Hello, my name is Jason W. McDonald (#1196192), and I am 42 years old. I have been incarcerated for 11 years now. I was sentenced to 26 years active imprisonment despite Virginia’s state guidelines calling for a range of only 5.5 to 12 years (these guidelines reflect the presentencing report done for everyone convicted of […]
YOUNGKIN’S DISINGENUOUS AMENDMENTS HARM VA FAMILIES By: Timothy Rumage, Aubrey “Mikey” Berryman, Taj Alexander Mahon-Haft Whatever your take on a gas tax holiday, it was never Youngkin’s real goal with last week’s budget amendments. It was a salient talking point to misdirect public attention from inhumane policies. It worked. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of families with […]
By: Justice (Hon. Harry A. Traynham) I’m in prison, yet I remain upbeat and I’ve managed to maintain a positive outlook on life. I’ve held on to and continue to hold on to an innovative spirit, and through all the hardships and struggles that come with being in prison, I’ve grown to reach for a higher […]
Unite for Second Chances with Second Look By: Taj Mahon-Haft As anywhere trauma and deprivation reign, hope is priceless and all too rare behind bars. Around here, we’re all closely following this legislative session, often with anxiety and sadness. Too many politicians followed an election season of ads demonizing us with a raft of bills […]
Reading Between the Lines on Education By: Taj Mahon-Haft Watching the election and Youngkin’s early days, I am both impressed and perplexed. Impressed by his use of unassailable rhetorical phrases to frame educational issues. Perplexed why so many Virginians seem to miss what is actually being said. Full disclosure: I am a straight, white man, […]
By: The Humanization Project …the authors/champions of the (original, including everyone) ESC expansion bill, and coauthors of 2nd Look and Anti-Profiteering bills, among others. Not good enough but more years are about to be earned back by more people than ever in VA’s history. The original version (without exclusions) of the ESC bill doing that […]
From Taj Mahon-Haft: I am tearfully, ragingly disgusted by what happened recently in Texas. and again in Buffalo. And in a California church the next day. And a Michigan school a few months back. And so on and so forth literally hundreds of times each recent year. I literally live amongst those judged and labeled […]
Mass incarceration adversely affects hundreds of thousands of families in Virginia today, interrupting many communities. Its costs are high for children, partners, communities, the economy, and especially taxpayers. Meanwhile, the scientific consensus is that long sentences or prison for minor offenses do not help public safety, often reducing it. Small steps have been made to […]
Hello, Criminal Justice Reform Supporters! The Humanization Project thanks everyone for all the help and support during this year’s legislative session. What mixed feelings we may have as the year ends. Such big hopes, so many valiant fights, some great wins, and a lot of the deep reform that fell just short. We know there’s […]