[Lekooks] Fwd: Call to Action: A Time for Leadership In Wisconsin

[Gerald Flakas]

-----Original Message-----
From: David Liners <dliners at wisdomwisconsin.org>
To: Gerald Flakas <gerflak at aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Mar 27, 2020 8:25 pm
Subject: Call to Action: A Time for Leadership In Wisconsin

 
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Thank you to the many WISDOM leaders and friends who have reached out to the Governor's office and to their representatives in the state legislature to call for a swift reduction in the state's prison population.  And, thank you to the more than 1,100 of you who signed our online petition to that effect in less than 48 hours.

 

Today, I need to ask you to do it again.  We need to once again contact our state Assembly Representatives and State Senators(Find them Here).  Even if you called or emailed before, please do it again.  Here's why:

 

We have been very disheartened to hear from state legislators who have contacted the Governor's or Secretary Carr's office.  It seems they are being told that quick "compassionate release" is impossible because it requires the sign-off of the sentencing judge.  

 

It is time to stop passing the buck.  

 

The DOC could reach out to judges to ask for their quick compliance.  If that takes too long, the Governor has very broad powers to commute sentences.  Governor Evers has it in his power to move many of the elderly and sick people out of our prisons before the pandemic reaches its full force.  Tell your legislators not to accept the excuse that it can't be done.

 

Legislators have also reported being told that the matter of people in prison for crimeless revocations is “under review” by the DOC.  That review has been underway for more than 15 months!  This is not the time for more and more review.  People in jail or prison because of technical violations of Supervision, Parole or Probation are there because of an administrative decision by the Department of Corrections.  The same Department, which reports to the Governor, can make a decision to release them.  Governor Evers has it in his power to release people who are incarcerated because of revocations.

 

Please contact your legislators.  If you would like, you can forward this email to them and ask them to contact the Governor.  Or call the Governor's office directly at 608-266-1212.  

Tell them to refuse to accept excuses for the Governor not to act to quickly reduce the crowding in our prisons.  He can.  And he needs to know that we know that.

 

For more background, download WISDOM's Open Letter to Governor Evers.  You can also read the Public Health Association on Preventing COVID-19 deaths in WI Correctional Facilities letter which was sent to the Governor on Tuesday.  

 
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