Families Serving Time  
                                                                                           

Subtitle

How You Can Help!

  • Write a letter to the Wisconsin Parole Commission to support the release of Baron Walker #182074. (see sample support letters)

  • Write a letter to Governor Scott Walker, tell him to appoint an independent investigator to ensure that Old Law Inmates are released in accordance with the parole guidelines, granting paroles when all conditions are met as intended by Old Law Sentencing Judges. 

  • Make a commitment to call, write or email your legislator's, senator's, state representatives and/or governor at least once a week to keep the focus on these real issues. (you can say, "I support the release of parole eligible inmates" and/or "I do not agree or support the parole commission being reduced to only one parole chairman") 

  • Write a letter to Governor Scott Walker demanding that The Old Laws of Parole are upheld legally and ethically. Inmates should be released in accordance with The State Legislative Codes and The Parole Guidelines without prejudice, discrimination or delay.

  •  Write a letter to Wisconsin Legislators to tell them that Wisconsin's Old Laws of Parole are not being upheld properly. Inmates are required to meet the conditions of their sentencing judge but the State of Wisconsin is failing to uphold the laws these inmates were sentenced under, which means that they are serving more time than their sentencing judges ever intended.

  • Support T.A.D (treatment and diversion programs), these programs are designed to prevent Mass Incarceration and jail over crowding. T.A.D. provides positive training and treatment alternatives to aid men and women with successful opportunities to prevent crime, it also provides services when inmates are released from prison, in addition to education & information. 

  • Get involved with a grass roots organization. Sometimes remaining silent is mistaken as agreeing with something. Mass Incarceration is a Human Rights Issue, as a people we should care about each other. I am involved with W.I.S.D.O.M, MICAH, MOSES, JOB,SOPHIA, ESTHER or CUSH.  

  • Support efforts to end Mass Incarceration.

  • Change the way you look at felons, people change! When felons are released from prison their sentence does not stop, they are not allowed to vote, there are restrictions where they can live, who they can rent from, there are insurance restrictions, employment restrictions, and loan restrictions. For the rest of their lives they will have to mark a box to report that they are felons, we the people should uplift the individuals that are being restored to our communities.

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 inmates and compassionate release inmates who are gravely so they can die in the company of their family and friends.

Contact Governor Scott Walker'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 Scott Walker
115 East  State Capitol
Madison WI 53702
608-266-1212
https://walker.wi.gov/contact-governor-walker

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 Inmates who have met all of their requirements to receive a parole grant. Tax payers should not have to keep funding inmates 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 Represenatives
www.house.gov/htbin/findrep

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WI Senators
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/WI

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

Know The Facts
Stand Up For What Is Right!


We pray that our family will be united soon. Your letters of support are important to us! We hope that massive quantities of support  letters will be forwarded to the WI Parole Board and the response will have a positive impact with Baron's release! 

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 inmates who were sentenced under these laws have been forgotten, when The WI Parole Board makes an unfavorable decision, inmates 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 Baron and the other Old Law inmates were sentenced under. The WI Parole Board should not be allowed to continually delay parole grants when the Old Law inmates 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.  

We appreciate your support, God Bless You!
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Wisconsin's Criteria for a Parole Grant

(Wisconsin State Legislature 304)


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:


  • 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 inmates to the WI Parole Commission as soon as possible. These letters are processed and placed in the inmate's file prior to being reviewed by the parole commission.


"Baron Met All of These Conditions, Several Years Ago" 

UPDATE 7/15/17

  • (7/15/17) Baron was finally moved to the John  C. Burke Center on a work commitment.  Baron should go back before the parole board in December 2017. We are praying that he will be released and allowed to come home at that time since he met all of the conditions to receive a parole grant years ago. We still need your support, please write letters to the Wisconsin Parole Board and legislators asking for Baron's release from prison in addition to the nearly 3,000 men & women who have met the conditions to receive a parole grant!

  • It is Wednesday June 15, 2017, and Baron is still located at Oak Hill Correctional Facility. Even though on 3/30/17, parole referred him to work outside the fence, Baron is being denied the opportunity to transition since he is needed in the kitchen at Oak Hill. Unfortunately they don't have any other qualified willing participants to work the leadership kitchen job that Baron currently holds. This is frustrating because as a condition of Baron's parole he had to meet all of these educational and training requirements. Baron has exceeded these requirements but it is all too common that he is held in these positions due to his qualifications while Not being allowed to transition home, it feels like a punishment. 


We are ready to live our lives together as a family, I truly don't understand the reasoning behind keeping my husband locked up, when he goes before parole they only review his behavior and current accomplishments since the last parole meeting, because they have verified that Baron's Parole Requirements were met years ago.    


We pray for your support! You can help us by writing a letter to the Wisconsin Parole Commission to support Baron's release (see support letter samples). 


Call, Write and Email The WI Parole Board, The Governor and WI Legislator's, when the community overwhelmingly complains about injustice, we are bound to invoke change. Please contact Governor Scott Walker's office & Wisconsin Legislators. Call, Write and Email, when the community overwhelmingly complains about injustice, we are bound to invoke change. When you contact them, Tell Them to Free Old Law Inmates who have Met All of the Conditions to receive a Parole Grant! Tell them to Get Involved with the Department of Correction's Policies, Practices and Treatment of Old Law Inmates. Demand that the Old Laws be upheld by the Wisconsin Parole Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections!  

  • On March 30, 2017, Baron was called to see the WI Parole Commissioner. He was given a nine (9) month defer with an endorsement to work outside the fence. 

What Does This Mean? A defer is when the inmate has to return to the Parole Commissioner, Baron will go back before the WI Parole Commissioner in nine (9) months, meanwhile he will be allowed to work a job in the community.


This decision takes us in the right direction, however we are heart broken that Baron was not allowed to come home, he will be on Parole when he comes home, still being monitored. To what end does this stop, Baron has worked a job within the prison system constantly for the last 12 years, he has demonstrated positive behavior, never engaging in a physical altercation. He has met all of his court required programs in addition to several voluntary programs, it cost the WI DOC over 60 million dollars yearly to keep these 2,500 parole eligible men and women.


  • Baron was scheduled to see the WI Parole Board on March 17, 2017, but at  the end of the day Baron was advised that his Parole Hearing would be postponed until 3/31/17.  

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What is a Letter of Support?


Letters of support are viewed as evidence that the offender will have a network of friends & family to help when he or she is released. They show:

  • Somebody knows the inmate and cares
  1. That the inmate has outside support while in prison
  2. That someone will be there to help when he/she gets out
  3. The good side of the inmate and thus helps balance the bad side, which is the only side that appears in his/her criminal files


Who Writes Support Letters?


You may write them, community leaders, public figures, citizens, members of the inmate’s immediate family, close friends and loved ones. Also, distant relatives, aunts, uncles, grandparents, in-laws, respected members of the community; such as businessmen, past and prospective employers (on company letterhead), ministers, respected churchmen, school teachers, students, counselors, etc.

The inmate’s supervisor or people who have known him for a while in prison, such as the Chaplin, counselor, teachers or volunteers from the community. If the inmate cannot find anyone who knows him directly, they will accept letters from people who are close to the inmate’s wife, children or family and could vouch that the inmate has valid support, which could be of value during the inmate’s re-adjustment to the community.


How Should a Support Letter Look?

(see support letter samples)


A letter of support should have a decent appearance. If possible, it should be typed on company letterhead if applicable. It should preferably be one page, that is if you can cover all you need to say.


How Many Support Letters Should There Be?


Letters should be sent as often or periodic as you like. When you send such letters regularly, not just when there’s an upcoming parole review, this validates your ongoing support for the inmates release. This shows consistency and “active” support. It is also a strong indication to the parole board that you will stick by the inmate after their release or that you have knowledge that the inmates family will actively provide ongoing support..


Support Letters Can Aid Parole! 


Inmates in the Wisconsin prison system are encouraged by the Parole Commission to provide evidence of support for their release on parole. The best way to do this is by sending letters pledging your support.


Support Letters for the Parole File.


The sample letters and this outline is merely a suggestive guideline to aid with writing letters of support to the parole board. Inmates should not be afraid to ask people to write letters of support on their behalf. Many people do care and sincerely want to help.


What Should the Support Letters Say?


There are several general areas of information to be included in these letters:


  • Your relationship to the inmate or the person that you know who knows the inmate.

  1. How long you’ve known him or her.

  1. Your belief that, despite his or her mistake, he is a good person and is worth being given another chance and the reason you feel this way!

  1. Your belief that the offender will be a useful and a law abiding citizen if given the opportunity. You may describe improvements in the inmate’s attitude, behavior or efforts he has made to improve himself. You may also mention the types of assistance you are willing to render, such as consultation, references, or even employment. (Job specifies, pay and position)

  1. If you are willing to help the inmate or his family in some way, they should certainly include that information in their letter. Some people are willing to help but do not have money or a job offer, they can help by offering to spend time with the offender after his release doing something positive and worthwhile in the community or they can merely offer him good advice and encouragement. This kind of help is also needed for someone just released from prison.




Where to Send Support Letters: 

(See Parole Commission's Contact Information Below)


You should send your support letters directly to the Wisconsin Parole Commission, it will be placed in Baron's file. 


Please include Baron L. Walker’s name and inmate number #182074.


Feel free to contact me if you have questions about Baron's case, for assistance with your support letter or if you have any questions about information or content for a support letter.




Wisconsin Parole Commission

3099 Washington Avenue

PO BOX 7960

Madison, WI 53707-7960

Phone: 608-240-7280
Fax: 608-240-7299