Returning Citizen Harlan Works for Justice
By Ken Warren
I first met Harlan at the joint finance budget hearing in Wausau this spring. He currently lives in Marshfield, but he was born and raised in the Madison area. He also is a member of WISDOM and EXPO. His story is compelling.
Harlan was born in 1954 and attended Madison schools until dropping out of high school. He describes his early home life as love-starved, but he also refers to his mother and father as loving parents; they loved their boys very much but either could not or would not show that love. As a young child, he was frequently bullied by his older brother.
Harlan’s negative interaction with the legal system began in his early teen years, when he was placed on probation for car theft. He ran away from home several times; one of these times he stole a car and went all the way to Florida. By the time he was 15, he was well headed down what he called “the left-hand path,” which included drugs, thefts, brawling, and other poor choices. However, because juvenile authorities in Wisconsin were quite lenient, he never received more than probation until he was 16.
That did not mean that he avoided serious consequences. He obtained a motorcycle, and having run away this time to Minneapolis, was constantly taking risks. That behavior resulted in a severely broken leg, which took many years to heal and still causes him pain. It did not, however, end his love for motorcycles.
Following his accident, he returned to Madison and started carrying a gun. At a party, his brother became violent and started attacking a girl who was trying to leave. Harlan shot his brother, killing him. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years, with the possibility of parole in one year.
While in the Wisconsin Correctional System, Harlan learned that a “possibility” is different from a contract or guarantee. He spent four years in various facilities before being released. During this time he obtained his HSED, developed his knowledge of the law, and learned machine shop skills.
In 1984, at the age of 30, Harlan was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He began a 37-year tour through many correctional facilities in Wisconsin, including 8-1/2 years at Waupun and shorter periods at Fox Lake, Kettle Moraine, Oak Hill, and Gordon Correctional Center. He became eligible for parole in 1996 and expected to be paroled in 2011, after having been on work release, but then Scott Walker was elected governor. He spent 10 more years incarcerated, until Tony Evers became governor. Harlan was paroled, thanks to Gov. Evers, in 2021, at the age of 67.
Harlan’s years of incarceration were not only a journey through correctional facilities, but also a long and complicated spiritual trip. Early on, he became interested in the occult, read many books by Aleister Crowley and other occultists, and even formed prison study groups. He then found his way back to Christianity (he had been raised in the Catholic Church) and continues in his Christian faith to this day. While incarcerated, he also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree; wrote hundreds of poems, some of which have been published; and began writing short stories with a prison pen pal. You can find a book of his short stories and another of his poetry on Kindle. Harlan is also an artist; he has given away or sold most of his drawings.
Harlan has written a memoir, which he started in 2004 and is currently working to get published. He shared his manuscript with me, and I must say that I find it compelling. Since being released on parole, he has worked as a semi driver; he obtained his regular driver’s license while still incarcerated and got his CDL upon release. He had to take some time off due to surgery for a knee replacement. Harlan says that since being released he has tried to maintain a low profile, but he is on WISDOM’s Old Law task force.
When asked about current support, he immediately mentions his girlfriend, saying she has greatly supported him. If he friends you on Facebook, you will find her featured prominently in his photos. You will also see in the photo with this story that he has not lost his love for motorcycles – but he rides with more caution than in his younger years.