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Actions to Support Incarcerated Individuals and Address Parole Issues

  • Write a Letter to the Wisconsin Parole Commission
    Support the release of incarcerated individuals by sending a letter to the Wisconsin Parole Commission. Include your personal connection to the individual, highlight their positive attributes and rehabilitation efforts, and express your commitment to supporting their reintegration into society.

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  • Request an Independent Investigator
    Send a letter to Governor Tony Evers requesting the appointment of an independent investigator to ensure that Old Law incarcerated individuals are released according to the original parole guidelines. This will help ensure that paroles are granted fairly when all conditions are met, as intended by the original sentencing judges.

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  • Commit to Regular Communication
    Commit to contact your legislators, senators, state representatives, and Governor at least once a week. You can use messages like, “I support the release of parole-eligible individuals” to keep the focus on parole and sentencing issues.

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  • Demand Fair Application of Old Parole Laws
    Write to Governor Tony Evers demanding that Old Parole Laws be upheld legally and ethically. Emphasize that incarcerated individuals should be released according to State Legislative Codes and Parole Guidelines without prejudice or undue delay.

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  • Address Issues with Old Parole Laws to Legislators
    Send a letter to Wisconsin Legislators expressing concern that the Old Laws of Parole are not being properly upheld. Highlight that individuals are required to meet conditions set by their sentencing judges but are serving more time than intended due to failures in upholding these laws.

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  • Support Treatment and Diversion (T.A.D.) Programs
    Advocate for T.A.D. programs, which offer alternatives to incarceration and help prevent jail overcrowding. These programs provide valuable training and treatment to support successful reintegration and reduce crime.

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  • Get Involved with Grassroots Organizations
    Engage with grassroots organizations like W.I.S.D.O.M, MICAH, MOSES, JOB, SOPHIA, ESTHER, or CUSH. Active involvement helps address mass incarceration and supports human rights.

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  • Support Efforts to End Mass Incarceration and Excessive Sentencing. Advocate for reforms to reduce mass incarceration and excessive sentencing. Support policies that promote fair and just treatment for all individuals.

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  • Change the Perception of Felons. Challenge the stigma associated with felony convictions. Recognize that individuals who have served their sentences face ongoing barriers and advocate for their right to reintegrate fully into society, including access to voting, housing, employment, and financial opportunities.

 

  • Parole & Prison Issues are being discussed at the upcoming Joint Finance Committee Meetings. Go to a meeting in your area to tell this committee to release parole eligible people and compassionate release people who are gravely so they can die in the company of their family and friends.

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  • Contact Governor Tony Ever' s Office, tell him that it is his responsibility to make sure that WI D.O.C adheres to WI laws, policies and procedures. It is also within his authority to correct the broken issues within the Wisconsin Parole Commission that prevent the release of parole eligible people. 

Governor Tony Evers

115 East State Capitol

Madison WI 53702

608-266-1212

evers.wi.gov

 

  • Contact your state legislator, tell them that the Old Laws of Parole are Not being upheld, people who have earned the right to be released are being denied parole grants. They are incarcerated longer than their sentencing judges intended, encourage your legislators to support the release of Parole Eligible People who have met all of their requirements to receive a parole grant. Tax payers should not have to keep funding people incarcerated who qualify to be restored home to their communities.

 

  • WI State Legislator Locator

     1-800-362-9472 Toll Free

     608-266-9960 Madison

     https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/legislators/assembly

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  • WI State Assembly

      http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/

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  • WI House of Representatives

      www.house.gov/htbin/findrep

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Support letters should generally include the following key areas of information:

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  1. Introduction: Clearly state your relationship with the incarcerated person and how long you’ve known them or the person who knows them. Include the incarcerated person's name and Inmate number.

  2. Positive Attributes: Highlight the individual’s positive qualities, achievements, and any personal growth they have shown while incarcerated. Your belief that the incarcerated person will be useful as a law abiding citizen, if given the opportunity.

  3. Ongoing Support: Describe the specific ways you will support them upon their release, such as providing housing, employment, references, advice, or emotional support. 

  4. Commitment to Reintegration: Emphasize your belief in their potential for successful reintegration into society and how you will assist them in this transition. Express your belief that despite his or her mistake, he or she is a good person and deserves a second chance.

  5. Conclusion: Reiterate your support and offer to provide additional information if needed. Include your contact details for further communication.

Including these elements will help provide a comprehensive and supportive view of the individual to the parole board.

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Where to Send Support Letters:

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​Wisconsin Parole Commission​

3099 Washington Avenue

PO BOX 7960

Madison, WI 53707-7960

Phone: 608-240-7280

Fax: 608-240-7299

parolecommission@wisconsin.gov

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Feel free to contact us if you have questions, need assistance with your support letters, if you have any questions about information or content for a support letter.

Writing Letters of Support

What is a Letter of Support?

 

A Letter of Support is written on behalf of an incarcerated person, demonstrating that they have a strong network of friends and family ready to assist them upon release. These letters serve as evidence that:

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  • Someone knows and cares about the incarcerated person.

  • The inmate has ongoing support while in prison.

  • Help will be available upon their release.

  • The letter highlights the positive qualities of the inmate, offering a more balanced view against the negative aspects found in their criminal record.

 

Who Writes Support Letters?

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Support letters can be written by a wide range of people who can vouch for the inmate’s character and potential for reintegration. This includes:

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  • Family and Friends: Immediate family, close friends, and distant relatives like aunts, uncles, grandparents, and in-laws.

  • Community Leaders and Public Figures: Respected members of the community, such as business owners, past and prospective employers (on company letterhead), ministers, and church leaders.

  • Educators and Counselors: Teachers, students, counselors, and others who have interacted with the inmate.

  • Prison Staff: The incarcerated person's supervisor, Chaplain, counselor, teachers, or volunteers who know them well within the prison.

  • Indirect Connections: If direct connections are limited, letters can come from those close to the inmate’s family, such as the spouse's friends, who can attest to the inmate’s support system and potential for successful re-entry into society.

 

How Should a Support Letter Look? (see support letter samples)

 

A Letter of Support should have a clean and professional appearance. Here's how it should look:

  • Use Company Letterhead (if applicable): If you have access to company letterhead, use it to add credibility and formality to the letter.

  • Keep It Concise: Aim for one page to ensure that all key points are covered without overwhelming the reader.

  • Professional Formatting: Use a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial) in 12-point size, with 1-inch margins and single spacing. Align text to the left and use double spacing between paragraphs.

  • Clear Structure: Start with your contact information, followed by the date, the recipient's information, and a clear subject line. The body of the letter should be well-organized, beginning with an introduction, followed by the main points of support, and ending with a closing statement.

This approach ensures your letter is visually appealing, easy to read, and effectively communicates your message.

 

How Many Support Letters Should There Be?

 

There is no strict limit on how many support letters should be sent. However, sending them regularly, not just before a parole review, strengthens your case. Consistent and ongoing letters demonstrate active support and show the parole board that you will continue to be there for the incarcerated person after their release. This ongoing communication reassures the board that the individual has a reliable support system in place, which is crucial for their successful reintegration into society.

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Support Letters Can Aid Parole!

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Incarcerated individuals in the Wisconsin prison system are encouraged by the Parole Commission to present evidence of support for their release. One of the most effective ways to demonstrate this support is by sending letters that pledge your ongoing commitment. These letters play a crucial role in showing that the individual has a strong network ready to assist them upon release, which can positively influence the parole decision.

 

Support Letters for the Parole File

 

When you write a letter of support, it will be added to the incarcerated person's file. This inclusion helps the parole board assess the level of support and the potential for successful reintegration into society. The sample letters and outline provided are intended as guidelines to help with writing effective letters of support. Incarcerated individuals should feel encouraged to ask others to write these letters on their behalf. Many people genuinely care and are willing to help by showing their support by writing, which can significantly impact the parole decision process.

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​"Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?"

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                                                                         -Henty David Thoreau

Know The Facts

Support Parole Eligible People!

Wisconsin's Criteria for a Parole Grant

(Wisconsin State Legislature 304)

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections and The Wisconsin Parole Commission should be mandated to adhere to the Wisconsin laws, Administrative & Legislative Rules and Codes, just as every person, organization and business is required or they should face penalty, incarceration or fines. The WI Department of Corrections & The Wisconsin Parole Commission should not be allowed to ignore, alter and fail to comply with rules or laws, especially when there is a personal, financial or favorable gain for a business, The Department of Corrections or The State & Federal Governments.

 

With no transparency, no over sight, no monitoring, and no authority to ensure that the Old Laws of Parole are being upheld fairly, the people who were sentenced under these laws have been forgotten, when The WI Parole Board makes an unfavorable decision, incarcerated people have no recourse, no appeal rights and no where to turn.

 

We are suggesting that it should be mandatory for the State of Wisconsin to regulate The WI Department of Corrections to ensure that The WI Parole Board & Program Review Committee adheres to the laws that Old Law people were sentenced under. The WI Parole Board should not be allowed to continually delay parole grants when people have met all of the legal and time requirements to receive a parole grant.

 

We know that there are many issues that you can show your support to, but we are praying that you will support the unification of our family by supporting the release of Baron Walker.

 

If you find that you are unsure if you should offer your support and need additional information to assist you with making a decision, please feel free to contact us.

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Your support is Needed, God Bless You!

Parole consideration is an entitlement, however, parole is not. Each case is measured on an individual basis and parole consideration is based on the following criteria:

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  • Served 25 percent of the time imposed for the sentence

  • Shown positive changes in behavior as well as documented progress in programming, treatment and/or educational achievement.

  • A viable parole plan which offers the offender realistic opportunities for a stable residence, employment, and programming, if needed.

  • An acceptably reduced level of risk to the public. The criteria for determining risk include past criminal and incarceration record, probation and parole violations, security classification, and any unmet treatment or programs needs.

  • Information contained in the institution case file, the actual interview and correspondence received for the release on discretionary parole, is also considered.

 

Please submit letters to Support Parole Eligible People to the WI Parole Commission as soon as possible. These letters are processed and placed in the incarcerated person's file prior to being reviewed by the parole commission.

 

*People Never Stop being People just because they are Incarcerated. We have taken every possible step to identify people locked up as "people incarcerated/human beings", but "WI Department of Corrections still considers these same people as Inmates."

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