Hi! Just a couple of questions....did the Parole Board know that the person that wrote the letter of recommendation was a child? Some 11 year olds have beautiful legible handwriting that may be deceiving in knowing it was only a child? Why did the letter spark an additional 2 years for her Uncle?

According to what my attorney friend was saying they, the board barely even read these letters, they just return a general letter basically to the person and the address. Thats my point, I want this known, they need to read these support letters to know if it is a child or not, its bad enough we as adults get crushed when the parole board hits our loved ones. It didn't spark the additional time, thats usually what the state of NY hits violent offenders with. He is in on a murder, but he wasn't the shooter, he admitted that he was there as a accomplice I guess, he was a 17 year old stupid kid, and now 40 and was going to parole to PR. Even the mayor of PR wrote a letter in his behalf, and they still hit him. What I want to do is read all input and add the input into my letter, hope you all feel comfortable with this? I'm not using any ones name, this is my own personal letter going into the editors unless you want to be added into this letter, its entirely up to you. As Laurie, I to advocate, but not as Laurie does, or not as much, I can't focus the way I used to, I'm to burnt out, I usually do things like that, health issues, seeking pro-bono's, little things any more.
Lynn

I don't know anything about parole letters. However, I think a letter to the newspaper, when written with a clear head and logic is a good idea.
I think I would question if letters are read. I would want to know how seriously they take these letters and the answer should be that they take them very seriously. Obviously they sent some kind of form letter and made the mistake of sending it to an 11 yr. old child. Someone should have had the sense to make sure the child would know that the additional 2 years was nothing she had anything to do with.
Write your letter but have someone look it over. Do you have a clergy person or lawyer who could help you with this? Are there any groups that work with inmates who could help you out? Don't give up - you are a lifeline for this man and his family.

Unfortunatly, I've had my fair share writing letters for these hearings. What parole looks for in these letters is support for the inmate whom is getting released. They don't want recommendations- thats their job. They want to know (especially violent offenders) that you do not feel that he is a "danger to society" (KEY WORDS- TRUST ME) and they want back up other than wife or girlfriend letters (sad but true) I can't say what happened in PR (assuming you meant PortoRico-sorry misspelled) being that I am in NY. Parole looks at behavior conducted by the inmate while incarcerated and bases his answers at the parole hearing along with the letters. The letters help parole know there are friends, family, and even work related letters to help him become a upstanding citizen in the community and that there is a job waiting for him/her. If he is sent to the "box" while incarcerated, that will count against him as well as any problems he might have occured while in. Parole also looks at if he had accomplished a GED as well as programs such as K-SAT and A-SAT if those are offered, which most facilities do offer. Parole needs to hear from the inmate he is guilty in his crime and has learned from his mistakes. They want to hear what his goals are upon his release, most of all they want to see improvement. Now, as far as a letter from an 11 year old. As comforting as it may seem which would be okay for a child to write in his behalf, parole really does not want to hear from children under the age of 18. She should have been included into a P.S. portion of the letter by the parent or guardian. Unfortunatly they might not have picked up on the idea she was this young. I have never received letters from parole, even though my sweet heart was a violent felon. Being you mentioned murder, please take note in which these types of cases also include letters from the family of the deceased requesting the inmate to be held longer. My heart goes out to the 11 year old who's heart was broken by the parole board in hopes her uncle will be coming home. Because my children are underage, I open all mail addressed to them before making a decision whether its okay for them. My daughter is 11, I would never ask her or let her write a letter to parole- just my opinion, please understand. Is it fair that parole did this to her? No. The best advice I could give you in wording a letter is entitling it "Parole Crushes Childs Heart." Always answer who, what, where, when, why and how along with a powerful conclusion in regards to such oversight of the NYS division of parole which always takes pride in their infalible (another misspell sorry) decisions. Yeah, right! Hope this helps- sorry for being so lengthy. oxox.

Mamabear, I think that Amy4Ham hit on some really hard but good points. You would really need to know all the facts before doing all the work to get something sent to the media. It is a shame that the 11 year old was sent this letter but it could back fire on the mother for having the daughter send a letter in the first place. I'm not sure what a letter to the media would do for this inmate especially if he was given an additional 2 years.

By the way Mamabear, what a good friend you are to want to devote some extra time as an advocate for this friend's inmate. You've got a big heart!

Oh boy I don't want to start a debate here so please don't any one get hurt by this. I have been doing parole packets with and for my husband over 12 years now, the last parole board packet was done by a pro-bono attorney who has become one of my very best friends, but I don't like to ask her for extra help, she does way more then enough for me, for us, with parole issue's, this letter is not for my husband, but for a friend.

Amy I'm sorry but I disagree with not allowing a 11 year old write in behalf for her uncle, her is why, number one I always allowed my own daughter write in my husbands behalf, number two the attorney we have did our parole packet this year, my husband is just a lost number any more, in his letter was included support letters, no, none from children this time, but drawn pictures from children were added, and tons of photo's from my one grandsons b-day party, the parole board actually complimented his parole packet, but my husband messed up by telling the truth this time around, but this is not about my husband, just wanted to add that.

I have gotten general letters back from the PO Board throughout the years, this last year I didn't, they, the board respond when they want to, and who they want to, "AND" I think they were dead wrong just to have their eyes closed, and not read this was from a child.

Please let me tell you a little more about this little girl, she may only be 11, her mother died when she was about 3 years old, cancer, her other uncle, her other uncle died from a heart attach, both her mother and her other uncle were in their early 30's, her brother, now 20 is in prison for a murder also since age 17, and its the ill grandmother raising this child to the best of her ability, now maybe, just maybe I should include this in. YES! I'm angry at the parole board, their idiots in NY. And I'm sorry if I offended any one here. "VERY SORRY"

I could through in the towel, but this has me heated. Laurie, I think your right, I have to call his mother, hopefully she has copies of all the letters. If not I have to write back to him. Once again the board messed up, not only with what they did to the child, but they went into the hearing with out my friends "SENTENCING MINUTES", he wasn't the shooter. I just think its not fair that the board plays with so many lives.

THERE IS ONLY ONE JUDGE AND JURY IN MY HEART< HOPE TO MEET HIM WHEN I DIE????????? GOD!