two sons and one grandson, but many of my elderly friends here are greatgrandfathers or even great-greatgrandparents.

When an individual commits crimes, the first thing society wants to do is lock them up and throw away the key. Even those who once were their friend, neighbor or someone everyone in the community liked. 

Shouldn't citizens and professionals be looking at factors contributing to people's crimes? I agree for some individuals their offense is a sickness or pure evil, but not for all. Some were overly stressed by family or work issues or were on drugs or alcohol. This is not to excuse their behavior, but the criminal justice system should not classify all criminals as the same even though the law that was broken was the same. Each case and sentence should be looked at on an individual basis.

I personally know 38 older men here and many others I've met throughout the past 23 years who are deserving of release and are at minimal or no risk of reoffending.. The only thing I ask of society is to give them their freedom, and to help them obtain clothing, employment, food, medical services, medication, and shelter after their release. 

I know prisoners who refuse parole because they have lost all of their family support systems and do not choose to be a burden on their children, etc. They say they will be in debt as soon as they step out of prison and they have little or no money saved up for their future. Many have not paid in the required amount to receive social security because they were denied parole past age 65. Some are still ready and able to work and would be dedicated to work hard and show up for work every day.

Currently inmates who are ordered by medical to have ambulatory devices (such as canes, walkers, etc.) or who are legally blind are being transferred from here. We are unsure what they will face in the prisons to which they are being transferred.

Are second chances out of the question for geriatric prisoners? Are they being discriminated against solely because their age, or for crimes that are on their record from their distant past? Why are model prisoners repeatedly denied parole release even though they are eligible according to Virginia law and have met every requirement possible?

By Charles Zellers, Buckingham Correctional Center, Dilwyn, VA

On His 50th, Inmate Yearns For Outside Friends

A tireless advocate for
prison and parole reform

Charles E. Zellers, Sr., is a friend at Buckingham Correctional Center with whom I've been communicating through letters, emails and phone calls since February 2014. He turns 50 April 10, and I'd love to see him get some cards on his special day (Or you can send him birthday greetings via my email address and I will forward them to him).

Charles was incarcerated in January, 1993, in his early 20's after entering an Alford Plea, at which time his public defender assured him he should be released on parole in a matter of a few years with continual good behavior. Charles has far, far exceeded that goal by successfully completing the prescribed DOC treatment plan and taking every available class possible to better himself. Since  2006 he has been employed  by Virginia Correctional Enterprises (VCE) - Buckingham's Sheet Metal Shop where he is a respected lead man in the metal furniture assembly process.

In spite of having been eligible for discretionary parole since 2005, he has been denied 9 times, and was most recently given a three-year deferral, which means his case will not be reviewed again until 2021. His goals upon release continue to be to get a full-time job, to become a part of a caring church, to help get his aging mother's affairs in order, and to volunteer to help others.

Charles has sent me numerous proposals that he recommended for DOC and ones that he would like to help implement and participate in upon his release from prison. Some have to do with providing computers to deserving people in exchange for turning in ammunition and firearms.

In his own words, Charles is reaching out for the following:

> compassionate unconditional friendships from individuals who will accept him for who he is today and not for the crime for which he was incarcerated for over 25 years ago;

> a church with members who will accept him with love and provide him with a chance to prove himself trustworthy;

> organizations which would accept him as a volunteer who wishes to help better the community and the state.

> advocates who would help to find employment

> advocates who would search for employers from around the Commonwealth who agree to hire parole candidates;

> provide information on employers who are open to hiring parolees to <harvyoder@gmail.com> so he can post them on the APP-HRC database;

> information on pro-parole activists who would agree to help prepare post-release plans.

> friends who are knowledgeable in computer programming using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

> advocates who could urge Virginia Parole Board members to grant parole release to deserving old-law parole-eligible inmates before they reach their senior years. 

Charles E. Zellers, Sr.

DOC # 1036758

Buckingham Correctional Center

P. O. Box 430
Dillwyn, VA 23936

Anyone willing to write Charles directly through email would need to contact JPay.com and have their name and email address added to his account. JPay stamps are as follows:

5 - JPay Stamps $1.95

20 - JPay Stamps $6.95

40 - JPay Stamps $9.95

New Parole Chair Meets With Buckingham Men

The Honorable Chadwick S. Dotson has been  appointed as
chair of the new Virginia Parole Board (TimesNews photo)

The new Virginia Parole Board Chair Chadwick S. Dotson is to be commended for taking the time to meet face to face recently with two groups of parole eligible men at the Buckingham Correctional Center and to respond to their questions and concerns. It remains to be seen whether the chairman's promising words will translate into more actual releases for those deserving of a second chance, given the fact that the newly appointed board (yet to be officially approved) released no one in March and only two individuals in April.

Charles Zellers, Sr., incarcerated for over 29 years and currently serving time at BKCC sent me a summary of the notes he took at this unprecedented meeting, as follows:

Notes from 11:30 am Friday, May 13, 2022 with Chadwick S. Dotson, Parole Chair, who described his mission as follows:

> Parole eligible inmates are not just a number but human beings.

> Governor Youngkin believes in second chances deeply. He told Chadwick Dotson to be serious about second chances.

> Chadwick Dotson wants to improve outcomes for parole eligible inmates and their family.

> Chadwick Dotson meets with board members once a week face to face or virtually over a computer screen.

> Chadwick Dotson will encourage other board members to listen to all who speak on behalf of parole eligible inmates.

> Chadwick Dotson knows that the crime will never change and he is working on a solution to provide parole eligible inmates more feedback on reasons for denial of parole (other than the seriousness of their crime.

> Chadwick Dotson wants parole eligible inmates to have face to face examinations with board members

> Chadwick Dotson wants to hear that inmates are remorseful and understands how my choice affected my family and the victim's family. He is more concerned on who we are today. Wants to know if he and his board members can take a chance with releasing people like me.

> Chadwick Dotson said if you committed my crime before age 25, let him know because studies have shown the brain is not fully developed until age 25.

> Chadwick Dotson said he came to Buckingham today so that he could look us in our eyes and tell us personally that he believes in parole and that he voted for parole.

> Chadwick Dotson has to convince other board members and society that inmates deserve second chances.

> Chadwick Dotson said that he has never been a politician. Parole eligible inmates are the biggest stakeholders. The parole process needs to be fair and transparent.

> Chadwick Dotson said he will be working every day to improve outcomes in the parole decisions.

Chadwick Dotson ended his speaking at 11:42 AM.

Then the following questions were taken:

1). Q. How will you prove to us that you believe in parole?

A. By the way the board will conduct business in the future.

2). Q. At what point will the board no longer allow the victim input to be the deciding factor for release? Some will never forgive.

A. Victim input is only one part of the parole process. He is working on some things he didn't wish to comment on today.

3). Q. What if a parole eligible inmate claims his innocence?

A. On day one he told the parole board investigators that if someone claims they are innocent they are to get to the bottom of it immediately.

4). Parole board members need more face time with other board members.

5). Appeal process - The Parole Board needs to provide better feedback to parole eligible inmates.

6). Chadwick Dotson, said that the Parole Board is not serving us parole eligible inmates well. He said that he did learn that today from us.

7). Chadwick Dotson is working on a structured decision-making process.

8). Chadwick Dotson said Virginia's parole system is currently not a fair system and he plans to fix it.

9). Chadwick Dotson said that not having a Home Plan is not a good reason to deny someone parole.

10). Chadwick Dotson said that it didn't matter to him what a person's crime was but he said he can't speak for the other members. Each parole eligible inmate should be judged individually.

Zellers' comments: Over all, I think that the new Chairman, if he was being truthful, will be the person to get us out and the parole system in Virginia fixed where it is fair for all.

I am launching H.O.P.E. IN VIRGINIA ("Helping Offenders who are Parole Eligible") and appreciate any help and support for the parole release of deserving individuals. In my case, my elderly ailing mother Judy Zellers needs me home to care for her and her affairs. 

Please contact the Virginia Parole Board at 6900 Atmore Drive, Richmond, VA 23225 (804-674-3081) and let them know your concerns, or send an email https://vpb.virginia.gov/contact/.

Respectfully requested, Charles E. Zellers, Sr. 

Thank you for your time, efforts and concerns.

ICARE: An Innovative Educational Program For Virginia Inmates

The following, in his own words, is the brainchild of Charles Zellers, Sr., one of the inmates with whom I correspond at the Buckingham Correctional Center at Dillwyn, Virginia: 

I urge the Virginia Department of Corrections, technology companies and others to adopt and implement a computerized education program for prison inmates I have provisionally dubbed "ICARE" (Inmate Computer Assisted Rehabilitation through Education).

ICARE is based on the use of tablet computers with educational software and Access, Excel, Outlook, Paint, Powerpoint, Publisher and Word, which would be downloaded for a reasonable fee from JPay kiosks or similar systems.

VDOC would start this program by making the following core subjects mandatory for all inmates: Basic English, Basic Math, Basic Finance, and skill training for specific jobs. Once inmates master these core subjects, they could choose to continue their education and earn a GED certification and then take advanced college level courses.

In addition, ICARE would offer opportunities to inmates to expand their horizions and keep their brains active by purchasing or renting a variety of approved e-books, e-periodicals, educational videos, movie and music videos and approved video games, and to channel their artistic and literary creativity through the use of graphic art, word processing and other applications.

By giving inmates such opportunities to educate themselves and each other in their cells, day rooms and dormitories, ICARE would help them use their time more constructively and encourage them to become more self reliant and better prepared to return to our technology saturated society, thereby helping to close the revolving door in our criminal justice system, reduce recidivism, make our communities safer and ease the burden on taxpayers.

Here are my proposed ICARE tablet specifications:

1. Affordable for all inmates
2. Clear, durable case (to prevent contraband from being hidden inside)
3. Security screws to prevent tampering
4. Screen size of 10.1 inches or larger
5. Minimal memory of 32 GB (expandable)
6. Sufficient storage (cloud based?)
7. Preloaded operating system, Microsoft Windows 8.1 or newer
8. Touch screen
9. Power cord to operate unit and recharge batteries (no external adapter)
10. Mini USB port for Firewire cord
11. Firewire cord to connect with J-Pay kiosk
12. Standard USB for optional thumb drive
13. Headphone jacks for multiple users
14. Earbuds
15. Rechargeable battery
16. Instructional manual
17. Parts and labor warranty (one year)
18. Detachable lighted keyboard (optional)
19. Wireless mouse/scanner combo (optional)
20. Thumb drive

Excluded items would be cameras or web cams, card readers, internal speakers, microphones or recording devices, or any network ports (no Wi-Fi or Internet capability).

Other fee-based services would include e-mail access and printing services through a printer located in the mail room and controlled by their staff. Inmates would be charged per page, as they are currently for copying services.

I pray that God will allow me to be paroled so I can help implement this and other ideas I have to help inmates.

Charles Zellers, Sr.

Packing More Inmates Into Bathroom-Size Cages

Charles Zellers Sr.'s 7x12 single cell, now double-bunked as a part of a plan to house extra prisoners

Virginia's prison system is in crisis. With state budget shortfalls contributing to increased pressures to make cuts wherever possible, prisons, as always, are seen as the most politically safe places to reduce costs.

As one budget cutting measure, the aging Powhatan prison at State Farm, Virginia, built in 1926, has been the first to be shut down except for a small number of inmates left there to operate its print shop and milk plant. At least 120 from that facility were recently moved to Buckingham Correctional Center, built for 640, but now, with the latest influx of new prisoners, filled to nearly twice that number. I've heard from another inmate that 130 men have been moved to the Augusta Correctional Center, which is also at double its design capacity.

As prisons become more crowded and understaffed, I hear  reports of increased stress, more gang activity and a significant drop in morale. All of this is made worse by smaller food portions, inmates sometimes being given used clothes and towels, and being charged increased fees for medical and dental services that were once paid by the state. While there are now fewer jobs available (typically at 27¢ an hour), inmates are no longer even provided the usual weekly bar of prison manufactured soap, which they now must purchase at the commissary.

Mr. Zellers, who provided me with the above sketch of his 7' x 12' cell, had for the past 18 years earned a cell to himself for being a model prisoner, but he must now share his bathroom-size space with a cellmate. Originally all Buckingham cells were designed to house only one person, but as is the case in other Virginia prisons, that has not been possible for some time.

The American Correctional Association states that there must be 35 square foot of unencumbered space per single cell occupant, and when confinement exceeds more than ten hours a day, that number must be 80 square feet. And when there are two or more in the same cell, there are to be 25 square feet of space per inmate.

As can be seen from the above diagram, Zellers' cell offers only about 29 square feet of open space, or 14.5' per person.

The next time you go into your bathroom, visualize having to spend a major portion of your time in that kind of close confinement every day--and for years on end. Then try to imagine being denied parole year after year in spite of putting every effort possible to earn an early release, something you were assured you would get if you entered a plea agreement and demonstrated good behavior while incarcerated.

According to Zellers' most recent letter, "Parole turn downs have been pouring in for the past week. Haven't heard of anyone being granted parole yet. Discretionary parole release is a joke and so is geriatric release, both done by the same corrupt Parole Board."

Click here for more posts on our broken criminal justice system.

A Highly Paid Parole Board That Rarely Paroles

Charles Zellers, who has been incarcerated since he was
in his twenties, has like many others done everything 
humanly possible to earn their release, but to no avail.

Of the over 2000 parole eligible prisoners in Virginia, the Virginia Parole Board released only two in January and four in February.  I received the following message Friday from my friend Charles, who has been denied parole eleven times, even though when he took an Alford Plea in 1993 he was assured he would obtain an early release if he did well while incarcerated. 

I have been corresponding with him for over a decade, and he is now suffering from a severe case of Long Covid:

I have been incarcerated since January 25, 1993. I have earned my GED, successfully completed training for two vocational trades, and had been employed by Virginia Correctional Enterprises for 14 years until I got Covid. For ten of those years I was a lead man in charge of training and checking the work of other inmates in my department. 

I have been infraction free for decades, have successfully completed every self-help course available and have taken numerous college courses, earning a certificate in business through UVA and the Darden Business School. Now I am needing continuous oxygen and have been transferred to the Deerfield Correctional Center, a DOC facility that houses hundreds of prisoners with serious illnesses and disabilities.

I am wanting to complete my sentence as a parolee in my home community, where I can take care of my aging mother and give back to victims of crime and to the citizens where my crimes were committed.

I am seeking good people who believe in second chances to contact the Virginia Department of Corrections Director, Chadwick Dotson, and tell him that I have been parole eligible since July 30, 2005, but have been repeatedly denied release. 

Why hasn't the DOC prepared me and and others to qualify for release from prison prior to our parole eligibility date? Why aren't they working with me now, and preparing me and others like me to be deemed suitable for release? Why are so many parole eligible inmates still wasting taxpayers money sitting idly in prison?

Please ask DOC Director Dotson, state legislators and members of the Parole Board to advocate for whatever help is needed for people like me to be seen as "corrected" by the Department of Corrections and deserving of a well earned release from prison.

Thank you for your time and efforts, and for acting on your concerns.

Blessings,

Charles E. Zellers, Sr. 1036758
Deerfield Correctional Center

21360 Deerfield Drive

Capron, VA 23829

DOC Director chadwick.dotson@vadoc.virginia.gov 

Virginia Board of Parole https://vpb.virginia.gov/contact/

Governor Youngkin GGY74@Governor.Virginia.Gov 

P. S. Please share this with others.

Note: I posted this in November, 2015: https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/11/model-prisoner-47-denied-parole-seven.html

Oh Free At Last! Independence Day at BKCC

Allan Spitzer, 68, was
incarcerated 32 years.

Inmates at the Buckingham Correctional Center had a special reason to celebrate the Fourth this year upon receiving news that six of their friends and fellow detainees had been released June 29 by the Virginia Parole Board. More than one of them cried when they received their parole grant letter, many having been denied parole year after year and coming to believe they they were going to die in prison. 

Charles Zellers writes, "There is a God and His holy hands are working to correct the injustice that has been done to parole-eligible inmates throughout the years. Those who were lost were pulled down to their lowest point in life until they were humbled before God and then He showed them mercy and brought them up out of the pits of hell making them victorious. I truly believe that these individuals will now be model citizens in society. God truly is a mighty God."

Henry Tipold, 72,
incarcerated 38 years.

Zellers is suggesting we write letters of thanks to the Governor and to members of the Virginia Parole Board, thanking them for offering these men their hard earned independence and encouraging the Board to continue to give deserving "old-law" men and women (incarcerated before 1995) their second chance at a new life. 

Ever rising costs and overcrowding inside Virginia's jails and prison adds to the urgency of these releases for the men and women sentenced prior to the 1995 so-called Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS) Law.

Another reason to release such inmates, he points out, is because many of the older prisons need remodeling. Some do not have air-conditioning and become unbearably hot, well exceeding temperatures in even animal shelters, those generally not to exceed 80 degrees. Inmates are allowed to purchase one eight-inch fan if they can afford the nearly thirty dollar cost.

Also from Zellers, "Hopefully, in the near future, all of DOC''s facilities will provide reentry for the inmates being released so that they will not be sent to other reentry facilities where they could be victimized by VADOC staff and inmates. This is why "old-law" and "new-law" inmates should not be housed together. This practice of VADOC has been going on since the 1995 TIS Law was implemented, and many parole-eligible inmates have lost their parole and good-time release dates because of those new-law inmates. BKCC has an entire 64-man housing unit that could be used as a reentry program to help get parole-eligible inmates out of the VADOC. 

"Each inmate being released from VADOC is mandated to go through a five-month reentry program, even after they have served 20-50 consecutive years inside VADOC. Presently, all of these programs are currently filled which is slowing down the release process. More reentry units are needed or VADOC has to speed-up the reentry programs, or even waive the reentry step if the parolee has a stable home plan and individuals on the outside to help them."

Here are some addresses:

Governor, Terrance R. McAuliffe

Patrick Henry Building

1111 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor

Richmond, Virginia 23219
Email at http://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Brian J. Moran

P. O. Box 1475

Richmond, Virginia 23218-1475

Virginia Parole Board

P. O. Box 26963

Richmond, Virginia 23261-6936
Email at https://vpb.virginia.gov/contact/

Behind Bars For A Combined 458 Years, 17 Inmates Send Get Well Wishes To Alma Jean

Charles Zellers, Sr., an inmate at Buckingham Correctional Center, prepared a get well card for Alma Jean when he learned she had undergone her recent heart procedure. Charles has been in correspondence with me for some time as one of the many parole-eligible inmates who has been turned down time after time in spite of having worked hard at doing everything possible to earn parole release. He had been assured by his attorney that his early release would be a sure thing when he reluctantly signed a plea agreement in 1993.

Charles, who has been behind bars for 22 1/2 years, decided to invite some of his friends who are in similar circumstances to sign the card as well, along with the number of years they have been incarcerated, as follows:

Get well soon! Taylor, locked up 23 years.

God Bless, Ricky Hunter, 31 years

I hope you get well soon, God bless you. J. Hamm, 23 years

I wish you a speedy recovery. God bless you, D. Worrell, 37 years

May God bless you, L. Jones, 32 years

God loves us all, Larry, 25 years

May the Lord be with you forever, James Fitzgerald, 29 years, up for parole July 1.

May God bless you, and you are in my prayers, from Brother Charles Smith, 21 years

God bless, James T. McKey, 25 years

Get well soon, John B. Williams, 38 years

J. Wright, 38 years

God bless and keep you. May you recover quickly and get well soon,  Ken Menson, 6 years, no parole

God bless you and get better soon. I hope you. I hope you feel better soon. He never gives more than we can handle.  Steve Colosi, 15 years, no parole

May God keep you under his wings. R. Akers, 26 years

God bless, Joe, 42 years

Get well soon, (name illegible), 25 years

Needless to say, we found this card very touching, one we'll definitely keep as a reminder of the love and blessing of the good men at Buckingham who signed it.

Let's Write Letters Urging Compassion For These Aging Persons

John Bennie Williams, 88,
is legally blind.

The late Desmond Tutu once said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." 

Charles Zellers, incarcerated since 1994, has long been working for justice for deserving men and women behind bars, and is developing a program called H.O.P.E. "Helping Offenders who are Parole Eligible in Virginia." 

He recently sent me the names of just some of the incarcerated he knows about who are over 80 years of age, many with significant disabilities, and all of them deserving of compassionate release.

"I would understand keeping these men incarcerated if they were a proven threat to others or to themselves," he writes, but he believes they have clearly "aged out of crime" and that each of them is deserving of pardon by the outgoing governor and/or by the next administration.  

Cecil Adrian Allison, 1001820 (Greensville) Born 1941

Cordell Banks, 1160003 (State Farm) Born 1941

Edward Brown, 1120322 (MCV) Born 1937

Stanley J. Callis, 1075677 (Hospital) Born 1940

Charles Manuel Campbell, 1012686 (Marion) Born 1940

George Edward Cooley, 1135561 (Deerfield) Born 1938

Antonio S. Galicia, 1141440 (Buckingham) Born 1937

Eugene Samuel Mapson, 1132140 (State Farm) Born 1942

Jackson David Shifflett, Sr., 1175707 (Sussex I) Born 1933

James Timothy Smith, 1047569 (State Farm) Born 1940

Jay Richard Timmons, 1003927 (Greensville) Born 1938

John Bennie Williams, 1091323 (Deerfield) Born 2/24/33 Fell 3/2/76 Legally Blind

Robert Lee Woody, 1106065 (Deerfield) Born 1938

John Clinton Wright, 1171177 (Pocahontas) Born 10/24/27 6th Grade Education

Zellers writes:

There are many additional parole eligible offenders who are under 80 (born after 1941). Each of these "old-law" persons (incarcerated before parole was abolished in 1995) has served at least 26 consecutive years, and some for many more. They are no longer being corrected but warehoused. 

Keeping offenders incarcerated/warehoused without proving each, one on a case by case basis, is a continued threat to society is dead wrong, and shows nothing more than mere hate for these persons who have been incarcerated 26 or more consecutive years for a violent or sexual offense.

Please share this information with as many people as possible who can get this story out to many people within the United States and the whole world, so maybe someone will intervene. Some of these parole eligible offenders are legally blind, paralyzed, or are essentially in bad health and should clearly be granted release.

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) spends over a billion dollars annually to keep men and women warehoused when many of us could be free, paying taxes and doing good in our communities.

In addition, mental health, dental, and medical services are terrible within the VADOC. We have not had a pay raise in well over 30 years. Our pay is only from 27¢ to 45¢ per hour for up to 30 hours of work per week. And Virginia has stopped providing free soap, weekly stamped envelope, free legal postage, etc. Commissary has became prioritized and their prices are outrageous and continue to escalate.

Here's a link to contact Governor Northam https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Or pardons@governor.Virginia.gov

Here's how to contact the Parole Board https://vpb.virginia.gov/contact/

Is This A Bright Idea Or What?

I recently received an interesting proposal from Charles Zellers, Sr., a friend at the Buckingham Correctional Center near Dillwyn. I submitted it to the Daily News-Record earlier this week as a part of an op ed piece.

Charles gave his permission to include his name and this photo. Zellers is the second from the left, and the person behind him in the middle of the picture, Edward Stewart, is the one who recently died of an apparent heart attack (see 2/28/14 blog).

From Criminal Thinking To Technology Thinking

A friend at the Buckingham Correctional Center recently sent me a thoughtful proposal that would allow inmates to have personal laptops in prison for educational purposes (without access to Wi-Fi and the internet).

For some background, this person has been in prison for 21 years since entering an Alford Plea in a case in which he was charged when he was in his mid-twenties. He had been assured by his court appointed attorney that if he would agree to a plea and serve some time as a model prisoner, that he would earn parole within a few years.

But while this individual has consistently stayed out of trouble in prison, and has been involved in all the classes and programs that were supposed to help him earn parole, he is still confined after over two decades, partly due to the Virginia Parole Board having one of the lowest parole grant rates in the US. As the following shows, he continues to envision a productive life outside of prison.

Here is a slightly condensed version of his proposal:

1. Permission to purchase laptop computers to be kept in the possession of the inmate as personal property (same as television).

2. Permission to purchase and install Microsoft Office Suite software, a self contained teaching program that does not require WiFi or use of the Internet. This would allow offenders to learn Word (a word processing program), Excel (a spreadsheet/accounting program), Access (a database program), PowerPoint (a presentation program), and Desktop Publisher ( to create flyers, pamphlets, business cards, etc.). Microsoft Office Suite software is utilized in businesses throughout the world, and offenders could learn these complex skills at their leisure in their assigned cells or dorms.

3. The Virginia Department of Corrections has contracted with JPay to install kiosks in all offender living units. Once this has been connected statewide, the VDOC could authorize JPay to offer free programs for offenders to download on their laptops, such as Productive Citizenship, Anger Management, PREPS, and GED preparation. Also, VDOC could offer for sale approved vocational and educational programs that could assist offenders when they are released from prisons and jails, such as background training for Computer Assisted Drafting, Masonry, Welding, Plumbing, Small Engines, etc. These are all tools offenders could use to develop technical thinking instead of criminal thinking.

4. Require Virginia prisons to offer a basic computer class to all prisoners capable of gaining computer skills.

5. Require all Virginia Correctional Enterprises (VCE) to have at least one computer with Microsoft Office Suite installed in each department of every shop as a part of the training process.

If correction is to be the primary goal of VDOC, as spelled out in its mission statement, it’s hard to see any downside to this kind of program. And not only should costs to taxpayers be minimal, but this could result in huge savings as more people are released with skills to help them function as productive members of society.

Presently prisoners who have spent years behind bars find themselves experiencing a Rip Van Winkle-like lack of preparation for living in a world so different from the one they knew upon entering prison.
Programs designed to educate and rehabilitate our fellow citizens should not divide us into liberal or conservative camps. Regardless of our political leanings, we can no longer afford to waste millions in simply confining people in iron cages where they spend far too much time in mind numbing boredom and in learning ever more criminal behavior from their peers.

At the end of a recent letter, my friend lamented, “I do not understand why churches and other interested persons are not trying to help us. Many of us are praying that we can be released on parole while we are still able to get a job and take care of ourselves, while Virginia is just waiting for us to die.”

Click here for other links on criminal justice issues.

HARD TIME VIRGINIA Volume III, Number 1

Latest Parole Release Numbers Disappointing

According to the latest update on the Virginia Parole board website, only thirteen of hundreds of eligible 'old law' inmates were granted release in February, all men. Of these, only one was a geriatric release, in spite of the growing number of aging and infirm men and women who deserve to live out their final days with loved ones. And where that is not possible, a housing unit at Deerfield Correctional Center, where more medical care is available, should be dedicated to their state-funded nursing home care.

Buckingham Inmate Proposes "Computers For Firearms"

Charles Zellers, Sr., has come up with a great idea that is well worth considering. As a Lead-Inmate at the Virginia Correctional Enterprises Metal and Wood Furniture Shop, and in whatever other opportunity he’s had, he’s learned a lot about what can be accomplished with a computer, and has recommended that all inmates have access to computers for educational purposes.

Recently, he’s proposed that congregations and other organizations partner with police departments in offering computers in exchange for ammunition and firearms.

Concerned congregations other organizations in each community would ask members to donate unwanted computers and to enlist volunteers who would be willing to train others in how to renovate desktop, laptop and tablet computers. Qualified offenders could also be utilized to do this while still behind bars. 

Police departments would not only help in the effort to collect computers, but would advertise the availability of free devices in exchange for ammunition and firearms.

The goal would be to remove as many firearms and ammunition from society as possible, and especially from children and young people, and to get people educated in the use of computers.

Charles has many ideas which he is focused on implementing within whichever community he is granted parole to. These are the positive thinking individuals who are needed in society, not the ones who are continuing to violate parole over and over. Charles has served over 25 consecutive years and has been a model inmate throughout his incarceration yet the Board recently gave him a 3-year deferral which means he will be ineligible for release on parole for three years.

Among his many passions, one is to promote better education and job skills for inmates while incarcerated, and then when released to help other ex-offenders to succeed.

Co-pays Deter Prisoners from Accessing Medical Care 

by Christopher Zoukis - Prison Legal News (reprinted by permission)

More than four decades have passed since Estelle v. Gamble, the 1976 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which held prisoners cannot be denied necessary medical care under the Eighth Amendment. But when cash-strapped state Departments of Corrections charge co-pays for health care provided to sick prisoners - who earn meager wages and are the least able to afford such fees - the effect can often be the same.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 38 states charge prisoners a co-pay for medical services. Another four allow such fees to be charged by local jails. The co-pays range from $2.00 per nurse or doctor visit to a one-time $100 annual charge. Federal prisoners are also subject to fees for medical care, and charging co-pays has been a longstanding practice in prison systems.

Officially, the fees are meant to reimburse corrections agencies for the cost of providing medical services. In fact, however, they don't come close to doing so. The Pew Charitable Trusts reported that Pennsylvania, which charges prisoners a $5.00 co-pay, collected just $373,000 of the $248 million spent on prison health care in 2014 - less than two-tenths of one percent. Michigan collected $200,000 of the $300 million it paid that same year, while California collected approximately $500,000 of the $2.2 billion state prison officials spent on medical care - both less than one-tenth of one percent.

Oklahoma's $4.00 co-pay is just over the national average of $3.47. In 2016 the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) collected $250,000 from prisoners - a "very small portion" of the $84.4 million it spent on health care that year, acknowledged DOC spokesman Mark Myers.

But while the co-pays are a drop in the bucket of prison expenses, the cost they represent to prisoners and their families is high. An April 2017 study by the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) compared the hourly pay that prisoners receive to the minimum wage earned by non-prisoners, to come up with a co-pay adjusted for prison earnings. PPI determined that 14 states collect a co-pay equivalent to charging more than $200 to employees who earn the minimum wage outside prison - over two-thirds of the $290 those workers earn in a 40-hour work week.

In West Virginia, where prisoners make as little as 4 cents per hour, the DOC's $5.00 co-pay is equivalent to one that costs $1,093.75 for minimum wage workers on the outside - also an entire month's paycheck. Even in a state like California, where the pay is higher both in and outside of prison, the $5.00 co-pay imposed on prisoners is equivalent to $656.25 for minimum wage earners in the free world.

Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Texas lack any guaranteed wages for prison labor - meaning it's possible that is those states a prisoner can never earn enough to cover the cost of medical co-pay. While those who can't afford to pay are not denied health care, the amount owed is deducted from any money they receive or earn in the future.

Prison officials acknowledge that co-pays deter prisoners from seeking medical care, but insist the fees are needed to - as Myers put it - prevent "frivolous use of the medical system."

"We do it for the same reason your insurance company does - to eliminate abuse by making the inmate put a little skin in the game," said Tommy Thompson, a local jail administrator in Tennessee.

In Nevada, which charges one of the highest prisoner co-pays in the United States, DOC Public Information Officer Brooke Keast justified the $8.00-per-visit fee by saying prisoners tend "to be people who have not put their health as a priority," so it is "a constant guess as to whether they are really hurting."

Correctional people may think it's a deterrent for this annoying population who just wants attention," said Wendy Sawyer, a policy analyst with PPI, " but in reality they probably have a lot of legitimate health concerns to be addressed."

Co-pays are charged to a prisoner's trust account, which is funded from two primary sources - prison wages and money received from family and friends. The accounts are also used to pay for commissary items like hygiene products, food, postage stamps and clothing.

As a practical matter, the use of co-pays sets up a "two-tier" prison medical system, according to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) - one for prisoners who can afford both medical care and commissary purchases such as deodorant, another for those forced to choose between the two. NCCHC opposes co-pays for medical treatment.

While corrections officials are prohibited from denying care when prisoners are unable to pay, they are allowed to seize up to half the funds in a prisoner's trust account to cover outstanding co-pay costs, and negative balances can follow them even after their release. In Texas, where Estelle v. Gamble originated, Kyle Walker said she "can only afford to spend $30 to $40 every couple of weeks" to send to her imprisoned boyfriend.

"Even to just put the money in his trust fund, there's a fee for that transaction," she said. "So for them to deduct half of the money for [medical] services he's already received - it defeats the purpose of me even sending him money."

Faced with this harsh calculation, prisoners sometimes delay or decline to seek medical care - thereby not only risking their own health but also the health of others if they contract contagious diseases, while causing their medical costs to balloon if their untreated condition later worsens. Those costs often fall on the state anyway - either when prisoners are still incarcerated or after their release, when they receive medical care in the community through Medicaid or emergency room visits.

"The health of the prison population is worse on average - if not much worse - than the general public, so to have this [ co-pays] in place in any prison is unethical," said J. Wesley Boyd.

************************************

My closing piece is by retired Judge Dennis Challeen, author of 

Making It Right: A Common Sense Approach To Criminal Justice.

We want them to have self-worth

So we destroy their self-worth

We want them to be responsible

So we take away all responsibility

We want them to be positive and constructive

So we degrade them and make them useless

We want them to be trustworthy

So we put them where there is no trust

We want them to be non-violent

So we put them where violence is all around them

We want them to be kind and loving people

So we subject them to hatred and cruelty

We want them to quit being the tough guy

So we put them where the tough guy is respected

We want them to quit hanging around losers

So we put all the losers under one roof

We want them to quit exploiting us

So we put them where they exploit each other

We want them to take control of their lives, own problems and quit being a parasite...

So we make them totally dependent on us

Guestpost: How Many Years Will Satisfy Virginia's Citizens?

Buckingham Correctional Center

The following was sent to me recently by Charles Zellers, Sr., an inmate I correspond with at the Buckingham Correctional Center. Zellers was incarcerated over twenty-one years ago on the basis of an Alford plea he had agreed to with the understanding that he would soon be eligible for parole and released:

Over ten thousand of Virginia's parole eligible prisoners have been waiting to be released so they can be reunited with loved ones. These men and women have been incarcerated from nineteen to fifty years.

How many years is enough?

Many of these prisoners have been behind bars since they were in their teens and twenties. Now that many of them are elderly they are costing taxpayers more than ever.

Virginia's Parole Board continues to fail thousands of Virginians and their families. Virginia judges had sentenced offenders to sentences that would release men and women back into society if they completed the requirements designed by the General Assembly (COV 53.1-53.1-A) and implemented by the Virginia Department of Corrections Director.

This system was designed to evaluate prisoners received according to their background, aptitude, education and risk based on an assessment of needs, then determine program assignments which include vocational, career and technical education, work and academic activities, counseling, alcohol and substance abuse treatment to help them transition to free society and gainful employment. If the prisoner did not complete these assignment, he or she would receive disciplinary action that would take back good time the person had earned and push back the date of eligibility for discretionary parole release.

But the most recent parole boards, for the most part, have not done this. Governor Allen, who had parole revoked in Virginia for all offenders jailed after July 1, 1995, then created a list of parole decision factors that went beyond those approved by the Assembly. And prisoners are now only entitled to be seen by the parole interviewer only once a year, or every two or three years if the offender has ten or more years left to serve.

The parole board denies release of most prisoners because of "the seriousness of the crime", but this is not what the original law says, resulting in billions of dollars spent in keeping people behind bars who are no longer a risk to society. It is inhumane to keep model prisoners incarcerated until they die.

The basic principle behind the parole system is that while people must be punished for their wrongdoing, most are capable of growing, changing and rejoining society before the end of their discretionary sentence. The parole board should be looking at a prisoner's future and at their accomplishments while incarcerated, not at the past crime that put the offender in prison. For "old law" offenders (prior to 1995) release should be the default and the parole board should have to give a good reason to keep these offenders incarcerated. The millions used to house these offenders could be used for K-12 education, health care, affordable housing and other community services.

                                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The following is from the Parole Board website:

The Virginia Parole Board was established by law in 1942 and the Board continues to be empowered by Virginia Code Section 53.1-136 to make the following decisions:

• to conditionally release inmates who are parole eligible,
• to revoke parole and post release supervision of those under supervision found to be in violation of the terms of their release, and
• to investigate, prepare reports and advise the Governor, when requested, on Executive Clemencies.

The Board has the legal responsibility to act on geriatric requests for conditional release under Virginia Code Section 53.1 - 40.01.

Current parole board members as recently appointed by Governor McAuliffe include:

Karen Brown, chair (former vice chair)
The Reverend Doctor A. Lincoln James (pastor of Trinity Church in Richmond)
Sherman R. Lea (Roanoke City Council member, former VDOC head, Western District)
Minor F. Stone (25 years in law enforcement)
(unable to find the name of the fifth member)

Please Free Deserving Ex-Offenders

source

There is virtually no precedent in history for confining people in steel and concrete cages for life, a practice that is in many ways as cruel as a death sentence. The following was recently sent to me by an inmate at Buckingham Correctional Center:

Dear Governor Terrance McAuliffe:

Annually the President of the United States pardons turkeys. Why can't you as the Governor of Virginia pardon some humans who have proven that they are rehabilitated? Shouldn't it be considered unjust to continue to keep individuals incarcerated once they have successfully completed their DOC mandated education, programs, and vocational trades and are no longer a substantial risk to the community? 

Code of Virginia section 53.1-155 states that a thorough investigation will be made by the Parole Board of an inmate's history, physical/mental condition, character, conduct, employment and attitude while in prison. 

Here are just a few parole eligible prisoners who were sentenced prior to the January 1, 1995 implementation of Virginia's "No Parole" law and who continue to receive "Not Grant" reports from the Virginia Parole Board.

1). RONALD ANTHONY BLAIR, #1137599 - born, c. 1957 - incarcerated in 1987. Mr. Blair, housed in the Honor Housing Unit, has been a model prisoner throughout his incarceration.

2). ROBERT DAVIS FITCHETT, JR., #1035660 - born, September 29, 1963 - Mr. Fitchett was fifteen years young when he committed his crime in 1979 and was sentenced to two life sentences plus 21 years, but with the prospect of earning early parole release. The judge who sentenced him said that if he did well in prison he would "soon be able to walk the streets again". As you can see, this is not the case. Robert's family and lawyer saw the board on Tuesday the 5th of July and on Sunday the 10th of July their "Not Grant" decision was made which left only three working days to investigate his case. Robert has not received an infraction in approximately twenty-five (25) years, but each time the Board receives a victim impact statement, he automatically receives a three-year deferral (7-consecutive which equals 21 years) regardless of what Robert has achieved while incarcerated. Robert has been a model prisoner, having been housed for years in an Honor Housing Unit and has worked over twelve years for Virginia Correctional Enterprises at Buckingham.

3). RONALD GRIFFIN, #1165808 - born, c. 1962. Mr. Griffin has also been a model prisoner throughout his incarceration.

4). KENNETH RAY PACK, #1063808 - born, March 18, 1950, incarcerated since 1991. Mr. Pack has likewise been a model prisoner throughout his incarceration.

5). CLARENCE DUKE REYNOLDS, #1174999 - born, June 26, 1949. Mr. Reynolds committed his crime January 21, 1991. He has worked as the Chaplains Assistant and Clerk for numerous years, and is a model prisoner.

6). MINOR JUNIOR SMITH, #1158588 - born, May 3, 1946. Mr. Smith, legally Blind since the age of five, committed his crime in August 24, 1971. He is the author of an autobiography, "ABUSED", and writes poetry about his abuse as a child and his many years of mental, physical and sexual abuse since his incarceration. He is a certified Braille transcriber and has has been a model prisoner throughout the 45 years he has been incarcerated.

7). JENS SOERING, #1161655 - born c. 1966. Mr. Soering, originally from Germany is an award-winning author of nine books he's written while incarcerated  He insists he is innocence, and the primary investigator of his criminal case now agrees in light of recently uncovered new evidence. He too has been a model prisoner throughout his incarceration. 

8). ALLAN NOAH SPITZER, JR., #1110939 - born, June 20, 1949. Mr. Spitzer was arrested for aiding and abetting a murder and robbery in 1985. Allan is also a model prisoner and a trusted worker with Virginia Correctional Enterprises as a shipping clerk.

9). CHARLES EDWARD ZELLERS, SR., #1036758 - born April 10, 1968. Mr. Zellers accepted an Alford Plea and has been incarcerated since January 24, 1993. Charles is also a model prisoner and has worked for Virginia Correctional Enterprises for numerous years as a supervisor in the T-molding/Table Top and Open Plan Systems Department. He would like to have a statewide database kept with jail and prison inmates complaints and grievances listed. Charles has a passion for making Virginia a better state through the treatment and through computer, job and vocational training, and has educated school students about crime, laws and punishment. This is his first time in prison.

I pray that you will require the parole board members to have compassion and start granting parole to the old-law discretionary eligible prisoners who have successfully completed their DOC mandated treatment and have proven while incarcerated to no longer being a threat to their communities. The parole grant rate in 1994 was around 44% and now it is only 1 or 2 %. Why pay millions of dollars annually to keep "corrected" inmates in prison?

Sincerely,

A Virginia inmate

Note: The Parole Board's October release rate was a mere 8 inmates of over 200 cases reviewed for the state's Department of Corrections. A Department of Education with that kind of graduation rate would be considered a total failure.

Here's a link to contact the governor: 
https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office