Comments on: National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/national-organization-of-victims-of-juvenile-lifers/ Put and End to Sentencing Juveniles to Life Without the Possibility of Parole Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:33:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Sarah http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/national-organization-of-victims-of-juvenile-lifers/#comment-318 Sarah Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:03:45 +0000 http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-318 It seems clear to me that dialogue is needed. It's so horrible that Jennifer suffered the pain and loss of a family member. It's unfortunate, however, that she is trying to make children, children who made terrible mistakes, suffer their entire lives for what they did, before they even had a chance to have a life, with no second chance. She has clearly suffered, and continues to suffer, greatly. It seems clear to me that dialogue is needed. It’s so horrible that Jennifer suffered the pain and loss of a family member.

It’s unfortunate, however, that she is trying to make children, children who made terrible mistakes, suffer their entire lives for what they did, before they even had a chance to have a life, with no second chance.

She has clearly suffered, and continues to suffer, greatly.

]]> By: Addolfo Davis http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/national-organization-of-victims-of-juvenile-lifers/#comment-317 Addolfo Davis Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:55:16 +0000 http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-317 To Victims of Juvenile lifers, First I would like to say that I apologize to the victims in my case and their loved ones for the pain that I have caused. I would also like to apologize to all the victims of Juvenile lifers. I know it's not my place to apologize for others actions, but I feel that you all truly deserve it. I know that you all have been through a lot. And I know that there is nothing I can say or do that will bring your loved ones back. But, I hope my thoughts help ease your pain and hopefully help you see our journey better. But before I begin please know that I mean no disrespect to you all and never will try to take away from what has happened. I just want to share my thoughts with you with the hopes that we can come together and bring change. I know you all have been through a lot and I know some of you are still hurting an dstill have that built up hate in your hearts, and I do understand that and will never tell you not to feel the way you do, but today I ask that your clear your heart and mind for a moment and let me in. Hear me out. That's all I ask. Like I said, I understand that lives have been lost and that the people that's responsible should pay. I truly agree with that. But I don't agree with giving a 13, 14, 15, and 16 year old life without parole. That is saying that we can't be rehabilitated and that's not true at all. Yes, we made bad decisions as youth, but that should not condemn us for the rest of our lives. Now I know it's a hard thing to do, but put aside that pain and let the heart of a mother, father and the heart and love God has blessed us with lead you. And you will see that we don't deserve life. There are some of us who has grown mentally and spiritually who deserve a second chance at freedom. But the parole board will not let them go. But right now the reality of the matter is ALL Juveniles with life are condemned. Because without getting the bill (HR4300) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/6/petition-in-support-of-hr4300---ending-juvenile-life-without-parole passed, most of us will die in prison. That's why I write this with the hopes that I can gain some of your support in getting the bill passed or coming together to come up with a bill that will help both sides. I know it can happen. We just have to give it a shot and I know there are those who are allowing hate to lead them on this matter and don't care how much the person has changed who killed their loved ones and they want them to die in prison. And I understand that, but I also understand that's just hate you are working from. If you would just allow your heart to lead you, you won't feel the same. You will see that both sides are losing. Yes, we are alive, but we are not living , just existing. I know this is a big thing to ask of you all, but if I didn't I would be giving up on life, on my daughter, on everyone who loves and believes in me. I am not that misguided child I was back then. I have grown in every way and continue to grow and feel some where in the future I deserve to be freed. And there are many more juveniles with life who also deserve a better chance at freedom. Yes, I was a lost 14yr. old teen back then who made some bad decisions and one landed me here with life without parole. But that 14yr. old don't represent who I am today as a 32 yr. old man. So I ask that you allow your heart to lead you and help support the bill that will give some of us a chance at freedom through parole after 20 years. With that said I will close this with the hopes that you will support the bill. Take Care and God Bless. Respectfully, Addolfo Post Thoughts: I hope I haven't offended anyone. That was not my intention. If I have I truly apologize and I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue because I want to know your thoughts instead of what someone say you feel or think about this. So please write. Thank You and God Bless you. Addolfo Davis B-55374 P.O. Box 711 Menard, IL 62259 To Victims of Juvenile lifers,

First I would like to say that I apologize to the victims in my case and their loved ones for the pain that I have caused. I would also like to apologize to all the victims of Juvenile lifers. I know it’s not my place to apologize for others actions, but I feel that you all truly deserve it. I know that you all have been through a lot. And I know that there is nothing I can say or do that will bring your loved ones back. But, I hope my thoughts help ease your pain and hopefully help you see our journey better. But before I begin please know that I mean no disrespect to you all and never will try to take away from what has happened. I just want to share my thoughts with you with the hopes that we can come together and bring change.

I know you all have been through a lot and I know some of you are still hurting an dstill have that built up hate in your hearts, and I do understand that and will never tell you not to feel the way you do, but today I ask that your clear your heart and mind for a moment and let me in. Hear me out. That’s all I ask.

Like I said, I understand that lives have been lost and that the people that’s responsible should pay. I truly agree with that. But I don’t agree with giving a 13, 14, 15, and 16 year old life without parole. That is saying that we can’t be rehabilitated and that’s not true at all. Yes, we made bad decisions as youth, but that should not condemn us for the rest of our lives. Now I know it’s a hard thing to do, but put aside that pain and let the heart of a mother, father and the heart and love God has blessed us with lead you. And you will see that we don’t deserve life. There are some of us who has grown mentally and spiritually who deserve a second chance at freedom. But the parole board will not let them go. But right now the reality of the matter is ALL Juveniles with life are condemned. Because without getting the bill (HR4300) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/6/petition-in-support-of-hr4300—ending-juvenile-life-without-parole passed, most of us will die in prison. That’s why I write this with the hopes that I can gain some of your support in getting the bill passed or coming together to come up with a bill that will help both sides. I know it can happen. We just have to give it a shot and I know there are those who are allowing hate to lead them on this matter and don’t care how much the person has changed who killed their loved ones and they want them to die in prison. And I understand that, but I also understand that’s just hate you are working from. If you would just allow your heart to lead you, you won’t feel the same. You will see that both sides are losing. Yes, we are alive, but we are not living , just existing.

I know this is a big thing to ask of you all, but if I didn’t I would be giving up on life, on my daughter, on everyone who loves and believes in me. I am not that misguided child I was back then. I have grown in every way and continue to grow and feel some where in the future I deserve to be freed. And there are many more juveniles with life who also deserve a better chance at freedom. Yes, I was a lost 14yr. old teen back then who made some bad decisions and one landed me here with life without parole. But that 14yr. old don’t represent who I am today as a 32 yr. old man. So I ask that you allow your heart to lead you and help support the bill that will give some of us a chance at freedom through parole after 20 years. With that said I will close this with the hopes that you will support the bill. Take Care and God Bless.

Respectfully, Addolfo

Post Thoughts: I hope I haven’t offended anyone. That was not my intention. If I have I truly apologize and I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue because I want to know your thoughts instead of what someone say you feel or think about this. So please write. Thank You and God Bless you.

Addolfo Davis B-55374
P.O. Box 711
Menard, IL 62259

]]> By: lisakenney http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/national-organization-of-victims-of-juvenile-lifers/#comment-207 lisakenney Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:24:34 +0000 http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-207 Jennifer, Thank you so much for commenting and thank you for all that you do. I have enormous respect for what both you and Mary Ellen Johnson do and I am optimistic that meaningful dialogue can and must happen when it comes to this important issue. Jennifer,

Thank you so much for commenting and thank you for all that you do. I have enormous respect for what both you and Mary Ellen Johnson do and I am optimistic that meaningful dialogue can and must happen when it comes to this important issue.

]]> By: Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/national-organization-of-victims-of-juvenile-lifers/#comment-206 Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:04:13 +0000 http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-206 My compliments to Lisa for recognizing the problems with her initial offender-centered approach and I am so encouraged that the advocates for the juvenile lifers in Colorado are leading the way nationally, from what I can see, to do this dialogue correctly - fully including and respecting the lives left behind in these awful murder cases. Once every victims family member of the 2300 plus juvenile lifers has had the opportunity to know about the efforts to change the sentences nationally, and possibly in their state, if legislation has been proposed or is being considered, then they can choose for themselves if they wish to participate in the public policy discussion. But they must be notified and they must make that choice for themselves. To be told that a life without parole sentence has been accomplished for the murderer of their loved one, and then to walk into whatever future they then can find, they are doing it under the assumption that they at least never have to worry about the release of the killer or killers. If anyone proposes changing that, those persons are under full moral and, many are arguing, legal obligation to find and inform those victims families so that they may participate in this public policy discussion so vital to their own personal well-being. Advocates for change in the status quo will learn quickly (witness the debaucle in Illinois - see IllinoisVictims.org for more information) that if doing the long, careful, harder work of building bridges to the victims families is not done first, any political efforts to lighten the sentences of these younger murderers will probably fail, and fail hard. We stand ready to facilitate the dialogue but notification to victims families of proposed changes in a right and is non-negotiable. Restorative Justice principles would never exclude victims families from such discussions, and in fact, Restorative Justice's entire focus is on the victims and their needs and their healing journey. Anyone working on this issue - either victims families or offender advocates - that wishes to use our website www.jlwopvictims.org to do outreach and dialogue should go there and contact us and we will do what we can to help. In Nancy, Richard, and their baby's names, Jennifer My compliments to Lisa for recognizing the problems with her initial offender-centered approach and I am so encouraged that the advocates for the juvenile lifers in Colorado are leading the way nationally, from what I can see, to do this dialogue correctly – fully including and respecting the lives left behind in these awful murder cases.

Once every victims family member of the 2300 plus juvenile lifers has had the opportunity to know about the efforts to change the sentences nationally, and possibly in their state, if legislation has been proposed or is being considered, then they can choose for themselves if they wish to participate in the public policy discussion.

But they must be notified and they must make that choice for themselves.

To be told that a life without parole sentence has been accomplished for the murderer of their loved one, and then to walk into whatever future they then can find, they are doing it under the assumption that they at least never have to worry about the release of the killer or killers.

If anyone proposes changing that, those persons are under full moral and, many are arguing, legal obligation to find and inform those victims families so that they may participate in this public policy discussion so vital to their own personal well-being.

Advocates for change in the status quo will learn quickly (witness the debaucle in Illinois – see IllinoisVictims.org for more information) that if doing the long, careful, harder work of building bridges to the victims families is not done first, any political efforts to lighten the sentences of these younger murderers will probably fail, and fail hard.

We stand ready to facilitate the dialogue but notification to victims families of proposed changes in a right and is non-negotiable.

Restorative Justice principles would never exclude victims families from such discussions, and in fact, Restorative Justice’s entire focus is on the victims and their needs and their healing journey.

Anyone working on this issue – either victims families or offender advocates – that wishes to use our website http://www.jlwopvictims.org to do outreach and dialogue should go there and contact us and we will do what we can to help.

In Nancy, Richard, and their baby’s names,
Jennifer

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