Michael’s Personal Commitment
I have been incarcerated for more than 22 years, serving more than 8,000 days and nights of continuous imprisonment. My hopes have always been to build a record that stands on its own and demonstrates the commitment I’ve made to reconcile with society. I think that anyone who juxtaposes my record against any other long-term, nonviolent prisoner would reasonably conclude that— although others may have worked as hard as I have worked to earn freedom— no one has worked harder to atone, to reconcile with society, and to prepare for a law-abiding, contributing life upon release.
In his August 3, 2009 speech to the American Bar Association, Attorney General Holder said:
“If we can reduce the rate of recidivism, we will directly reduce the crime rate. Even a modest reduction in recidivism rates would prevent thousands of crimes, thousands of victims, and save hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Mr. Holder went on to urge that America must:
“…add new tools and new strategies to our existing efforts to fight crime. One of those strategies is to look several steps past the point where we put people in prison.”
My 22-year record demonstrates my commitment to living as one of the “new tools and new strategies …to fight crime” that Mr. Holder spoke about. Some of the ways I’ve worked to contribute to society and the lives of others include:
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