Guest Column: Jameson Lifers Group Seeks Rehab, Shot at Parole

Just like Governor Kristi Noem, the Jameson Annex Lifers Group at the South Dakota Penitentiary seeks transparency, constructive communication, and positive influence in the Legislature:

The Jameson Lifer Group in the Jameson Annex at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, with the blessing of the administration, began and held their first meeting in more than 20 years on September 12, 2017. On that day we discussed what we should do with this opportunity to do positive things for all inmates and what we can do to turn our incarceration into a life-changing experience.

We came up with many ideas, and variations of those ideas, leading to the need for more incentive-based programs even though most lifers will not benefit from programs and laws that already cater to those with short sentences. It is out belief that incentive-based programs can encourage those with shorter sentences to want to change their lives to gain a better future.

In a very short time we brought back the Toastmasters program, which was in the facility over 20 years ago.

To date we have worked with the administration to insure that inmates with mental and/or physical health problems, as well as end-of-life  concerns, receive the care and attention they deserve.

We also brought in speakers on Restorative Justice and Victim/Offender Reconciliation.

We also invited our in-house mental health providers to partner with us in establishing an inmate-to-inmate mentoring program between new inmates and the lifers’ group members. We hope to expand this mentoring program to include our Mental Health population.

As a new group we hope to make as many positive changes within the facility as we can. We have taken on the challenge of learning the laws of this state, the working of the Legislature, and who the legislators are who might help update the laws that deny us of ever being considered for parole. In doing so we hope to open a conversation with those lawmakers concerning life sentences in this state and the lack of any review for possible parole for those sentences. We hope to bring our research and findings to their attention on how life sentences have and will continue to impact the state’s budget. We also hope to bring to their attention the fact that in the state where lifers get paroled they have the lowest recidivism rates of any class of inmates upon release [data here, here, and here].

We believe if we can bring more information to our lawmakers in an established line of communication, we would be able to gain supporters to introduce bills changing the lifer laws in this state and give those who have truly transformed themselves a chance at a review for possible parole in the future.

Our lifers’ group works constantly to keep lines of communication with the administration and staff to keep transparency in our daily mission to improve living conditions within the prison.

People change, whether one is in the community or in prison. Inmates serving life sentences know they belong in prison for crimes but strive for a future where a second chance can be obtained once they decide to rehabilitate and become good people with solid minds and genuine hearts.

Some lifers arrived here as teenagers or in their early 20s. Meet them today and one would be amazed at the growth and transformation they exhibit. We believe that our actions while living in prison, if positive and life-changing, should one day deserve a review for possible parole, as many states already do for their lifers.

It is our goal to help build a better prison system with programs dedicated to preparing inmates for life after prison. We pray for supporters to advance the proposition that even lifers can change their lives and deserve a second chance.

We are open to questions, opinions, aid, suggestions, and feedback. We hope for contacts who would help in our mission to move forward.

We deeply appreciate the volunteers and speakers who have contributed to our cause and those who may one day aid us.

[Jameson Lifers Group, letter to Dakota Free Press, received 2019.04.30]

It’s always nice to see groups educating themselves and the public about the law and lobbying to influence the Legislature toward what they view as more just and effective policy.