Mary Neal's Sharebook 

Judge Kevin Fine, USDC-Dist. 177, Texas
Pronounced capital punishment unconstitutional

THANK YOU, JUDGES!   Judges and juries are changing justice in America for the better.  I was surprised and delighted to read that the U.S. prison population declined for the first time in decades.  Many people are grateful to you for using drug courts, mental health courts, and being more careful to evaluate the evidence presented against defendants.  Thank you especially for the decline in death penalty sentencing in every state except California. Even Texas' death sentences declined, a state that can be very proud of judges like Judge Kevin Fine.  We appreciate all that you do to be just and compassionate, judges and juries in America. We count on you, and you are demonstrating that you care about justice.  The Bible refers to the leaders of God's people as judges.  You have much power, and we appreciate your using it righteously.  Juries are comprised of people in the defendants' communities.  They have reevaluated justice lately and returned more humane sentences across the nation.  Thank you, defense attorneys, especially hardworking public defenders. I believe even our prosecutors may deserve praise. Perhaps they are not withholding evidence from defense attorneys and coercing witnesses as often. We need prosecutors to help put people behind bars who violate our property rights and safety, but not innocent people. Police officers are likely being more careful with evidence.  It likely takes change from many people to lower sentences.  California has a dismal report at number 11 below and Indiana at number 4, but this is a good news report otherwise.  See the exciting headlines beneath my signature block!  Also, read about Darrell Lomax after the links.  He is a wrongly convicted condemned man in California.

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI
 

1. Texas Moratorium Network: Death Sentences Decline, Life Without ...
   Dec 28, 2009 ... Death Sentences Decline, Life Without Parole Sentences Rising, ... to die in prison, so they constitute a new kind of condemned person. ...
   stopexecutions.blogspot.com/.../death-sentences-decline-life-without.html - Cached
   
2. Federal Drug Sentences Decline - NORML
   Marc Mauer, assistant director of the Sentencing Project, credits the decline of prison sentences to changes in sentencing laws in 1994 that allow judges to ...
   www.natlnorml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4109 - Cached
   
3. U.S. Prison Population in Decline for First Time in Decades ...
   Dec 21, 2009 ... The decline in prison population is largely the result of the harsh ... that forced inmates to serve 85 percent of their prison sentences, ...
   www.politicsdaily.com/.../u-s-prison-population-to-decline-for-first-time-in-decades/ - Cached
   
4. News results for prison sentences decline
   
   Grand Forks Herald Indiana Prison Populations Rise As Nation Sees Decline‎ - 7 hours ago
   

   Prison officials blame the surge on lawmakers not pursuing alternatives to incarceration. Instead, they've relied on tougher sentences for crime. ...

   MyWabashValley - 450 related articles »
   
   
5. Death Sentences Decline, Life Without Parole Sentences Rising ...
   Dec 27, 2009 ... Death Sentences Decline, Life Without Parole Sentences Rising, ... row in the four years since the law took effect, state prison data show. ...
   open.salon.com/.../death_sentences_decline_life_without_parole_sentences_rising_creating_new_kind_of_condemned_person - Cached
   
6. Newsvine - Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink
   Dec 18, 2009 ... Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink ... penalty and laws that allow inmates to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. ...
   www.newsvine.com/_.../3648149-report-death-sentences-decline-death-rows-shrink - Cached
   
7. Sentencing Law and Policy: Notable prediction that prison ...
   Dec 20, 2009 ... Notable prediction that prison population may decline in 2009 ... law required drug offenders to serve 85 percent of their sentences. ...
   sentencing.typepad.com/.../notable-prediction-that-prison-population-may-decline-in-2009.html - Cached
   
8. Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink - Crime Library ...
   1 post - 1 author - Last post: Dec 18, 2009

   Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink Death Penalty. ... that allow inmates to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. ...
   boards.library.trutv.com › ... › Death Penalty - Cached
   
9. Report: Death Sentences Decline; Death Rows Shrink - cbs11tv.com
   Report: Death Sentences Decline; Death Rows Shrink. MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) ― Texas and other states that lead the nation in ...
   cbs11tv.com/wireapnewstx/Report.Sharp.drop.2.1377368.html - Cached
   
10. [PDF] Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink
    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
    Report: Death sentences decline; death rows shrink ... death penalty, life in prison without parole becomes a very viable option they can feel safe and ...
    www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/.../Death%20Sentences%20Decline,%20Death%20Rows%20Shrink.pdf
    
11. California's death row grows as death sentences decline nationwide ...
    California's death row grows as death sentences decline nationwide .... San Quentin State Prison's death row now houses more than a fifth of the 3279 ...
    articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/19/.../la-me-deathpenalty19-2009dec19 - Cached
    
    
    Darrell Lomax is in San Quentin, a likely innocent man who has been on death row for over 15 years.  None of the evidence in his case points to him.  He is a victim of inadequate defense.  In fact, Lomax's first public defender was also representing a man who was State's witness against him.  Next, Lomax was assigned a prosecutor to act as his attorney, and none of Lomax's witnesses were called to the stand.  Read more about Darrell Lomax online, and please sign his petition to save him from execution.  California reports that it plans to soon resume executions, right when more civilized states like New Mexico have repealed capital punishment, and even Texas death penalty sentencing is declining.