I would like to include this essay regarding Victor Morales, an inmate housed at North Central Correctional Institution - Gardner, who is seeking a positive parole from his life sentence. The more attention this issue gets, the better it will be when it comes time for him to appear before the parole board for a second chance at life on the outside. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

"I would like to introduce myself to you. I am Rosa Baez, one of many advocates on behalf of Victor Morales. Victor is an inmate at North Central Correctional Institution at Gardner, within the town of Gardner (Massachusetts). I write to you to ask questions and to share my thoughts, and hopefully gain your support through this petition as well. I would like to share his story with those of you who may have experienced at one time in your life a brush with the law, which may have resulted in probation, parole, or incarceration. This too also includes those of you that have been so blessed as to not have had any legal troubles. Many believe that when you are a convicted felon, you are a despicable human being and deserve no support from the community in which you once lived. However, having said that, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court prides itself on upholding the highest standards and guarantees the people it serves justice before conviction and fairness to those who have been convicted after having paid their debt to society. But, is this actually true?

After all, our world consists of many types of people. All the laws, technology, and good in this world surely amount to nothing if they do not further the lives of the people that they impact. The Massachusetts Department of Correction offers programs designed to modify anti-social behavior for those inmates that want to better themselves, so that when they are presented to the Parole Board, noticeable improvements have been made. Some of these programs are developed by scholars using scientific methods to achieve an end result. When you have earned certificates signed by a professional in particular fields, such as a phD in the case herein; it should equate to something more than simply being "program compliant". This is to eliminate error and ultimately prove that corrections and reform are important today. By addressing all aspects of positive changes with an assessment of the physical, mental, emotional, and spirituality, when taken in concert with one another, begin to and continue to produce a productive member of society and ultimately gives an inmate a better awareness and knowledge of his true self. 

For example: in Victor's case, he has taken full responsibility for taking another human life and has been in prison for twenty years as a result of his actions. We remain in contact through telephone conversations, letters, and visitation. He always talks about all of the poor, impulsive decisions he made as a youth, wishing that he could take them all back. He is completely remorseful in what he has done; a type of remorse that I can almost physically feel the profound effect that it has had on his life. There are many aspects that are not taking into account by the Massachusetts Parole Board, such as the fact that the Parole Board does not have a policy that admission of guilt or innocence is an absolute requirement for Parole and there are not currently any laws that impose such a requirement. I disagree with this because a man who willingly admits his guilt and has divorced himself from that degree of anti-social behavior and denounced any kind of behaviors that would be frowned upon in this day and age. 

The Parole Board has cited as reasons for denying his Parole, the following: "He has done positive things in prison, but...he is not rehabilitated...one clear marker of insufficient rehabilitation is his description of the murder as self-defense." However, others have gone in front of the Board and stated that "Given the fact of wrongful convictions in our criminal justice system, the Parole Board does not have a policy that admission of guilt is an absolute requirement for parole and nowhere does the law impose such a requirement on an individual seeking positive parole". Which brings to mind the question: What is the true reason behind all of their denials in regards to Mr. Morales?

The Parole Board has based their decision on only conversing with him a total of five and one-half hours in a span of twenty years, yet ignored the assessments of those that he has dealt with on a daily basis during his incarceration. The former Director of Treatment, Ms. Anita Collins, once stated: "On a positive note, this inmate (Mr. Morales) was named the hardest working and most-improved student of the year by the Educational Staff. He was also a motivational speaker to the CRA (Correctional Recovery Academy) inmates once a month”. It should be noted that the CRA deals with relapse and triggers associated with substance abuse, as well as violent behavior and recidivism. The Massachusetts Department of Corrections seems to believe that Victor is a good candidate for Parole, yet, despite all of the positives in his favor, the Massachusetts Parole Board assessment does not comport with reasoning.

With all of your thoughts on this matter, and your fair consideration of the issues presented here, we the advocates for Victor Morales, ask that you support us by signing this petition in support of Mr. Morales’s release on Parole. We believe that Victor has not been furnished with a fair process, whether it is due to political or personal reasons; it is evident that he is comparative to the bone marrow for cancer called Parole. On behalf of Mr. Victor Morales and his supporters, we would like to extend much gratitude for your time and attention to this sensitive matter.

Victor, Mom, and Daughter​

Classmates​

Victor, his daughter, and friend​

 Programs Victor Has Been Involved In

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