I learned yet another disturbing truth about Maryland’s prison system that needs to be brought into full public view:
Upon entering the Maryland state prison system, Byron was told that because of the length of his sentence, he is not eligible for state-run educational courses.
Let that sink in.
A system that claims to believe in rehabilitation is actively blocking incarcerated people — especially those with longer sentences — from accessing the very programs that would help them transform and prepare for reentry.
This isn’t speculation.
This isn’t rumor.
I have attended meetings with organizations connected to the Department of Corrections that have confirmed this policy.
And yet, Byron has refused to let the system’s limitations define his growth.
Byron Has Completed 22 Courses — On His Own
Since the state will not allow him to enroll in in-house classes, Byron took the initiative to pursue education independently. Through the Edovo online program, he has:
Taken and completed 22 courses
Invested in his own growth
Worked toward rehabilitation without institutional support
He is doing everything in his power to rise — even as the system tries to restrict the very tools meant to support rehabilitation.
This Is a Discriminatory Practice
Denying educational access based on sentence length is more than a bureaucratic hurdle — it is discriminatory and counterproductive. It creates two classes of incarcerated people:
Those the system chooses to invest in
And those it quietly abandons
This is not justice.
This is not rehabilitation.
This is policy designed to deny hope.
Everyone Deserves a Chance to Return Prepared
Every incarcerated person — regardless of their sentence — should have access to the tools needed to grow, heal, and prepare for a future outside the walls.
Because the truth is:
Every inmate looks toward returning to their community someday.
And every single one deserves the opportunity to be fully prepared.
This is why our fight for Byron’s freedom — and for systemic reform — must continue with even greater urgency.
Thank you to everyone who stands with us.
Your voice matters. Your support matters. Your belief in justice matters.
We will not stop advocating. We will not stop exposing these practices. And we will not stop fighting for Byron’s return home.
— Rev. Jamesina Greene
A Mother’s Cry