Monthly Meeting THIS Saturday, Feb 1
We hope to see you this Saturday, February 1 at 10am for our monthly meeting. As usual, we will meet at First Congregational Church, 1609 University Avenue, Madison WI 53726
Voices From Inside: Wisconsin Prisoners Speak OUT
Get Your Copy Today!
“Voices From Inside: Wisconsin Prisoners Speak Out” is now available. The book contains excerpts from some of the hundreds of letters WISDOM has received from inmates since the start of the 11×15 campaign. The letters touch upon a variety of themes, and each of them reminds us that prisoners are human beings with hopes, dreams, regrets and questions. The letters are accompanied by reflections from judges, bishops, pastors and others, as well as important facts about the criminal justice system.
Books can be obtained from any local WISDOM group or from the WISDOM office — 3195 S. Superior St., #310, Milwaukee, WI 53207. A $5 donation per book is suggested.
*Postponed* Catch MOSES on WORT 89.9 FM Tuesday, January 14!
*Due to circumstances beyond our control, the MOSES segment will be postponed, likely to next Tuesday.*
The next episode (#5) in the MOSES radio series about justice in Wisconsin will air this coming Tuesday, January 14, during the In Our Back Yard show at 6:30 PM on WORT 89.9 FM in Madison.
Fawn Bilgere will introduce Dr. Michael Connelly, a national authority on criminal justice reform. You can listen to it online at wort-fm.org either live streamed or go to the Archives section and look it up by name of the show (In Our Back Yard) and date, starting about one hour after it has aired.
WISDOM Leadership Training January 11
David Liners, Executive Director of WISDOM, will be providing an exciting training on Saturday, January 11 from 9am – noon at Lake Edge Lutheran Church at 4032 Monona Drive (just past the Cottage Grove intersection if you’re coming from the west; PARK IN BACK OF THE CHURCH).
The training is FREE and will focus on skills we need as individuals and as congregational members to be effective leaders for the crucial policy changes we seek in Wisconsin’s criminal justice system.
Lake Edge has graciously offered to provide beverages, including coffee and tea. WISDOM’s trainings are interactive and fun and always receive very positive reviews.
The training is especially important for new MOSES members, whether individuals or congregations, or those just curious about MOSES. If you know of any congregation considering joining MOSES, or who could benefit from exposure to our fine organization, please invite them to send representatives. (If you know of new people committed to attending, please send me an email of approximate numbers.)
Following the training, we will have a brown bag lunch hour (everyone to bring own sack lunch) at noon where we will open the floor to invite your thoughts and ideas about MOSES’ coming year– suggested changes in process or substance, what you appreciate about MOSES, how we could do better, etc. Somewhere in there we may need to fit in 10-15 minutes of reporting MOSES news. Voting members are urged to attend this hour; others are warmly welcome to participate.
Happy New Year to all,
Carol Rubin, President, MOSES
Meeting with Governor Walker and What You Can Do Now
WISDOM leaders met with Governor Walker’s Office
About 100 WISDOM leaders from across Wisconsin and allied groups held a rally and press conference at grace
Episcopal Church in Madison. Following this meeting the group headed over to meet with Governor Walker’s office.
The meting with the Governor’s office was regarding Old Law prisoners. The Old Law refers to men and women that were sentenced under policies that expected prisoners to demonstrate good behavior and complete program conditions to earn an early release. When the new Truth in Sentencing policy came into effect, law mandated that time sentenced equal time served and time being incarcerated was adjusted to reflect this policy. It is estimated that there are thousands of men and women that are stuck between these two policies that have no way to earn release through parole.
A delegation of 8 WISDOM leaders including Christian, Muslim, and Islamic religious leaders met for an hour with Waylon Hurlburt the Senior Policy Analyst to the governor. Hurlburt said the Governor had not known about this issue but added that Walker has interest and has promised a meeting before the end of January to consider and respond to our asks to:
- Review the cases of each prisoner that was sentenced under the Old Law
- Direct the Parole Commission and the Department of Corrections to work together to create a path to parole for these men and women
- Call for a study and issue a public report to offer transparency to the number of prisoners this would impact and how the issue would be resolved
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call Governor Walker’s office and thank him for the meeting and let him know that you look forward to a positive response in the meeting with WISDOM next month. Governor Walker’s phone number is (608) 266-1212.