Mary Diaz and Human Conflicts Org Demand More Paroles, 03/06/15

At 3pmEST on Fridays, we present Mary Diaz on the "Huaman Rights Demand" radio broadcast. Mary is a prisoner activist who advocates for paroles and pardons. Please call (347)857-3293 to speak on air. You can also listen by computer live or hear the archived tape 24/7. Diaz is affiliated with "Human Conflicts," where "LET MY PEOPLE GO" is the motto. Mary lives in Florida, which had over 5,200 inmates who were parole eligible in 2014 but released fewer than 20. Prison investors on the Pardons and Parole Board are a barrier to freedom for many rehabilitated inmates. 

Diaz said Alabama's Pardon and Parole Board has become a trendsetter for the rest of the country regarding releases. In Alabama during 2014, the Board considered 6,647 paroles, of which 2,237 were granted. The Board also granted 657 pardons of 798 pardons heard and processed 522 voter rights restorations. That is real progress against mass incarceration. Some of the change may be credited to a lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center against the Alabama prison system. 

Righteous lawsuits litigated in just courts can make justice system reform mandatory. "Presently, Maynard Cooper & Gale is fighting a Southern Poverty Law Center lawsuit that claims the health care provided to Alabama's inmates is inadequate and unconstitutional. Correctional health care firm Corizon is paying the firm to fight the lawsuit on behalf of the state due to a provision in its $224 million contract with the state. In total, the state has spent $1.86 million in taxpayer money to fight prison lawsuits in the past four years." (Report by AL(dot) com). That sum may also include a lawsuit by the ‎ACLU for segregating inmates with HIV. 

Power to the People!