UPDATED 3/20/24

This is our THIRD year trying to bring Michael home.  With all of the changes which have been made with the Virginia Parole Board the last several years this has become a daunting task and we need your help!

Michael goes before the parole board again next month and we need all of the supporters that we can get.  Please, sign and share this petition to help us -- thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

I would like to introduce you to a man by the name of Michael Hairston.  In 1994 Michael was charged with a heinous crime.  One to which, from the very beginning, he accepted full responsibility of and has not denied since.  One to which he was sentenced to a life sentence while having no prior criminal history.  One in which he was heavily addicted to drugs and had a history of mental problems for which he was being treated.  One which DOES NOT involve any children or sex charges.

Under the laws of the State of Virginia Michael became eligible for parole in 2006.  Since that time Michael has been reviewed by the parole board SIXTEEN times.  In 2007 the decision was made by the Parole Board to give him a 2-Year denial.  In 2011 the Parole Board, again, gave him a 2-Year denial.  Since that time he has been reviewed by the Parole Board each year with each year resulting in yet another denial.

During his time of incarceration Michael has been an exemplary inmate while receiving VERY FEW infractions - with only one of them being serious - over THIRTY years!  He has been a role model for other inmates.  He has gained the respect of not only inmates but of those in the position of authority.  This includes his holding a work position which is considered to be of the highest security inside of a maximum security facility.  This is a position very few are ever afforded and his work supervisors have given him praise and accolades for his work ethics and reliability.

In Virginia the Parole Board does not allow for an inmate to speak for themselves.  They do not allow an inmate to appear before the board and allow the board to see what they have become or are capable of becoming.  Instead the board uses a team of "Parole Examiners" who are simply employees at each institution to give their view of an inmate.  The recommendations of these examiners are what is supposed to be essential to the board when examining an inmate for potential parole.  While this has the potential of being a good system, it has little to no effect on the board members.  The last several years Michael has received high recommendations from the Parole Examiners for parole and for his ability to succeed on parole.  Each time these recommendations have not been taken into consideration.

Not everyone is cut out for parole.  Not everyone has the mindset or the level of dedication to succeed on parole.  Not everyone has a support system in place to ensure that they succeed on parole. Michael has all of these qualities in place and deserves the chance, after serving THIRTY years of his life behind bars. 

Yes, I admit, that his crime was very violent in that he took the life of another.  I also try to take into account what has happened to Michael SINCE that time.  The development he has shown.  The remorse that he has shown and continues to show daily.  The commitment that Michael has shown to himself, to other inmates, to staff members and to his outside support network that he is worth taking that chance on. 

People can, and do, change.  We are talking about the life of a man who has spent more time incarcerated than he spent as a free man.  A man who wants to do something positive in his life through Victim Advocacy.  A man who wants to help steer others from committing acts of violence.  We have all made mistakes in our past and some have made ones much more serious than others. 

Please, help us to bring Michael home.  Time is crucial as the parole board will again be reviewing Michael for parole at the beginning of June.  Please add your voice to our call to allow Michael the opportunity to show all of us that a person REALLY can change and REALLY can make a difference.

Thank you and God Bless from the very bottom of our hearts.