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by Dana Gray In Clarence Darrow's essay, "Crime and Criminals," he makes the case that all crime is rooted in economics and the inability of minorities to get ahead as the cause of incarceration. However, he unwittingly makes the better argument which contradicts his...
My name is Thomas Marston and I am serving a Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). This is my story. At a young age I was easily influenced by my older siblings and their friends. We travelled all the time due to our father. We moved to different states every...
My name is Steven Drew Allee. I’m 37 years old and I’ve been sentenced to LWOP, plus a consecutive 25 to life, plus 8 years to serve first. During the month of May 2015, my drug use combined with the surrounding circumstances of my life at the time caused me to lose...
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 Bertrand Thompson and I am serving a Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) for crimes I committed in 1995. At the ages of 17 and 18 my irresponsible and reckless actions lead to me taking the life of two other human beings and aiding and abetting in...
My name is Daniel Ascencio I was arrested at the age of 20 and convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to LWOP. I’m very much guilty of my crime and I take full responsibility for it. I’m Daniel Ascencio, growing up I was heavily involved with gangs. I learned to...
My name is Delfino Muniz. In 1991 I was convicted of murder and 2nd degree robbery and was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). I think often of my victim and his family and I’m deeply sorry for the lasting pain I’ve caused them. I was an...
In 1996 at the age of 18 I was arrested and convicted for 1st degree murder, robbery, and assault on a Peace Officer. I was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) plus an additional 14 years. Growing up I made a lot of choices that had a negative...
I found out early on about the age of 15 that alcohol was a way to escape a troubled life at home. In the beginning I liked the way it made me feel, I wasn’t long before I discovered drugs, and escaping reality was something I was drawn to. When I look back it’s easy...
My name is Bill Mothershed and I’m serving a sentence of Life without the possibility of Parole When I was a teen, I was confused and felt that me rebelling against my psychotic father and rebelling against society was the same thing. Before I could realize that it...