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Florida Parole Commission: Free my non-violent husband Mark DeFriest after 33 years in prison
Bonnie D.
started this petition to
Tena Pate, Florida Parole Commission
Petition by Bonnie DeFriest
Honorable Commissioners:
With all my heart, I pray that you will see the wisdom in finally granting my nonviolent and aging inmate-husband his freedom by paroling him from the Florida prison system.
Over nearly 34 years in prison, Mark DeFriest has suffered inconceivable torment - from frequent beatings to repeated rapes and long-term solitary confinement. Yet it was all preventable. From a very young age, Mark had an incredible mechanical gift, but struggled in relationships with people. He was not ‘bad', he was a talented loner. At 19, just after his beloved father died, Mark went to prison because of a dispute with his stepmother over tools willed to him by his father. Four of five psychiatrists ruled Mark was unfit to be sentenced to prison, but Mark was pressured into a plea bargain by his court-appointed attorney.
The wild and talented kid is now a talented and long suffering man who, because of his repeated escape attempts, endures frequent mental and physical abuse in a system that cannot tolerate a free-spirited, nonconformist man's belief that he does not belong in prison for a minor, non-violent offense.
Mark has never been given a jury trial, and 27 YEARS of his 33-year prison time were spent in Maximum Security ISOLATION. During ten of those years in solitary he was deprived of all but the most basic conditions of survival, and not even allowed access to the outdoors and life-giving sunshine!
The Parole Commission has repeatedly tacked on additional years to his original 4-year sentence, for minor non-violent misbehavior such as disobeying orders and possession of contraband. His projected release year is now 2085, at which time he would be 125 YEARS OLD, were he to live that long. In effect he has been given a LIFE SENTENCE for a youthful, non-violent mistake and misbehavior related to his mental instability. No one in their right mind should see any justice in this -- only cruel, unyielding vengeance, coming from within the system itself.
Mark, who is now 53 years old, finally has hope in a facility that offers some rehab, so he is working hard to turn his own life around, for himself and his now-aged wife. He is rebuilding and improving his talents in technical and mechanical pursuits, while still imprisoned. He is doing excellent work in a Computer class, has done equally well as a Porter, and is currently in a high-level Maintenance job. He has resided in a "God Pod" which is an Honor Pod. He previously earned his GED and, upon his release from prison, will enroll in a Community College to earn his AAS degree in Computer Science.
Mark has never been a threat to anyone on the outside. He is an intelligent and highly skilled worker capable of making a living on the outside. With the help and support of myself (his wife) and with the confidence of others, he will become a productive citizen once again.
There is simply no sensible reason to keep my husband incarcerated any longer. Therefore, I ask your heartfelt consideration in this matter, and sincerely thank you for your MERCIFUL decision in Mark's and my favor.
Our message to share is: Mark has improved his own behavior remarkably over the last 4 years, so please, Commissioners, end this inhumanity and set him free!
Many, many others agree, as confirmed by their signatures on this petition.
Honorable Commissioners:
With all my heart, I pray that you will see the wisdom in finally granting my nonviolent and aging inmate-husband his freedom by paroling him from the Florida prison system.
Over nearly 34 years in prison, Mark DeFriest has suffered inconceivable torment - from frequent beatings to repeated rapes and long-term solitary confinement. Yet it was all preventable. From a very young age, Mark had an incredible mechanical gift, but struggled in relationships with people. He was not ‘bad', he was a talented loner. At 19, just after his beloved father died, Mark went to prison because of a dispute with his stepmother over tools willed to him by his father. Four of five psychiatrists ruled Mark was unfit to be sentenced to prison, but Mark was pressured into a plea bargain by his court-appointed attorney.
The wild and talented kid is now a talented and long suffering man who, because of his repeated escape attempts, endures frequent mental and physical abuse in a system that cannot tolerate a free-spirited, nonconformist man's belief that he does not belong in prison for a minor, non-violent offense.
Mark has never been given a jury trial, and 27 YEARS of his 33-year prison time were spent in Maximum Security ISOLATION. During ten of those years in solitary he was deprived of all but the most basic conditions of survival, and not even allowed access to the outdoors and life-giving sunshine!
The Parole Commission has repeatedly tacked on additional years to his original 4-year sentence, for minor non-violent misbehavior such as disobeying orders and possession of contraband. His projected release year is now 2085, at which time he would be 125 YEARS OLD, were he to live that long. In effect he has been given a LIFE SENTENCE for a youthful, non-violent mistake and misbehavior related to his mental instability. No one in their right mind should see any justice in this -- only cruel, unyielding vengeance, coming from within the system itself.
Mark, who is now 53 years old, finally has hope in a facility that offers some rehab, so he is working hard to turn his own life around, for himself and his now-aged wife. He is rebuilding and improving his talents in technical and mechanical pursuits, while still imprisoned. He is doing excellent work in a Computer class, has done equally well as a Porter, and is currently in a high-level Maintenance job. He has resided in a "God Pod" which is an Honor Pod. He previously earned his GED and, upon his release from prison, will enroll in a Community College to earn his AAS degree in Computer Science.
Mark has never been a threat to anyone on the outside. He is an intelligent and highly skilled worker capable of making a living on the outside. With the help and support of myself (his wife) and with the confidence of others, he will become a productive citizen once again.
There is simply no sensible reason to keep my husband incarcerated any longer. Therefore, I ask your heartfelt consideration in this matter, and sincerely thank you for your MERCIFUL decision in Mark's and my favor.
Our message to share is: Mark has improved his own behavior remarkably over the last 4 years, so please, Commissioners, end this inhumanity and set him free!
Many, many others agree, as confirmed by their signatures on this petition.
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