Makes you wonder what the parole boards actually do;  surely it is NOT read files.

Mr. W was sentenced to 27 years for a NON aggravated robbery.  (no weapon, no personal threat, etc.)  Bad enough?  In prison, he suffered an industrial accident that blinded him.  Blind, he was unable to protect himself and he was raped 5 times.  (He was placed in ag seg, too, for ‘fighting’ to resist!)  Raped, he developed HIV.  Last year when he stumbled and hurt his hip, he was finally taken to hospital where doctors discovered a crumbling pelvis–cancer.  When they later operated on him, they learned the cancer had spread into his organs.  Stage 4 bone and organ cancer.  Denied parole.

Last week, after admission into Galveston’s UTMB hospital wing for prisoners, his kidneys failed.  They called his son in Missouri, who rushed to see him the next day.  Perhaps that was what allowed Mr. W. to stay alive–and now TDC has given him medical release.  He will be in a geriatric half-way house and given palliative care.  His fondest dream may be granted–to die free, under the stars.

Until parole boards get independent oversight, this type of injustice will continue.  Speak up!  Meanwhile, keep Mr. W in your thoughts, please.