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 […]
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 […]
By: Wayne Thomas Jr. […]
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 […]
The list of offenses that are excluded from earning the newly expanded earned sentence credits are here. Any questions regarding your specific case, please consult an attorney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q7vT0CjB-k Shakil Ali is a beautiful human being who advocates and tirelessly helps people behind bars, people who have gotten out, and their communities. I have wanted to interview him for a long time and was so happy to finally do so. He also participated in a COVID-19 Justice Coalition Virtual Town Hall last week, […]
On 3/28/20 though I never use the telephone in here because I can never hear over all the noise, I just felt like I needed to call home. I just needed to hear moms voice. My older brother answered the phone and after a few minutes of painfully awkward conversation he choked out “Marky… Mommas […]