Press Release

FAMM sends letter inviting US District Court Judge Micaela Alvarez to #VisitAPrison

For Media Inquiries:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM sends letter inviting US District Court Judge Micaela Alvarez to #VisitAPrison

Alvarez recently ruled against a compassionate release motion for man with stage IV cancer

MCALLEN, TEXAS – FAMM sent a letter today to US District Court Judge Micaela Alvarez, who recently denied a compassionate release motion for a man who has stage IV cancer, citing the medical care available in the prison as “proper medical care” for his condition.

“If federal judges actually think people in federal prison receive decent medical care, that’s a huge problem and that misperception needs to be corrected immediately,” FAMM President Kevin Ring said. “We are inviting Judge Alvarez, and judges across the country, to visit a prison and see for themselves the conditions inside — and be properly informed about what prisons are like for incarcerated people.”

FAMM launched the #VisitAPrison campaign earlier this year, encouraging local, state, and national policymakers to visit a prison or jail in their states or districts in the next year.

To assist in the effort, FAMM has mobilized families, advocates, allies, and public figures to share their stories via video using the #VisitAPrison hashtag and to challenge policymakers to educate themselves about the conditions of confinement in federal and state prisons and jails.
For more information, including a tracker of lawmakers who have visited a prison, visit FAMM.org/visitaprison.

For more than three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM has led the fight to reform extreme mandatory sentencing laws and to promote rehabilitation and dignity for all people in prison, 94 percent of whom will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safely reduce incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and keep families together. Founded in 1991, FAMM has secured bold sentencing and prison reform across the country while elevating the voices of directly impacted individuals and families.