Words From Inside 40 Strong 2024

Greetings, 

I am writing to play on your heartstrings tonight. We just received a 78-year-old man here at Deerfield named George Morgan, # 2177556, Bed E997, and he doesn't have anything, and he said he doesn't have any loved ones who cares about him. He is going to try and get an in-house job. Jobs are hard to get here.
 

Can you help find enough people to donate enough money to get this man a television, clear remote and some cosmetics and soups and crackers to have for himself. I've seen several men give him a few items and some food, but it is hard on a lot of us. Usually someone sends each of us a few dollars to purchase what we need.
 

Whatever you can do would be appreciated. He said, please don't ask anyone to give who has young children or needs it worse than he does.
 

Thank you for your time, efforts, and concerns. This was not Mr. Morgan's idea; it was all mine. 

Hello 40S,

I am SO PROUD & GRATEFUL to let you all know that my book is almost complete. It should be available on Amazon by early December.
Can you please include the notice below in the DECEMBER newsletter, please?
I will inform you as soon as I get confirmation it is on Amazon. If there is a delay, I will ask you all to put it in the JANUARY newsletter instead.
THANKS!
-DOUG
 

______________________________________________________
A Love Letter to My Family (Book Release Notification)
DOUGLAS V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011 @VADOC_RNCC)
 

Hello Fellow Forty STRONG Members, I would like to humbly ask you all to get my most recently published book on Amazon. "A Love Letter to My Family" is a poetic memoir that I have been working on for the seven years that I have been incarcerated.
 

Most of the poems are about courageous hope, vulnerable love, coping with mental health battles, &/or overcoming addiction/alcoholism. I have also included a prison resume example and a program proposal example for those of you that have taken the initiative to create programs while incarcerated.
 

Regardless of where we currently are, we don't have to stay there. Let us continue to learn, grow, & build all the way to the grave. Let's Bloom where we are currently planted. To sum up the contents of this book in one word: GRATITUDE.
 

Thank you for your support and for allowing me to share my journey towards personal growth with you through this book!
Humbly,
-DVJ
 

*The Forty STRONG's Facility Leader for River North Corr. Center and TF CXJ III's Lead Peer Recovery Support Mentor, Education Advocate, Philanthropist, & Freelance Journalis"
http://www.jpay.com/IncomingMailView.aspx#:~:text=From%3A,Philanthropist%2C%20%26%20Freelance%20Journalist
 

Hello

I will like you all to send me some photos please you can send them on here you attach them to the email... I will be sending letters poems and other helpful information to you all and plus I would like to donate money to you all. I love what y'all are doing for the incarcerated inmates I look forward to this every month. I would also love if you can send me all the info on y'all program.
we do not have access to facebook. So, if you can send any pictures, you have that will be great. Thank you all and if you need anything please contact me. I am a big fan of forty strong.... Please send pics asap on here thank you!!!
 

Dear Forty Strong,

 
Hey Kirsten! Peace and Greetings, thank you so much for the feedback regarding my parole writing on the 40Strong web page. I was very moved by the concerns of the responses to my posting, although I didn't see the whole thing (I only saw the conclusion part), what mattered to me the most was that my voice was heard, and the message was heeded by those who saw it. Hopefully more voices out there will grow and join our movement to end this injustice regarding parole. Hopefully some delegates (Especially Republicans) will view this and will say that enough is enough. We must be recognized for our rehabilitive efforts in showing that we can function as law biding ciitizens. If I get anymore responses, please send them to me. I am working on a phamplet to send out to non-profit organizations in preventing at risk youth from incarceration. If you could, please send me some non-profit organizations in the community that works with at risk youth. Thank you again for your recognition and support! Michael Owens"

 

Dear Forty Strong,

 
can u guys promote my book in ur newsletter? thank u
 

New Children's Book
C. Hairston aka Preacha Mane (Keen Mountain)
I just released my first children's book on Amazon, & right on time for the holidays! "Isabella's New Shoes" is a fun & funny book the kids & the whole family can enjoy reading together with activities also. Get your people to order it for the little ones at:
https://a.co/d/aG0cms9
Get it & spread the word for others to get it as well. God bless & stay strong

Dear Forty Strong,

I appreciate you all for keeping us informed on the current and relevant issues facing us all. I know that it is an uphill battle when trying to get bills passed or people to move on one accord to get things done. I have been in this system for 22 years straight and have seen how as the years pass the focus has gone to warehousing humans, and not on making them the best that they can be when they reenter society. All across the state of Va there are shortages of correctional officers, and it shows in how these institutions are being run. There is no hope in these places, and it is reinforced by the use of bodies to keep money coming into the pockets of all those invested in the prison industrial complex. We along with are families are being taxed to the utmost and in fact we are paying for our own incarceration. Keefe is a billion-dollar company, GtL is a billion-dollar company, Jpay is a billion-dollar company off the backs of the incarcerated and their loved ones. The sad thing is two are billionaires off transaction fees alone. I say all that to say this if they are not feeling a crunch in the money then we really have no leverage. So, when you all brainstorm please look into some of these facts to possibly help.
respectfully

 

Dear Forty Strong,

I desire to be an advocate for Forty Strong and the ministry we have in the VADOC thru inmates. I have been an advocate for the Kairos program during my 31 years incarcerated. In February the DOC contacted me stating they were taking over LVCC for the intention of bringing veterans and those of us who are parole eligible should apply to become occupants of their facility. I have sought thru and thru whether a 65-year-old should leave Keen Mountain dorm for where the parole board interview's us face to face. All signs tend to point in this direction.

I have heard about your advocacy helping people bring to light information which placed in the right hands will make a difference in the lives of prisoners and community. Please share with idea's how to assist you in your endeavor...

Blessings in Christ,
Brother Daniel

40 Strong Member

Dear Forty Strong,

Again, thanks for "all" your hard work and dedication on our behalf. My prayer is God continues to bless you with all the tools to carry on and to be happy. I have another person who wishes to be a part of the family. His name is Willie Ricks # 1034312. I know that as long as we have you, we have hope. I will continue to do what's right and strive on a daily basis.... Work, Program, School, etc. Thanks again and may God bless you in a mighty way.

40 Strong Member

Dear Forty Strong,

On behalf of Convict Care, I wanted to say thank you again for your love and support. I also wanted to let you know that they still intend to keep their word. As of late they have been dealing with some family issues and have been unable to contribute to the struggle in a financial way, but I will see that Convict Care does indeed keep its word.

David 

40 Strong Member

My name is Carver Hyman I am a 78-year-old inmate at a Virginia correctional center my inmate # 1129984. I was arrested January 11, 2018, for robberies I committed. I was confronted with a large hospital bill after a heart attack and possible foreclosure of my home. I took full responsibility for my action and pleaded guilty to my charges. After court proceeding, I was sentence to ten years and four months. With my good time I have to serve eight years and four months provided I have no infractions or charges. My schedule release date is December 29, 2026. Starting day one of my incarceration I have no charges or infraction, I have taken all required classes. I have maintained a job my entire time of incarceration. Because of my age and time served I'm eligible for geriatric parole, my last denial stated I have not done enough time for my offense. With the earned sentence credit there is a possible reduction of a year off of my sentence. For the last three years I've been an inmate advisor and pod rep. I have my home plan in order, I will be going back to my home in Suffolk, Va. My behavior and my age as an inmate should pave the way for an early release. This has been six years plus of remorse. My chances of been involved in a criminal act is extremely low. Unfortunately, I am in a state where modern day slavery continues to exist. Iam ready to go home help support and be with my family. My actions as an inmate prove it." 

40 Strong Member

Greetings Forty (40) Strong Staff/Members,
I trust that this email/message will find all you guys in the best of health and spirits:
Just a few lines to once again thank you for [all] the hard work and being dedicated to the cause of making things "Right" for us/offenders and our family/loved ones.
Additionally, I wanted to send you a reminder concerning the "FAIR PAROLE HEARING INITIATIVE" questionnaire etc. if you check your email account etc., you'll see that I sent that info. in on (July 11,2024) ...and my friend/family followed up with a picture of me that was request sent in on "July 13,2024" with my Name/State ID# and reason(s) attached.
So, I would really appreciate if you could check to make sure everything is there/available that was required to participate in the (Fair Parole Hearing Initiative) ...
...Thank you, guys, again for your love/support: May God continue to Bless us all always. Amen!!

Respectfully, sincerely:
James E. Bender

40 Strong Member

First and foremost, thank you for taking this opportunity to acknowledge my concerns, my name is Donald C. Jackson, and my state number is 1059285. I am 64 year old. I am incarcerated for robberies (3 counts) and use of a firearm (4 counts). I was sentenced to 80 years with 42 years suspended, leaving me with 38 years to serve.

I was informed that Forty Strong sent out an email concerning a "FAIR PAROLE INITIATIVE." I was informed to send them (Forty Strong) the following information:

1. A]: Date of incarceration: July 19, 1999
B]: Date of Parole Eligibility: I am ineligible for parole, but eligible for Geriatric Release, Virginia Code Section 53.1-40.01
C]: Date of last infraction: My last infraction was 02/10/2019, 218 - Fighting with any person
D]: Number of 3-year Deferrals: I've never received a 3-years deferral, but I have been denied Geriatric release
E]: Number of times you have been denied paroled: Geriatric release on 5 different occasions
F]: Health issues: I am a type II diabetic with high blood pressure
2. Most common reason for denial: "Serious nature and circumstances of offense," and/or "The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole"
3. Home plan and why: Yes, I have provided a home plan every time I went up for Geriatric release, but I also informed the Virginia Parole Board that I have a pending detainer from Pennsylvania Parole Board
4. List the plans you have once you are free: I'm not being afforded the same opportunity to make any plans as others who have been given release on parole or provided the same rights to rehabilitate themselves with being afforded to go to a road camp, work release and work details because I have a detainer
5. Are you Old-law, Geriatric, Juvenile or Fishback? I am Geriatric eligible
6. We need your permission to share your information or our Facebook page, website, etc. I don't have any problem with given you my permission. I have filed a writ of habeas corpus in the Henrico County Circuit Court back in June 2022 (Donald C. Jackson v. Harold W. Clarke, et al. Case No. CL22-4779). This petition was filed after my third time being denied Geriatric release. I ended up filing a complaint against the Henrico Circuit court for holding onto my petition for over 18 months without providing me with any decision. As soon as my petition was denied in the Circuit court, I filed my Notice of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Virginia. (Donald C. Jackson v. Harold W. Clarke, et al. case No. 240158

On April 2, 2024, I received a letter from the Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Ms. Lesley K. Smith, and she contacted me in regards to the appellee's that I indicated as the Respondents who are either persons 1-5 in section A, or persons 1-5 in section B

If you need any further information concerning me or my case, you can send me an email for any questions you may have about parole.

Respectfully submitted,
Donald C. Jackson"

40 Strong Member