January 19, 2001

Commissioner Michael Haley
Alabama Department of Corrections

1400 Lloyd St.

Montgomery, AL

 

Re: Introductory Chapter of ALABAMA LIFERS GROUP

Dear Mr. Haley:

 

This correspondence is in reference to and follow up to previous conversations with Mr. Hardison regarding the establishment of an affiliate chapter of the ALABAMA LIFERS GROUP at the St. Chair correctional Facility.

Previously, we have addressed introductory material to you at your office and this was preceded by a meeting between Ms Esther Brown, a member of the Corporations Board of Directors, and your Deputy Commissioner. There also have been several communications directed to the Administrative staff here at St. Chair., concerning the founding of said chapter.

The impression that has been garnered from the administrative staff here is that the program is awaiting an approval from your office. For your consideration of this, I wish to express our gratitude.

In communicating with Ms Frown, at their December 19th meeting, it is our understanding that an invitation was extended for further discussion of this topic with you. It is with this in mind that I seek a tentative date for the meeting to be held.

As we have established an exploratory committee to promulgate the ideas and programs which would be in accord to establishing and fostering a mind set amongst our contemporaries that there is a need to develop a better mind, character, spiritual. self, community, and family structure within the population of long term incarcerates, we feel compelled to make these known to you at any further meetings on our behalf.

It is with great hope and faith in our innate abilities that we hope to be a guiding light and forerunner in the changing face of prison life and the administration of programs geared toward making productivity a fact of long tern incarceration, for the benefit of the individual and society at large.

Again, thank you, on behalf of those trying to bring to fruition these goals, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding a future meeting on this subject.

Sincerely,

Chairman JESSE MORRISSON S# 190575

1000 St. Clair Rd. (G4C-231)

Springville, AL 35146-5582

 

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February 15, 2001

Commissioner Michael Haley 

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

1400 Lloyd St.

Mont Montgomery, AL

 

Re: ALABAMA LIFERS GROUP

 

Dear Commissioner Haley:

 

Previously, we have been in contact with members of your office and Assistant Warden Garrett, here at the St. Clair Facility. This correspondence is a follow-up thereto.

As of this writing, we have not received any confirmation of our request to organize a chapter at the St. Clair Facility. It was inquired as to the developmental plans of our group, whether or not certain aspects were consistent with implementation system wide and the overall spiritual or religious aspects of the organization ?

As an organization predicated on the development of self awareness, community development and stabilization, family growth, education and rehabilitation spirituality is a must. We certainly believe that the message and mission of our group will foster ideals that would be beneficial to long term incarcerates here and at other institutions.

We have been in contact with several organizations and professionals who have offered their assistance in the development of our programs. One of the most involved, and encouraging ,has been Dr. Robyn Casarjian, head of the LIONHEART FOUNDATION. We have also contacted Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington, who has offered contributions.

We have attempted to structure this program so as to remove any costs and bring many benefits to the Department of Corrections. The only thing that we would require from the Department of Corrections is a meeting space and a classroom space. All other aspects of this program are designed to be self-sufficient.

As you are most certainly aware, the St. Clair Facility is in a period of transition in respects to the administration and recent events. We are not sure of the effect on our previously submitted proposals. To that degree, we have been stymied in our efforts to finalize the structure of the group.

We look forward to hearing from you and your staff on our program and wish to extend our thanks for the consideration that we have received to this point.

 

Sincerely yours,

Chairman JESSE MORRISSON S# 190575

1000 St. Clair Rd. (G4C-231)

Springville, AL 35146-5582

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