WHY?
In 1996 Georgia passed a House Bill 441 that addressed the problem they were having with crime. For the most part, the bill did a good thing. But it also made it impossible for anyone convicted of one of the serious violent offences of ever making parole. You could make parole if you got a life sentence, but if you got a number sentence you have to do the entire number with no chance of making parole. See O.C.G.A. title 17-10-6.1 section (c) paragraph 3.So a life sentence was better than a number sentence over 20 years in most cases.
One part of systemic racism that gets overlooked are the countless numbers of black men unjustly locked up in prison with ridiculously long sentences. Here is a sad story amongst thousands.
A SAD STORY
Jeremy Ray was a victim of this law. He was a 21 year old college student when he got convicted of armed robbery. He received a sentence of 50 years because he foolishly took his case to trial. He is now 47 years old (2023). He has served 25 years and has to do 25 more years. He has a good institutional conduct. He has helped several inmates in GED classes and he has mentored inmates in the Faith and Character Based Program. None of this positive behavior will enable him to make parole. He MUST do all 50 years. We are trying to get a special bill passed do he cam come home to his family.
As of 2023 Jeremy's codefendant has gotten his time reduced but Jeremy still has 50 years. This has grown into an injustice and we need help. All we want at this point for Jeremy to get the same sentence as his codefendant. 30 years. Equal punishment for equal crime. PLEASE HELP if you can.
YOU CAN HELP!!!
JUST COPY AND PASTE THE MESSAGE BELOW AND EMAIL IT TO YOUR STATE REP IN GEORGIA
I am a concerned citizen of Georgia and I am in support of passing a special bill that would help Jeremy Ray parole out by modifying O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1 for his special case. This section states that anyone receiving a sentence other than life is never eligible for parole or any type of sentence relief. This is regardless of whether they are a model inmate or not.THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I feel that if someone is sincerely rehabilitated they should be able to parole. will you please help me in correcting this merciless wrong.
JUST COPY AND PASTE THE MESSAGE BELOW AND EMAIL IT TO YOUR STATE REP IN GEORGIA
I am a concerned citizen of Georgia and I am in support of passing a special bill that would help Jeremy Ray parole out by modifying O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1 for his special case. This section states that anyone receiving a sentence other than life is never eligible for parole or any type of sentence relief. This is regardless of whether they are a model inmate or not.THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I feel that if someone is sincerely rehabilitated they should be able to parole. will you please help me in correcting this merciless wrong.