Free to Succeed: Ernest Boykin
“2027” is written boldly on the back of Ernest Boykin’s phone as a reminder of the year he would have been released, had he not...
A Lifetime of Remorse and Service to Others
Too many people in Pennsylvania are serving long prison terms that don’t make communities safer. There are plenty of people locked up like David Mandeville,...
When a Second Chance Means Powerhouse Advocacy
There’s nothing romantic about prison. But here’s a FAMM story that’s undeniably romantic. It’s about what happens when fierce advocacy, Fantasy Football, 35 birthday cards,...
A Racist Disparity, the EQUAL Act, and One Man’s Redemption
The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 reduced the disparity in sentencing for crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses from 100:1 to 18:1. But true justice...
Motivating everything we do here at FAMM are real people—prisoners, families with loved ones locked up, returning citizens—who experience firsthand our broken criminal justice system. When FAMM started more than three decades ago, it was the stories of these people that defined our mission and our work. And that hasn’t changed.
On this page, you’ll find many different kinds of stories, featuring people of all stripes from all over the country. Each and every one of their stories shows in sharp relief the problems with bad sentencing laws and prison policies. We hope that these stories educate and inspire you, just as they do for us.
Free to Succeed: Mandy Martinson
When a second chance means a chance to work hard to regain a profession lost and be there for a dying father … Mandy Martinson never thought she’d see the day when her father would be walking her down the...Read More
Free to Succeed: John Gargano
John Gargano graduated from New York University in May 2021 with a 3.91 GPA. Like a lot of recent graduates, he wasn’t sure what was in store, but he hoped to return to the restaurant industry, where he’d enjoyed the...Read More
Free to Succeed: Ernest Boykin
“2027” is written boldly on the back of Ernest Boykin’s phone as a reminder of the year he would have been released, had he not been granted compassionate release. “Every day not behind the fence, every day that I’m free,...Read More
Free to Succeed: Stephanie Nodd
Stephanie Nodd loves her job. She’s an inventory specialist at a trucking company, Action Resources. She recalls how happy she was in her interview to hear her future boss say, “Everybody makes mistakes, and everybody deserves a second chance.” Read More
Lynn’s Story: Be Strong, Get Educated on the Law, and Be There for Them
Malcolm is my only child. He was always a nice, mild-mannered, easygoing boy. Every holiday when he was a boy, we had our favorite tradition. I would tell him, “Oh, we’re going to go on a little date.” I would...Read More
A Second Chance, Boundless Energy, and Joy
After passage of the First Step Act, Lisa Kuffel was granted compassionate release after serving 31 years of a 53-year sentence. Read More
He Went Into Prison a Healthy Man. Now He Weighs 110 Lbs.
My name is Mary Buffaloe and I’m 65 years old. I live in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and I’m a customer service representative for the University of Pennsylvania Heath System. My brother is Raymond Calliman, and he’s serving a life sentence...Read More
“What’s Your Legacy Going to Be?” A Second Chance at Life
Steven Hawthorne’s story shows how second chances make sense. When he got his second chance and was released from Illinois state prison, Steven started building a productive life of service — and he hasn’t stopped since. Right now, there are...Read More
A Second Chance So Dahvon Can Be “Part of the Solution”
Too many people in Illinois are serving long prison terms that don’t make communities safer, like Dahvon Wilson. There are plenty of people locked up who do not pose a risk to public safety, yet languish in prison for decades...Read More