Dear Blog Readers:

I hope all of you are doing well the summer went by so fast here in Minnesota we have had a very wet and cool summer. Other than that I am doing pretty well. September 10 was my first Parole Review Hearing. Many of you wrote letters of support for this hearing. I cannot thank you enough for you all enough. Your letters were a huge help. In fact I was told no one has ever had as many letters of support as I did. The parole board really liked it I had such hear felt support from you all.

To help you understand the process I’ll tell you a little about it. This was my first review hearing. In Minnesota they see you for a review three years before your eligibility date. The hearing is to see what we have done during our incarceration and to see if there are any areas they think needs work in order to be considered for parole.

My hearing went about as good as any can go. There was some concern over my innocence. Normally, the parole board doesn’t want to hear that you are innocent. They want to hear your remorse for your crime. I kew this was a huge hurdle I was going to have to overcome going into this. While there were some concerns about my innocence the Commissioner did acknowledge it does happen and people slip through the cracks in the system. This I see as a major victory when compared to what I have heard from others who have gone before me. As I explained to the Commissioner I believe every case is different and you must consider the circumstances individually.

Anyway my wife Julie was able to be here and be with me for this hearing. They even asked her a few questions. I think the hardest part of it all was watching my life and soul mate break down in tears. Not being able to go to her and comfort her was extremely difficult and very emotional.

After it was all said and done the board came back with the following recommendations for me: that I transfer to a medium custody facility and complete the PFA/prison fellowship program at the Lino Lakes facility, remain in the restorative justice programs, participate in the Lino lifer’s groups, and remain discipline free. They will see me again on or around my eligibility date in about three years. The commissioner thanked me for my positive conduct and asked I continue to be a mentor to those around me.

The other question that was asked of me is what I intended to do for employment should I be granted parole? This was perhaps the easiest question of the day. I think my possibilities are endless and I am pretty much able to do what ever job is in front of me.

This reminds me of a time shortly after the 9/11 tragedy our country suffered. Many people wondered what would happen next? My mother and father were overheard talking my sisters and I. They spoke of concerns should something suddenly happen to them both. My father said he thought Julie and I would be alright along with my sister Kristal. They figured we were survivors and would figure things out and make them work. That pretty much hit the nail on the head as the three of us are exactly that. They had concerns for my sister Laurie. She has managed to survive without our parents but has had more of a rocky road and it would be awesome if you would all include her in your prayers for Kristal and I.

Anyway I got a little off track there but the point is it doesn’t matter to me I will find some sort of work to support Julie and I just as I had for twenty years before this happened. In that time I worked many jobs, many not so great but did what I had to do to keep my family going. I will do so again if given the chance.

So all in all things went well I really got what I was looking for at this stage of the process I see this as the best thing. Many others at this stage have been told to come back in five or ten years so stay where you are. So I consider myself ahead of the curve. Again I want to thank you all so much for your letters, reading them actually brought tears to my eyes. Knowing I have this much support is amazing and makes me feel good.

In closing I hope you all have a great day and I thank you again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all.

Sincerely Jack