A Second Chance, Boundless Energy, and Joy
Monday, July 11, 2022
After passage of the First Step Act, Lisa Kuffel was granted compassionate release after serving 31 years of a 53-year sentence. Read More
The Crack-Powder Disparity: It’s Time for Justice
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
In 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act reduced the crack-powder disparity in sentencing from 100:1 to 18:1. Lawmakers acknowledged that crack cocaine is no more addictive than powder and is not more likely to cause violent crime. Also true is that lengthy mandatory minimum prison terms... Read More
Gerald Tarboro: A Story of Second Chances
Monday, August 17, 2020
My story is about two second chances. The first is mine – I got one. I spent 11 years in prison, and I was released a little early because of the First Step Act. The other one I want to tell you about is a... Read More
Charles Brown: Moving Forward to Give Back
Thursday, July 9, 2020
It doesn’t take a lot these days to make me happy. Being with family makes me smile. Just sitting on my steps, listening to music, watching people go by. Some stop to chat, some say hi, and others simply walk by. Nonetheless, I feel happy. Read More
Terri Minor Spencer: A Force of Nature in Her Community
Friday, October 4, 2019
“Good Morning, Boom Shakas! Have A Great Day, Do It With Your Chin Up & Back Straight” Scroll down Terri Minor Spencer’s Facebook page and you’ll see many messages like this one—and in Terri’s case, what you see is what you get, even on Facebook. As... Read More
Reentry Story: “Relentless Self-Advocacy”
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
“I enrolled at Portland State University eight days after my release. I have since earned 24 credits, with a 4.0 GPA, earning me the commendation of placement on the President’s List.” Read More
Stephanie Nodd
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Desperate to make ends meet as a 20-year-old single mom to three young kids, Stephanie Nodd became involved with a drug dealer. Eventually, she was caught up in the conspiracy that would bring both of them down—and she was sentenced to more time than he... Read More
Yolanda Flournah-Perkins
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
In 2004, two semesters before she was set to graduate from the University of Central Florida with a degree in criminal justice, then-23-year-old Yolanda Perkins was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession of stolen mail, a white-collar offense. Since her 2006 release, Yolanda... Read More
Ricky Minor
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Ricky is serving a life-without-parole sentence for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. His sentence is based on prior offenses, even though none of them resulted in prison time. He had been fighting addiction and depression for years when he was sentenced. President Obama commuted Ricky’s sentence on October... Read More
Telisha Watkins
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Addicted to drugs from an early age, Telisha was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, because of drug-related priors. President Obama granted her a commutation on July 13, 2015, and she was... Read More