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by Phillip Sutton The mighty United States of America, in its human rights righteousness, wags its shaming finger at the rest of the world while hiding the fact that it is home to only 5% of the world’s population but a staggering 25% of its prisoners. We have by far...
by an Incarcerated Person Thank you for acknowledging this letter. As an incarcerated person of a continuous three decades, and from an intersectionality of marginalized groups, I wanted to offer a unique lens from which I view the topic of reparations. I will begin...
by Norman Williams AKA Bariki My American dreams My highest aspiration I find empty, hollow - shallow Droplet of the American dreams. Droplet of the American dreams Inside the American theme
Welcome to FUEL (Families United to End Life Without Parole): a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for justice and reform in the criminal justice system. Join us in our fight for justice, compassion, and a more equitable future.
FUEL participates in a wide variety of actions that include rallies, caravans, meetings, picnic, webinars, LWOP strategy workshops, and additional activities and events that increase awareness and advocacy to end LWOP. Check out our calendar to be a part of future events!
To end all forms of the death penalty – death by incarceration as well as death by injection. Further, we support incarcerated persons with LWOP sentences and assist families in gaining the skills and knowledge to advocate for the end of LWOP.
We began as a small group making a concerted effort to grow through social media and word of mouth, both inside prison and in the community. In just a few months, the core group expanded their numbers and took on a name that reflected our purpose. The group became known as Families United to End LWOP – FUEL.
Through broad outreach within the criminal justice community, and inside the prisons, within a short period, the group became a source of hope for both women and men serving the “other death penalty”, and an organizing tool for their loved ones in the communities. FUEL partnered with other organizations and joined coalitions which were also engaged in the movement to end LWOP, most significantly, the Drop LWOP coalition.
As the group organized in the community, men and women on the inside began to form Inside FUEL chapters within their facilities, which helped to generate pro-social activity and inspire hope while developing ideas toward ending LWOP. We believe that no one should be defined by their worst decision in life. These motivated men and women raised money for FUEL, as well as funds for charities dedicated to crime survivors. In addition to money, they have donated beautiful handicraft and high valued art that they created. Inside FUEL have also invited coalition members into prisons to create a sense of unity while vigorously organizing.
FUEL members have launched petitions telling their loved one’s story and appealing to the Governor for clemency. The group also launched a petition on behalf of all serving LWOP and delivered it to Governor Brown in November of 2018 during their Seeking Redemption Rally. Material from men and women in prisons throughout the state were part of the packet given to the Governor. Constantly seeking ways to share the humanity of people serving the “other death penalty” has been the motivation to create individual brochures for the men and women. These have given those serving LWOP and their family members a way to tell their story.
FUEL holds rallies in Sacramento and has directed caravans around prison facilities experiencing high incidents of needless covid deaths. The group has participated in numerous panels, led seminars, co-sponsored Town Halls and held workshops on commutations in the communities and within the prison facilities. We are proud to be co-sponsors, with other powerful groups in the state, of SB 300 a piece of legislation challenging the LWOP sentence.
Among our happiest moments was welcoming the husbands of two of our core members home from serving the unforgiving sentence of LWOP. We fight for that to repeat itself until everyone serving the other death penalty is given the opportunity to come hope. The fight continues!
Added When bad policies spread: The expansion of the "sex offense registry" model to other convictions to the Prison Policy Blog. Shaming doesn't prevent crime.
Added Welcome to our Creator-in-Residence, Marci Marie Simmons! to the Prison Policy Blog. Marci will work with the Prison Policy Initiative team to create […]
Added The federal system: A patchwork of agencies rapidly expanding federal surveillance and punishment to the Prison Policy Blog. Because it is so fragmented, […]
Added Involuntary commitment: How forced hospitalization expands the criminal legal system to the Prison Policy Blog. Civil and criminal courts both mandate […]
My name is Jerome Jeter I am a 43 year old first term prisoner sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). In the mid to late 80’s I got involved with the street gangs in the neighborhood. I became a very well-known member of this gang throughout the...
My Name is Jennifer Henderson. I’ve been in prison since April 2005 serving two consecutive LWOP sentences for taking the lives of Thomas & Jackie Hawks. I cannot deny the gravity of the callous, heartless manner in which two lives were taken. I've been in prison...
My name is Henry Inocencio I am a human who was brought into a world of amazement. As a kid I was happy, loved, and blessed to have the opportunity to explore this unlimited frontier we call life. But soon, the winds of the street were molding my character. As my...
My name is Joseph Johnny Portillo, and this is a little bit of my story. At a young age I was a victim of divorce, I remember feeling angry at my mom and abandoned by my dad. I didn’t know how to deal with those feelings at that young age, so I buried them; as I got...
My name is Eugene Jones. I take full responsibility for the victims I created in the community when I was 19. Today, I’m 45 and not the person I was at 19 when I committed a horrible crime that would change lives forever. While I’m not seeking to make excuses, a...
Eugene Cate Lifers with Optimistic Progress Personal Profile My name is Eugene Robert Cate, J-74185. I am currently serving a prison term of Life Without Parole (LWOP). I am located in Central California at CHCF in Stockton and have been incarcerated since March of...