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| 2008 rally by families of prisoners in front of the WI DOC headquarters |
FAMILIES for a SECOND CHANCE
WE invite you to join us in an epic task= Families and concerned people working with prisoners to bring back The DOC’s mission to keep the public safe and to rehabilitate. It does neither now.
JOIN US by email by phone, in our weekly conference calls. WE NEED YOUR VOICE!!
Email us: peg: pgswan@aol.com/ Tim:timothy.zylstra@yahoo.com,
Phone: 608-536-3993 leave you phone number and when to call you back if no answer
Website: “www,prisonforum.org”
Overriding goals-
- to bring out the human face of prison, to state emphatically that truth matters and that prisoners are not their crime; everyone deserves a second chance.
- to start a movement by connecting the various WI prison activist organizations with each other and with prisoners and their families so we work together, supporting and aiding other more effectively.
- To educate the public on WHO WE ARE INCARCERATING with stories, with facts.
ACTIONS:
1)Weekly conference call. ALL WELCOME
Mondays 6pm/Wednesdays 5pm: dial 267-807-9495
then you will be prompted for this number: 568-065-540
if you are the first on in, punch 7568
so again:
Phone: 608-536-3993 leave you phone number and when to call you back if no answer Email us: peg: pgswan@aol.com/ Tim:timothy.zylstra@yahoo.com
2) PETITIONS
Campaign update coming
OLDCampaign 2023
Madison day in spring. -WE need to prepare now.
This is a combined effort with EXPO and WISDOM we converge the the capitol and talk to our legislators. This is an incredible opportunity for families of prisoners to actually speak to their representatives. There is much preparation to do as making APPPOINTMENTS with the legislators is important and this takes a lot of phone tagging. For those interested:
A) ontact FFUP with your information if you would like to participate. We need zipcodes also to assure we make an appointment with your legislator.
B) A bus or ride share to the capitol is possible I am told, if there are enough people. (Contact info at end)
4)FAMILY LETTERS TO THE MEDIA, LEGISLATORS AND DOC.
- We need push-back to the constant barrage of misinformation this election has engendered- I was writing my usual parole letter when the Rant about rapists and murderers came on the radio and my letter turned into a tirade which in a few paragraphs outlined the whole fiasco. I morphed it into an “OPEN LETTER” to the parole chairman. I suggest you do the same- Let ‘er rip- about whatever your issue- parole/ health care/ wrongly convicted or held/ no support treatment or training/harassment/ abuse- whatever it be.
We will be trying to connect with family members to form an activist group where we can tackle many issues together and support each other with our individual cases. SO if you are interested in composing one of these open letters, or who want to get more involved in other ways, contact us (.-pgswan3@aol.com)
EXAMPLES OF OPEN LETTERS
to secretary CARR and Governor Tony Evers
5)Spreading your stories through all venues- facebook, blogs, newspapers online and paper etc etc
We are looking for web savvy help to spread our message. If we get the grant, this will be a paid position.
WISCONSIN Center for Investigative Journalism ( WIWATCH) reporter is working with us. We have spread the word about him and he is digesting and gathering the responses, We are working with him on these issues but he is interested in all complaints.
A)Especially compelling are stories of the impact of the prisoner’s ordeal on their families- we need contact of prisoners and their families who wish to be interviewed.
B) The mentally ill entombed in RHUs as that story will unwind to include all of the systemic corruption. And we have a doable solution that the DOC once embraced and then abandoned- a mental health treatment center and redoing of policies and rules.
C)health care is the second issue on front burner for Journalist.Let us know of suits you are pursuing - we can get complaints from PACER and if you have filed complaints but gone no further, sum these to us. Also general stories are appreciated and contact information of families who are invested In helping you. THIS INCLUDES mental health issues also- lack of treatment in general population etc.
C) All other issues and FFUP focus- I will be concentrating on helping WIWatch go forward but also continue to gather and use information on all the issues and will see that WIWATCH gets them when they are ready. We are putting these on a private website and docs for which we have permission to share, will go on the regular web- I use blogger as it is the most versatile. So keep that information coming - all of it- Although swamped, we learn to move forward anyway and do find a path through that coordinates all the factors
FFUP Reaching out for funding and legal help
1)Grant request sent to two grantor foundations in October- waiting
Starting with grant for pilot project for 3 month room rentals for newly released prisoners- this grant will also give FFUP funds to HIRE STAFF
Pamphlet here on pilot project here:
2) Letter of request for representation for two class actions sent- waiting and more going out.
view template letter to Lawyers
attachments sent:
issue two: Stop textbehind, the third party mail system
two magazine articles on the new third party mailing system:
- PLN:"The Contraband Wars Prison authorities target books and mail, miss the goods coming through the staff door"
- Prisonpolicy.org: Mail scanning: A harsh and exploitative new trend in prisons
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