Efrén’s Commutation Request was denied on 3/8/10. He has been in solitary confinement for the last 6 months, despite no charges for any crime being brought against him. Please sign our petition asking the Governor to reconsider and reverse her decision at: http://tinyurl.com/Efren2010.
Below is a letter from Efrén:
Dear Friends,
I am writing to notify everyone that I was recently released from segregation after six months of isolation.
Throughout that time, I endured constant harassment by staff, threats, theft of my incoming and outgoing mail, inordinate delays processing my mail, intentional damage to my typewriter (it is no longer operable), and various forms of abuse by prison administrators.
I received a release authorization from segregation on 3/15/10, but was forced to remain in segregation until 6/9/10 without justification. My custody level was also increased to a level 5 (maximum security) and I was transferred to one of the State’s prisons that has a long history of prisoner abuse in its segregation units, the Ionia Maximum Facility.
It has been very clear from the inception of this six-month ordeal that it has been the intent of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to break my spirit. It was also their aim to thwart my efforts to receive a commutation of my sentence.
While they succeeded in the latter, they did not, nor will they ever, break my spirit.
Today, 6/15/10, I learned that the Deputy Warden at this facility denied my request for transfer to a level four facility. My confinement level is Level two and my management level is Level 1, yet this facility refuses to send me to my true custody level.
Therefore, now that I am out of segregation the pattern of harassment by administrators persists. They seem to adjust it as needed.
As of last month, my attorney, Stuart Friedman, filed petitions for Judicial Review of the misconduct reports that staff at G Robert Cotton Facility manufactured against me last December. I look forward to receiving a decision from the Court.
I also want everyone to know that I was never charged with any crime as the MDOC stated could occur six months ago, a result of their alleged investigation into “possible criminal activity.” As I stated at the onset, it was all nothing more than a contrived excuse to attack me.
My out-of-cell activity is very limited, as I only receive one hour of yard time a day due to being in Level five. I ask you to please continue supporting my efforts to have the Governor reconsider her denial of my commutation of sentence request and ask others to do the same. You can do this by signing my latest online petition, which will send an email of support to the Governor’s staff. The petition is available at http://tinyurl.com/Efren2010 .
I am not discouraged from pursuing my freedom by the events of the past six months. If anything, it has made me even more determined than ever to fight even harder.
Many people have asked me if I am angry for having to endure the unwarranted six-month ordeal in segregation. My response is simply that I am disappointed people can allow themselves into such a degenerate state to mistreat others and attempt to prevent another human being from resuming his life as a productive citizen.
Harboring anger is of no value. It only erodes our being and is a characteristic that does not comfort with an evolving state of consciousness. It is easy to become angry and let it consume us like an unrestrained fire. I believe we are each much more than a negative feeling or response. I am far from a perfect person, but I do not allow my imperfections to hinder my efforts to keep working to do better even when I stand in the eye of the storm.
In solidarity,
Efrén
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Efrén’s Commutation Request was denied 3/8/10. Please sign our petition asking the Governor to reconsider and reverse her decision at: http://tinyurl.com/Efren2010.
