by MOSES Publications | Aug 30, 2024 | Action Opportunities, Meetings, Newsletter, Support MOSES
MOSES Reaches Out to African American Churches
By Saundra Brown and Pam Gates
One of President Saundra Brown’s goals for MOSES is deeper involvement by local African American churches. To that end, she has been setting up visits by small MOSES groups to different African American churches. Four visits have already happened. Each visiting MOSES group is accompanied by Saundra and/or James Morgan, our organizer.
On April 21, the MOSES executive committee attended service at St. Paul AME Church with both Saundra and James, who made an impressive presentation about MOSES. We felt welcomed into their community by the Rev. Greg Armstrong and his congregation, and after the service we chatted with church members about MOSES. St. Paul is already a MOSES member; the goal of this visit was to encourage their greater participation.
On June 23, the Racial Equity Team attended the Sunday service at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, where the lead pastor is the Rev. David Hart. President Saundra gave the MOSES presentation. The congregation was very interested in MOSES, and Saundra has been in continuing contact with them as they consider whether to join, though they have not yet become members.
On July 21, several MOSES members attended services at S.S. Morris Community AME Church with Saundra, who spoke on behalf of MOSES, sharing our mission statement, our advocacy work, and her own personal rationale for inviting S.S. Morris to join us. After the presentation, Pastor Karla Garcia said, “We got you!”
After the service, we shared MOSES yearbooks, newsletters, etc., with members, as well as a sign-up sheet. At least 10 members completed feedback forms. Their contact information has been entered into our database, so that they can stay informed and in contact.
On Aug. 18, MOSES members, including the Communications Team, attended the service at Second Baptist Church. The Rev. Anthony Wade and his congregation gave the service, and, again, MOSES members felt very welcome. Saundra and James made moving presentations, and Rev. Wade stated, before the service was even over, that Second Baptist was joining us! There seemed to be general enthusiasm for this decision as we mingled after the service, sharing yearbooks, newsletters, and fellowship.
Upcoming visits that have already been arranged include Mt. Zion Baptist in September and Fountain of Life in October, both on the third Sunday. If you would like to participate in any of these visits, please feel free to do so. They are not limited to the group that has agreed to come. Contact President Saundra Brown at president.moses.madison@gmail.com for more information.
by MOSES Publications | Aug 30, 2024 | Information, MOSES activities, Newsletter, Organizer
Organizer’s Corner
By James Morgan
The months of June, July, and August have been full of activities and growth for MOSES. We started with tabling and participation in the Juneteenth celebration and march. A huge “Thank you!” to all who participated! MOSES was also present, in collaboration with JustDane, the South Madison District police chief, and Devine’s Grilling, at the “National Night Out” anti-violence event on Madison’s south side, where our donations of food and voter information were much welcomed.
Our participation in the Gamaliel National LeadershipTraining highlighted the work of MOSES with affiliates from across the country, communicating the value and importance of the work we do here in Wisconsin on local and statewide issues.
Our involvement with WISDOM’s Transformational Justice and Justice Reinvestment campaigns and its Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE) and Relational Voter outreach continue to show that MOSES stands as one of the strongest affiliates within this network. Our involvement brought in close to $25,000 for our organization.
Thanks to Eric Howland, Jeanie Verschay, and many others, the MOSES/WISDOM candidates’ forum in Sun Prairie on August 6 was a success! The candidates for state Senate District 16 and Assembly District 48 were presented with background information and questions on incarceration policies, the shackling of pregnant women in the corrections system, etc., with the goal of ensuring future accountability for our concerns within the legislature. Our power and dedication to these and other issues continue to move MOSES forward.
On August 18, we held a MOSES presentation at Second Baptist Church as part of our outreach to African American churches. Our president and visitation team were well received and came away with a commitment from Second Baptist to become a member of MOSES! A huge “Thank you!”” and extended gratitude to Pastor Wade and his congregation for their willingness to participate in the work of MOSES.
During our time at Second Baptist, we were pleased to hear about their interest in the current voting cycle and their awareness of Project 2025 and its potential to dismantle the most basic principles and values of our democracy. We were admonished to fully understand that “everything is at stake!” in this election cycle.
We have yet to work out the details, but MOSES/WISDOM will be sponsoring another forum prior to the November election for candidates running for open WIsconsin Senate and Assembly seats. I encourage you to reach out to Eric Howland and Sherry Reames and assist in the preparation phase by submitting questions for those candidates. Let’s Do MOSES!
by MOSES Publications | Aug 30, 2024 | Information, Life After Prison, Newsletter
Meet Returning Citizen Daniel Mayer
By Ken Warren
Daniel has spent most of his 28 years of life as a boy and young man near Crystal Lake, Ill., in the greater Chicago area. His parents are both retired, but his father operated his own HVAC business for many years while his mother was a registered nurse. He has three sisters and one brother, all older than him. He graduated from high school in Huntley, Ill., in 2015.
In 2020, he and a female friend moved to the Janesville area, where Daniel began attending Blackhawk Technical College to study accounting. He successfully completed one year of classes but made some unwise choices that led to criminal charges. As a result of those charges, he was sentenced in 2022 to three years of probation. In May of 2023, his probation was revoked. He had not re-offended in any way but was found to have violated some of the terms of his probation. Daniel spent the rest of 2023 and until May of 2024 in Dodge and Oshkosh correctional facilities.
Although the original charges against Daniel were in Rock County, he had relocated to Dane County, developed resources in Dane County, and was placed on probation through Dane County. He was uncertain whether upon release he would be returned to Rock or Dane County. He had made up his mind to refuse a return to probation unless it was in Dane County, because he felt that he had no resources in Rock County. Fortunately, he was returned to Dane County and to the same probation officer, with whom he had developed some rapport.
Daniel says that the two hardest things to do after release are finding a residence and finding a job. The state paid for his lodging through SLIM (Sober Living in Madison) for his first two months. Daniel is still living there but now must pay rent of $575 each month. Finding a job is taking longer. After a few weeks, he was able to obtain part-time work as a package handler for On Trac Warehouse; however, he was terminated there the day after our interview due to “an unfavorable result” on his background check. Once again, we are reminded of the hurdles thrown up in front of returning citizens who just want to become contributing members of our community.
JustDane has been an important resource for Daniel. He began classes through JustBakery on nutrition and management on June 10 and will soon complete those classes. He will become eligible for employment through JustBakery 90 days after completing the classes. Recently a local pastor gave Daniel a car, which provides important ease of transport. Before getting the car, Daniel got bus passes through JustDane, which now provides him some gas cards. Daniel reports that another important resource for him has been his Circles of Support group. They continue to give him ideas for resources and also provide encouragement and a listening ear.
Daniel is excited for the future. On Aug. 26, he was able to resume his studies in accounting at Madison College, which he hopes to finish by the autumn of 2025. He will then be able to pursue a career in the accounting field. He hopes to stay in the Madison area for many years to come, because he appreciates the community. The only concern he has regarding Madison is the higher cost of living, particularly apartment rental costs.
When asked about his greatest needs, Daniel responded quickly. He needs people. People to talk to. People to hang out with. It seems like such a small request, and yet it is so important for us all. Welcome back to Madison, Daniel.
by MOSES Publications | Aug 30, 2024 | Advocacy, Newsletter, Support MOSES
Some Sample Questions for Legislative Candidates
Compiled by Sherry Reames
With all the seats in the Wisconsin Assembly and half the seats in the Senate coming up for election this November, many of them in more competitive new districts, we should have unusual opportunities this fall to meet with candidates and learn about their priorities. Here are some suggestions from MOSES leaders about issues you might highlight and questions you might ask.
On Education:
Question: The federal government recognizes the urgent need to support our schools, especially in this post-pandemic period, and has provided funds to the states to alleviate the burden that must otherwise be absorbed by increases to local property taxes. Unfortunately, the current Wisconsin legislature has blocked much of this money. What will you do to free up the blocked revenue sharing for our schools?
Desired answer: I would hope to hear the candidate pledge to make advocacy for revenue sharing a top priority, especially as it impacts our schools throughout the state.
On the Prison Crisis:
Question: How much do you know about the humanitarian crisis in Wisconsin prisons? And what measures are you prepared to support in order to alleviate the problems?
Desired answer: I would hope to hear that the candidate recognizes the need to reduce our prison population significantly, not just to hire more correctional officers, and that building a new prison is the wrong way to go. I would also hope to hear from them ideas about how to move the system to a more trauma-informed approach, with real emphasis on rehabilitation and preparing people to re-enter the community successfully.
More specific questions from a recent candidate forum
On solitary confinement: Background: Solitary confinement for more than 15 days is considered torture by the United Nations and a basic human-rights violation. It is especially dangerous for people who are mentally ill. (“Restrictive housing” is a new term promulgated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Calling solitary confinement by a different name diminishes neither its cruelty nor its future consequences.)
Under Gov. Evers, the Department of Corrections (DOC) has made some reforms in the use of “restrictive housing” in Wisconsin prisons, including more consideration of people with mental illness. Between January 2019 and June 2024, the average length of confinement dropped from 40 to 27 days. However, in June 2024, 79 people classified with serious mental illness were still in “restrictive housing.”
Question: If you are elected, will you urge the Department of Corrections to immediately end the placement of people experiencing mental illness in solitary and administrative confinement and to end all use of solitary confinement for more than 15 consecutive days?
On reducing the prison population: The crisis in Wisconsin prisons is not just a staffing problem; it’s also the result of incarcerating too many people. Three logical ways to alleviate the problem are to end or greatly reduce crimeless revocations, release most of the men and women who are eligible for parole, and reform some sentencing measures that have done more harm than good.
Question: If you are elected, will you support real efforts to significantly reduce Wisconsin’s prison population?
On crimeless revocation: Background: In addition to the over 23,000 people currently incarcerated in Wisconsin, approximately 65,000 more are under community supervision. This mass supervision – which includes probation, parole, and extended supervision – is increasingly recognized as a contributor, rather than an alternative, to incarceration.
Approximately 30 percent of those released from prison are sent back into custody within three years – the majority not for committing a new crime, but for breaking a rule of supervision. This practice, known as crimeless revocation, results in approximately 3,000 Wisconsin prison admissions annually. The average time served for a crimeless revocation is 18 months, at a cost to taxpayers of almost $150 million.
Question: If you are elected, will you sponsor and/or support legislation that ends the use of incarceration for crimeless rule violations?
On Old Law/Parole/Compassionate Release: Background: Nearly 2,000 people in Wisconsin prisons are or should be eligible for parole. All of them were convicted of crimes committed before Truth in Sentencing was enacted in 1999. Prior to Truth In Sentencing, many people were given extremely long sentences by Wisconsin judges who understood that they would likely be paroled after 25 percent of their overall sentence had been served, as long as they completed their programs and were deemed rehabilitated.
Since the passage of “Truth in Sentencing,” however, relatively few of these earlier (“old law”) prisoners have been released on parole. As a result, the vast majority of them are serving much more time than the judges who originally sentenced them anticipated. All of these people have already served at least 24 years. They are now middle-aged, if not elderly. More than 400 are so low-risk that they leave the prisons every day to work unsupervised in the community. In fact, virtually all of them could probably be released without endangering public safety. Studies have found that most violent crimes are committed by very young people whose brains haven’t yet matured, and that the vast majority age out of such crimes by their late 30s or 40s.
Old law prisoners cost taxpayers more than $95 million per year. But even more important than the monetary cost is the cost in frustration and suffering, not only for the prisoners themselves, but also for their families.
Many parole-eligible people are elderly and/or seriously ill. These vulnerable prisoners should be released in every case where it is safe to send them back to their families and communities, so that they may have their loved ones nearby in their final years.
Question: If you are elected, will you call for a complete, independent review of every prisoner who is eligible for parole, with the goal of releasing all those who can be released safely? Would you want to rule out giving a second chance to those convicted of certain kinds of crimes?
On Sentencing Reform: Background: The legislature has played a pivotal role in sentencing in Wisconsin. Some legislative changes in sentencing would significantly benefit our communities.
Wisconsin has unusual criteria for the charge of “bail jumping.” In addition to missing a court appearance, persons can be charged with bail jumping for noncompliance with any of their bail conditions. These charges are subsequently used by district attorneys to pressure defendants into accepting onerous plea bargains. Recently, the Wisconsin legislature has shown some bipartisan support for reform of Wisconsin’s bail-jumping law.
In Wisconsin, when a person is revoked back to prison, the DOC ignores all “good time” spent on supervision. For example, if a person with seven years of supervision has served five years with no problems but violates a rule in year six, he must serve all seven years again when released from incarceration.
Wisconsin’s Truth In Sentencing laws include mandatory minimums for supervision, but long terms of supervision have shown no benefits to society and have serious negative consequences for both the people being supervised and their families.
Question: If you are elected, will you support sentencing-reform legislation, starting with bail jumping and supervision?
Compiled by Sherry Reames
by MOSES Publications | Aug 30, 2024 | Events, Fundraisers, Newsletter, Support MOSES
Why Is MOSES Having a Gala?
By Mary Anglim and Joan Duerst
The word gala, a festive celebration – is derived from the French word galer, which means “to have a good time, to rejoice.”
The mission of MOSES is to build collective power to dismantle the systems of mass incarceration and mass supervision and to eradicate the racial disparities in our community that contribute to them.
Why is MOSES rejoicing?
Imagine that you did something that harmed the community or someone in it, and that you were convicted of a crime and sentenced to years in prison. How would you feel? Might you try to change your ways? You might study, write letters, pray, or see how your life could be different. Not only do you not want to cause harm and sadness, but you also want to be renewed, to be helpful to friends and family.
Finally the day comes, and you are released. With the help of others, you find ways to get your life in order. You see that there are things you can do to restore your family. You even begin to reach out to other families. With your new insights, you want to find ways to make the community safe. You dream of a place where everyone will get along — a place where everyone who needs a job has one, where everyone is safe, where everyone has enough to eat and a place to live and can enjoy life! Now how do you feel?
Shall we rejoice with you? Shall we have a celebration? You are making such a great difference in a difficult time that we want to tell the whole world. We want to have a GALA!
Since 2017, MOSES has brought people together to honor and celebrate those who were incarcerated and who now are making the world a better place. One of those people had an idea: Wouldn’t it be great if there could be an occasion when we could get dressed up and meet other people who have worked to make the prison system one of compassion, one that helps people overcome the traumas of their lives, rather than a place of lifelong punishment?
Let’s all go! Let’s do MOSES! Let’s rejoice that we have helped build power to create systems that enable people to be the best they can be! Let’s celebrate that we are dismantling disparities, so that we have communities of justice, peace, and caring!
We will greet each other. We will eat great appetizers and sweets prepared by the young people trained by the Goodman Center. There might be a raffle! We will especially welcome the new awardees who have overcome the pain of incarceration and become stars in the community.
Sponsors and participants contribute to the ongoing work of MOSES. Those who can will add to the cost of their tickets, so that some folks fresh out of the carceral system can celebrate with us and dream of how they will make the world a better place.
MOSES will hold its seventh annual Gala on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Brassworks of The Goodman Center, 214 Waubesa St. Tickets are $75/person, or $65/person for two or more registering together. Save the date! Further information will be available in October.
