Lisa Jackson
24 years, 4 months
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine and cocaine base
I am a first-time, nonviolent offender.
I am 39 years old and have been incarcerated since 1992. I'm
the mother of five children who have been parentless for the
last ten years. My children now are ages 10 through 16 and have
been separated since my imprisonment. Three are in the Miami
area, and the other two reside in the state of South Carolina
with my sisters. They have suffered greatly during this ordeal.
I am not claiming to be a "perfect person;" however,
I don't believe justice was served when I was sentenced to twenty-four
years. I admit that I had a personal drug problem that I denied
for many years. As the record in my case clearly reflects, the
government had no evidence to convict me other than the words
of their "star" witness, a confidential informant whose
testimony can only be classified as hearsay. Even the DEA agent
in my case was unable to testify as to my participation in the
conspiracy. He stated, by affidavit, that his star witness' testimony
was false. The agent must or should know that he was further
perpetrating a fraud by bolstering the informant's false testimony.
Among more than 15 co-defendants, I received -- as a first-time
nonviolent offender -- one of the longest and most severe sentences
with my one count. Due to inability to offer the government any
information, I can't even remember how much time they offered
me to take a plea and testify or give any information about my
sister or any drug related criminal activities in the South Carolina
or Miami area. I honestly believed, being innocent of the charges
made against me, that no jury would convict me.
Since day one of my confinement,
I have sought only to improve myself emotionally, spiritually
and educationally. I have exhausted the counseling resources
available to help me deal with separation from my children, gaining
a much stronger view on life. I have completed numerous parenting
classes and seminars in order to be fully equipped upon reuniting
with my community and earned my high school diploma and some
college credits. I've also learned several vocational skills
for viable employment during my terms at Unicor Industries. I
am an intricate part of the church's choir and bible study group
here.
Today many women and men in my same situation wait on the public
to persuade our leaders to choose a wiser course than the one
we are on.
Lisa Jackson 88979-071
FCC Coleman Camp Unit F-1
PO Box 1032
Coleman, FL 33521-1032
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