My name is Quan John Ray and i have been incarcerated for over 27 years due to the outdated Draconian sentencing laws. I have filed a motion in court requesting to be released pursuant to the First Step Act/Compassionate release. I have been aways from my family and loved ones for 27 hard long years, not having any good memories besides the ones I came with. Furthermore, I have never gotten to the chance to meet any of my nieces and nephews. The reason why I am starting this petition is that I am seeking support from my outside peers whom I pray will help me see what so much that I have already missed out in the real world.

This petition matters to me for several reasons. First, this could very well convince the court to release me from an overly harsh life sentence that i have already severed 27 long devilish years. Secondly, this also this petition will help other inmates to have a form of precedent or guidance when seeking to be released. With petition it invites the community to get involved, and to have a voice as it relates to supporting their family, friends, and loved ones but in general gain freedom from an overly harsh penal system.

This petition will affect me and my family, because it will bring me back home to my loved ones to assist them in their daily struggles whether it be financial, mental, and even social. Also, this petition will affect my community, because I have serious plans to assist the community in several ways via establishing a nonprofit organization to do community outreach for at risk youth program and also start a better organization for the elders. I believe that I have changed in so many ways within 27 long devilish years and I have big hopes that with this petition I will give the chance to give back to my family, very close loved ones and most of all the community.

I am praying and hoping with this petition that my supported community will help me gain effort to my freedom. Through this petition I believe that the community will have a bigger voice than just one man himself, as it should, to speak by the way of their signature on this petition, I have always had love for community, and I am very in need of the support to demonstrate to the court that I have widespread community support that can assist me integrate back into society---a society that has drastically changed since my INCARCERATION.