I am writing as a former resident of the great state of Georgia, and as someone who is thoroughly angered with the grave injustices and heinous sentences that have been  given out to first time offenders currently incarcerated after convictions of armed robbery and kidnapping. In 1995 the mandatory minimums were increased by the passing of the Georgia State Senate bill 441 under the guise of “getting tough on crime.” This bill was seen as popular to the public and a quick response to the rising crime in the metropolitan and rural communities in the state of Georgia.

Additionally the “ 7 Deadly Sins” law was passed which effectively eliminated any first time offender of  crimes of kidnapping or armed robbery from receiving parole. All these laws have really accomplished is creating a pipeline to a rising prison population, severe overcrowding, and subsequently no rehabilitation efforts from the state for the inmates incarcerated. Research clearly shows that these policies should no longer be a best practice

Second degree murder conviction has a sentence of 30 years with parole eligibility after fifteen years of time served. Voluntary manslaughter  can have fines levied and a sentence between 1-20 years with eligibility for parole. Involuntary manslaughter  can have fines levied and  a sentence of 1-10 years with eligibility for parole. However there is a case # 00CR3822 for an inmate currently incarcerated at the Calhoun State Prison who was sentenced in 1998 as a FIRST TIME OFFENDER to 40 Years in prison with NO PAROLE for kidnapping and armed robbery.

                                            Clifford Maddox 

                                             Inmate # 821649

This is a travesty of justice and a “Jim Crow” plantation based story as an ALL WHITE jury convicted Clifford on the word and testimony of TWO WHITE plaintiffs. Clifford did not injure, or kill ANYONE, yet he was given what amounts to a life sentence. The fact that convicted felons who have killed other humans have a lesser sentence with eligibility for parole and Clifford does not, is a picture of gross negligence in the judicial system, and a display of an unbalanced sense of logic and fairness with human lives.

There are numbers of other incarcerated lives that were sentenced under this brutal law of Senate Bill 441 and it is not right. I am asking you to do something that truly matters and can be a step in making much needed changes for the present and  future of our great state. Civil rights begins and ends with each life that has been lost and forgotten under this cloak of darkness veiled lightly as Liberty and Justice for some but not all!