This man will Die in Prison. Has never committed a Violent Crime.

[Mani]

This is sad, justice system FAIL.


http://reason.com/archives/2014/08/31/jeff-mizanskey-is-serving-life-in-prison


Jeff Mizanskey Is Serving Life in Prison for Marijuana
Rapists and murderers come and go, but he's there for the duration.


As I prepared to leave home for my interview with Jeff Mizanskey I looked up the address of the prison where he is held. In disbelief, I typed the characters into the GPS on my phone.
8200 No More Victims Road.

Jeff Mizanskey is serving a life sentence without parole for marijuana. He has been in prison since right after I was born 21 years ago. Jeff is the only person in Missouri sentenced to die behind bars for marijuana, a victim of the state's rather unique three strikes law.

A prison guard escorted Jeff into the visiting room where I had set up for our interview. As he walked in and introduced himself, I was struck by just how much he reminded me of my grandfather (he has grandchildren of his own). Jeff is soft-spoken, calm, and articulate, and holds an interesting perspective on his sentence. His perspective is balanced between accepting his fate as a punishment he earned and at the same time being unable to shake the nagging feeling of unfairness that comes with spending life behind bars while murderers are released.

Jeff has watched dozens of convicted rapists and murders, housed in his cellblock, walk out the doors as free men over the past 21 years. Many have re-offended and were sent right back to prison. Meanwhile, Jeff has completed over a dozen rehabilitation programs while incarcerated, and now mentors other inmates to convince them to learn from his past. He doesn't hesitate to acknowledge the mistakes he has made, but feels strongly that his punishment was disproportionate to his crime.

Missouri's three strikes law landed Jeff his life without parole sentence. Around half of states have some type of three strikes law on the books. In almost all of these states the statutes apply to violent crimes—murder, rape, assault with a deadly weapon, etc. In Missouri, Jeff racked up all three strikes without ever committing an act of violence. He was a working class guy with a small side gig as a low-level pot dealer. He never hurt anyone, never brandished a weapon, and never sold to children.

Jeff calmly told me his story from across the table in the visiting room. The guard stared at the floor as he half-listened from thirty feet across the room.

Strike one came in 1984 when Jeff sold an ounce of marijuana to a close relative, who at some point gave or sold it to an undercover police officer. The relative told police where he got it in exchange for leniency, and his testimony was enough to get a search warrant of Jeff's home. The half-pound of pot found during the search landed him with his first felony conviction and five years probation.

Strike two came in 1991. Police again received information from an informant that was sufficient to obtain a search warrant of Jeff's home. This time, they found less than three ounces of cannabis, but it was still more than the one and a quarter ounces needed to trigger a felony charge. Unable to afford the legal fees necessary to fight the charge in court, he pleaded guilty for the second time.

Just two years later, Jeff gave a friend a ride to a motel. The friend was there to buy a few pounds of pot from a supplier, who was once again working with the police and had helped them set up a sting operation. Jeff accompanied his friend into the motel room and allegedly handled a package of marijuana during the transaction. He was arrested with what would end up being his third strike as they left the parking lot. Jeff has been in a cell at the maximum security Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) ever since, nearly 21 years and counting.

The JCCC is an impressive complex. As I drove up to the facility on a sunny summer morning last month, the first thing I noticed was the facility is enormous. The sheer size of the massive campus, which sprawls hundreds of acres and imprisons thousands of human beings, was stunning. I'd seen smaller universities. Hell—on my way down, I'd driven through smaller towns with fewer people.

Jeff is housed with rapists and murderers because of his life sentence, but the prison guards don't treat him like one. When I first entered the facility, I was assigned a prison guard escort. After he lightly searched my interview equipment for contraband, we began navigating the dozen or so remotely controlled doors between the prison entrance and the visiting room we'd be using. On the way there, the guard made small talk and asked whom I was interviewing. When I told him about Jeff he didn't mince words about the failures of our judicial system. I could certainly understand how keeping Jeff in a cage would just feel silly to a guy who deals with violent criminals every day.

During the interview, the guard stayed on the other side of the room from the table where the interview was taking place. There were no restraints on Jeff—he was free to walk into the visiting room freely and shake my hand. Near the end of the interview, the guard briefly left us alone in the visiting room. It was clear that despite being assigned to live with rapists and murderers, Jeff did not fit in with violent offenders.

I asked Jeff about his future. He told me calmly that all of his appeal options have been exhausted. Unless the Governor of Missouri grants Jeff clemency and sets him free, he will likely die there. He will never know his grandchildren, or his great-grandchild on the way, outside the walls of the sprawling Jefferson City Correctional Center.

As I drove away from the prison, down the very visibly marked No More Victims Road, I thought about the man, and the horribly cruel irony, that I was leaving behind. Unless the Governor of Missouri intervenes and grants clemency, Jeff will die behind bars at 8200 No More Victims Road, having never victimized anyone in his life.

[RonPaulIsGreat]

Yeah, it's screwed, but what to do, apparently most of the people in the country are down with destroying lives over personal opinions of what one should be allowed to smoke, and to boot, the whole economy in this town would be destroyed if there wasn't an easy way to keep the local prison stocked.

[Christian Liberty]

Yeah, it's screwed, but what to do, apparently most of the people in the country are down with destroying lives over personal opinions of what one should be allowed to smoke, and to boot, the whole economy in this town would be destroyed if there wasn't an easy way to keep the local prison stocked.

The bold is true. I know so many people like this...

[Occam's Banana]

The JCCC is an impressive complex. As I drove up to the facility on a sunny summer morning last month, the first thing I noticed was the facility is enormous. The sheer size of the massive campus, which sprawls hundreds of acres and imprisons thousands of human beings, was stunning.

The word "campus," of course, being a pleasant euphemism for "gulag" ...

[Ronin Truth]

Strike 3, you're an incurable sociopath, or just too frickin' stupid to be out running around loose.

[tod evans]

There are LOTS of folks doing 20+ for various forms of dope...

That's a life sentence for many of them.....

[AuH20]

Sounds like he knew the consequences. First two times could be understandable. But if I know that the state is going to throw away the key for the third offense, I'm probably going find another profession or move to another state. Forget about what's fair or unfair for a second. If It's me, I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

[Origanalist]

Sounds like he knew the consequences. First two times could be understandable. But if I know that the state is going to throw away the key for the third offense, I'm probably going find another profession or move to another state. Forget about what's fair or unfair for a second. If It's me, I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

You know, I saw your name and came here hoping for better. Was he a dumbass? Sure. So life in prison for being a dumbass, he brought it on himself.

[Christian Liberty]

Sounds like he knew the consequences. First two times could be understandable. But if I know that the state is going to throw away the key for the third offense, I'm probably going find another profession or move to another state. Forget about what's fair or unfair for a second. If It's me, I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

We need more clarity when it comes to posts like this. Are you suggesting that enforcement of that law is actually moral? Or are you simply saying that as a pragmatic issue, you should avoid dealing drugs when you know sentences like this will occur?

[PRB]

This is sad, justice system FAIL.


http://reason.com/archives/2014/08/31/jeff-mizanskey-is-serving-life-in-prison


Jeff Mizanskey Is Serving Life in Prison for Marijuana
Rapists and murderers come and go, but he's there for the duration.



Rapists and murderers are free from 3 strikes??

[Origanalist]

Rapists and murderers are free from 3 strikes??

If they only get caught twice, yes.

[kcchiefs6465]

This thread is so full of fail.

[kcchiefs6465]

You know, I saw your name and came here hoping for better. Was he a dumbass? Sure. So life in prison for being a dumbass, he brought it on himself.
A dumbass?

For what, going about his life as he chooses ignoring the draconian and authoritarian edicts of the king's indoctrinated, petty, authoritarian, henchmen and apologists?

I must be losing my mind.

Rather than the folks who blindly support such policy being dumbasses, at best, no, it was little ol' him. A young entrepreneur trying to provide for himself and family. I guess no matter what is said to be illegal, whether that be selling a flower or spiny lobster, one must simply bow and acquiesce. "Yessuh, Mr. Po-liceman. I wasn't aware y'alls gathered 'round and made 'nother thing illegal. Please pardon my stupidity."

Beam me up Scotty.

[thoughtomator]

If ever there was a case for a pardon, there it is.

[heavenlyboy34]

"Fail" is the wrong word here. The "justice" (as my brother AF rightly says, "just-us") system is designed to do exactly the sort of thing we see in the OP. And insure a steady, heavy income for the prison/State/industrial complex, of course. If we play Follow The Money, I bet we could find more than a few local, state, and federal legislators and other political class types who profit from Mr Mizansky's suffering.

[Origanalist]

A dumbass?

For what, going about his life as he chooses ignoring the draconian and authoritarian edicts of the king's indoctrinated, petty, authoritarian, henchmen and apologists?

I must be losing my mind.

Rather than the folks who blindly support such policy being dumbasses, at best, no, it was little ol' him. A young entrepreneur trying to provide for himself and family. I guess no matter what is said to be illegal, whether that be selling a flower or spiny lobster, one must simply bow and acquiesce. "Yessuh, Mr. Po-liceman. I wasn't aware y'alls gathered 'round and made 'nother thing illegal. Please pardon my stupidity."

Beam me up Scotty.

Ease off kc, I don't support any of it.

[kcchiefs6465]

Ease off kc, I don't support any of it.
I know you don't. One of the few I didn't neg rep.

You are aware of the hiring requirements of being a police officer? That higher IQs are "too qualified." Needless to say, that while the cop that arrested him probably could barely read or write, this man is considered a dumbass simply by way of being caught three times and thrown in a cage forever. He should have just moved, some will offer. Or bowed.

I truly don't get it.

[Origanalist]

I know you don't. One of the few I didn't neg rep.

You are aware of the hiring requirements of being a police officer? That higher IQs are "too qualified." Needless to say, that while the cop that arrested him probably could barely read or write, this man is considered a dumbass simply by way of being caught three times and thrown in a cage forever. He should have just moved, some will offer. Or bowed.

I truly don't get it.

The truth is he is in prison for life having harmed NOBODY. Whether it was wise of him to stick around and get the third strike is irrelevant, that was my point.

[Occam's Banana]

The truth is he is in prison for life having harmed NOBODY. Whether it was wise of him to stick around and get the third strike is irrelevant, that was my point.

This ^^^.

Theye have things like "three felonies a day" at Theire disposal. Combine that with this "three strikes" business, and it doesn't matter one goddam bit how "wise" or "foolsih" you are - you are screwed if Theye decide Theye want to screw you, no matter what you do or don't do.

Hell, when cops can even shoot and kill you on the spot with impunity just because Theye say you looked at Themme cross-eyed, all this nonsense about how the victims are somehow responsible for their plights is just a bunch of petty-ass bullshit ...

[AuH20]

We need more clarity when it comes to posts like this. Are you suggesting that enforcement of that law is actually moral? Or are you simply saying that as a pragmatic issue, you should avoid dealing drugs when you know sentences like this will occur?

Yes, point #2. If someone wants to go into prison for life for selling drugs, what can you say at the end of the day? After strike #2, I'd be thinking "fuck them. They are not getting my pelt to hang on the wall. " We don't have to like it but from a purely survival perspective, why go through all the trouble? This is a reality based observation.

IMHO There are few things worth giving your life up for and selling some product probably isn't one of them. I could understand vengeance, freedom, defense of family and love of community. But beyond that, I'm perplexed.

[Occam's Banana]

Yes, point #2. If someone wants to go into prison for life for selling drugs, what can you say at the end of the day?

Well, instead of concocting mealy-mouthed euphemisms for "he did this to himself" (and then trying to soft-pedal such sophistries with weak-sauce "but I don't like it" disclaimers), you can just say, "It is absolutely wrong for this man to be in prison at all, let alone for life. Period. Full stop. No further qualifiers."


After strike #2, I'd be thinking "fuck them. They are not getting my pelt to hang on the wall."

And I might very well do the same. But that is exactly what they want, and giving it to them is nothing to brag about, as if in doing so we would be some kind of geniuses compared to this guy - as opposed to what we would actually be, which is cowering peasants comforting ourselves with thoughts of how foolish this man was for getting strike #3 (and of how we deserve some kind of pat on the head for being "realistic" and ever so much more clever than him ...).

And just how does doing exactly as "they" wish and submitting to "their" menacings express anything even remotely like "fuck them?" What it actually expresses is much more akin to "yessa, massa" - and while in many cases that may indeed be the more "pragmatic" or "prudent" thing to do, it is nothing to be proud of ...

"They don't want me to sell pot? Well then fuck them yessa, massa - I won't sell pot."
"They don't want me to speak my mind? Well then fuck them yessa, massa - I won't speak my mind."
"They don't want me to be free? Well then fuck them yessa, massa - I won't be free."
"They don't want me to live? Well then fuck them yessa, massa - I won't live."


We don't have to like it but from a purely survival perspective, why go through all the trouble? This is a reality based observation.

What it is is an utterly irrelevant observation. It is an observation so glaringly obvious that there is NO reason to announce it (other than to pat oneself on the back for being so "realistic"). No one has denied that breaking their viciously unjust laws can and does result in unpleasant consequences - consequences that some will wish to avoid at all cost. But preferring the "prudence" of such avoidance does NOT give one license or warrant to criticize those who are willing to risk those consequences (for whatever reason).

[Jamesiv1]

A dumbass?

For what, going about his life as he chooses ignoring the draconian and authoritarian edicts of the king's indoctrinated, petty, authoritarian, henchmen and apologists?
Yes, a dumbass. And sounds to me like he knows he was a dumbass:


Jeff...now mentors other inmates to convince them to learn from his past. He doesn't hesitate to acknowledge the mistakes he has made...
Raise your fist high and scream the curse loudly, while they haul your dumb ass to prison. For life.

[kcchiefs6465]

Yes, point #2. If someone wants to go into prison for life for selling drugs, what can you say at the end of the day? After strike #2, I'd be thinking "fuck them. They are not getting my pelt to hang on the wall. " We don't have to like it but from a purely survival perspective, why go through all the trouble? This is a reality based observation.

IMHO There are few things worth giving your life up for and selling some product probably isn't one of them. I could understand vengeance, freedom, defense of family and love of community. But beyond that, I'm perplexed.
Entrapment, the planting of 'evidence', etc. must be lost on you.

As if paid whores aren't in the business of enticing some into doing things they otherwise would not have.

AS IF IT'S A CRIME REGARDLESS.

I'd wager a paycheck his IQ is higher than those that arrested him. Before or after the couple decades in a cage.

[kcchiefs6465]

Yes, a dumbass. And sounds to me like he knows he was a dumbass:


Raise your fist high and scream the curse loudly, while they haul your dumb ass to prison. For life.
If your only chance at getting out of a cage was redundant drug courses, might you attend?

And as well, if being in a cage for a couple of decades, might your mind start to contemplate things, or consider things, otherwise non-considerable?

I am sitting from beyond the walls, absent twenty odd years in a box... let me be frank and explain quite succinctly: HE COMMITTED NO GODDAMN CRIME.

But of course a caged bird singing is indicative of their voluntary subjectivity.

[AuH20]

If your only chance at getting out of a cage was redundant drug courses, might you attend?

And as well, if being in a cage for a couple of decades, might your mind start to contemplate things, or consider things, otherwise non-considerable?

I am sitting from beyond the walls, absent twenty odd years in a box... let me be frank and explain quite succinctly: HE COMMITTED NO GODDAMN CRIME.

But of course a caged bird singing is indicative of their voluntary subjectivity.

All true, but the world doesn't work that way unfortunately.

[AuH20]

Entrapment, the planting of 'evidence', etc. must be lost on you.

As if paid whores aren't in the business of enticing some into doing things they otherwise would not have.

AS IF IT'S A CRIME REGARDLESS.

I'd wager a paycheck his IQ is higher than those that arrested him. Before or after the couple decades in a cage.

Even more of a reason to not operate in that type of environment.

[Origanalist]

Even more of a reason to not operate in that type of environment.

Well there is the problem. "They" dictate just what environment you are allowed to "operate in". And we cravenly grant them that authority by our cooperation.

[AuH20]

Yes, a dumbass. And sounds to me like he knows he was a dumbass:


Raise your fist high and scream the curse loudly, while they haul your dumb ass to prison. For life.

Probably more shortsighted than being a complete dumbass. The type of misfortune that just creeps up on you. Thinking that you'll never get caught and sentenced, until it finally happens. Nobody thinks that they're "that guy" until they are in facing a life sentence.

[AuH20]

Well there is the problem. "They" dictate just what environment you are allowed to "operate in". And we cravenly grant them that authority by our cooperation.

I have no problem ceding the domain of drugs to the federal government. They want to protect their beloved cash crop and have a near limitless pool of funny money to fund their endeavors. Some battles you have to pick in the interim. That's why I have a tough time feeling incredibly bad for this individual. On one hand, he's a victim of bad policy, but he can't be that oblivious to the current state of affairs.

[Origanalist]

I have no problem ceding the domain of drugs to the federal government

I do. Where do they get the authority to make it their domain?

[AuH20]

I do. Where do they get the authority to make it their domain?

It's real simple. Through countless billions of dollars in manpower & equipment. Until that changes, all this is conjecture.

[Origanalist]

It's real simple. Through countless billions of dollars in manpower & equipment.

Ya, well, I don't donate to the cause and I will probably end up where he is for it. So I guess I'm a dumbass.

[Mani]

Being jailed for life over selling a plant.

Dumbass or not, that is just wrong and no amount of calling him a dumbass makes it justified.

[Ronin Truth]

A lifetime of free room, board and healthcare, etc. all at the taxpayer's expense. JACKPOT!!!

[H. E. Panqui]

It's real simple. Through countless billions of dollars in manpower & equipment. Until that changes, all this is conjecture.

:(

(...let's face it, as long as we have a bunch of miserable stooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopid Republicrat authoritarians dominating public office--SURELY including the stinking Goldwater/Teabagger types--this miserable rotten 'War on Drugs' will continue to ruin...the stinking Republicans are especially culpable here...including the Ted Cruz/Mike Lee/Rand Paul crowd of phonies...

[Mach]

MO Governor Jay Nixon Commutes Grandfather’s Life Sentence for Pot

Nearly 22 years after being condemned to die in jail under a sentence of life in prison without parole for three non-violent pot convictions, 62-year-old grandfather Jeff Mizanskey is now immediately eligible for parole following Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's surprise commutation of his sentence.

http://truthinmedia.com/mo-governor-jay-nixon-commutes-grandfathers-life-sentence-for-pot/

:D

[Christian Liberty]

:)

[enhanced_deficit]

Disproportional as war criminals who have killed roam free.

[phill4paul]

Disproportional as war criminals who have killed roam free.

http://newsbusters7.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2013/December/bush-cheney%5B1%5D.jpg

[Slave Mentality]

http://newsbusters7.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2013/December/bush-cheney%5B1%5D.jpg

Criminals don't wear $5G suits, wallow in millions of dollars in blood money, and eat baby flesh doooooood.

[pcosmar]

Strike 3, you're an incurable sociopath, or just too frickin' stupid to be out running around loose.

Thanks.
I have that very same sword hanging over me every day.

[PRB]

only violent criminals deserve to die in prison?

[dannno]

Yeah, it's screwed, but what to do, apparently most of the people in the country are down with destroying lives over personal opinions of what one should be allowed to smoke, and to boot, the whole economy in this town would be destroyed if there wasn't an easy way to keep the local prison stocked.

Not cannabis.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/04/gv32bf6ay0gwmjp1rv5otq/40fd0364d.png


fwiw, I have asked a lot of older people, and wondered to younger people, wtf happened in 1977/1978 that caused the dip in support after such a huge rush of added support.

Turns out, it had to do with Carter's Drug Czar allegedly doing cocaine at a party where everybody was toking herb...some incident about a fake prescription a few months later caused his resignation and the government started putting out a bunch of anti-cannabis propaganda.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/04/are-pot-reformers-too-optimistic-the-view-from-1977/360441/

I still feel like there is more to the story.. but pretty fascinating.

[kcchiefs6465]

This thread is exactly why I'll be smiling when it all comes down.

[enhanced_deficit]

Disproportional as war criminals who have killed roam free.


http://newsbusters7.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2013/December/bush-cheney%5B1%5D.jpg



Fixed:
http://newsbusters7.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2013/December/bush-cheney%5B1%5D.jpg

https://hereticdhammasangha.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/us-war-crimes.jpg
http://img2-cdn.newser.com/square-image/154691-20120925152408/war-criminal-obama-worse-than-bush-says-nader.jpeg




Obama 'Concerned and Disappointed' After Journalist Who Exposed US War Crimes Freed (http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/obama-concerned-and-disappointed-after-journalist-who-exposed-us-war-crimes-freed/question-3829753/?link=ibaf&q=&esrc=s)

July 26, 2013

[Jamesiv1]

HE COMMITTED NO GODDAMN CRIME.
You're an idiot. There's lots of unjust, unfair laws on the books, but guess what dumbass - THEY'RE STILL LAWS!!!! And if you break them guess what? YOU GO TO PRISON LIKE THIS DUMBASS!!!

Why don't you work on changing the unjust laws instead of posting in forums and demonstrating how much of a dumbass you are?

[kcchiefs6465]

You're an idiot. There's lots of unjust, unfair laws on the books, but guess what dumbass - THEY'RE STILL LAWS!!!! And if you break them guess what? YOU GO TO PRISON LIKE THIS DUMBASS!!!

Why don't you work on changing the unjust laws instead of posting in forums and demonstrating how much of a dumbass you are?
It is virtually impossible to know and understand the tens of thousands of inane laws and regulations and their consequences. Many are amended every year and more are added to the books (by the thousands). Not to mention, they don't particularly abide by their own laws. That is to say, they do the complete opposite of what the plain text says or of what the law ostensibly intended.

But yes, these serfs ought obtain a degree in bullshit legalese.

As far as me posting on this forum, I hardly even post anymore. I vote as hard as anybody. Lmao.

[Jamesiv1]

Being jailed for life over selling a plant.

Dumbass or not, that is just wrong and no amount of calling him a dumbass makes it justified.
I don't think anyone is trying to justify it. It is an outrage that he's going to die in prison for selling pot, yes.

But the reality is that the law is on the books and if you break it, then there are consequences. And this guy got busted three times.

If the guy didn't give a damn about dying in prison, ok - he's not a dumbass. But if he sat around thinking, "no way it could happen to me" or such like, then he's a dumbass. Especially after the second felony charge.

[Mach]

I don't think anyone is trying to justify it. It is an outrage that he's going to die in prison for selling pot, yes.

But the reality is that the law is on the books and if you break it, then there are consequences. And this guy got busted three times.

If the guy didn't give a damn about dying in prison, ok - he's not a dumbass. But if he sat around thinking, "no way it could happen to me" or such like, then he's a dumbass. Especially after the second felony charge.

Uhhh... Why don't you work on reading instead of posting in forums and demonstrating how much of a dumbass you are?

His sentence has been commuted.