FOR JUSTICE WITH EQUITY GO WITH PARACLETE FOUNDATION

Seeking Justice with Equity

*Paraclete: Advocate, comforter; intercessor, helper. (Biblical: Holy Spirit)

American Patriot

Dear Reader:

Personal Liberty and Civil Rights are ours by Nature’s Law—by God. They are not a gift of any Constitution of Act of a legislative body. The Constitution guarantees these rights, or is supposed to. So, when you see it written or hear it spoken that “the Constitution gives us” these rights, be reminded of a profound truth: these are our rights by birth and we should not to be asked to think otherwise.

The Executive Branch of our Government generally, the Department of Justice specifically, is charged with the duty of guarantying that these rights are not abridged or in any way violated. They are supposed to enforce the “guarantee.” That is their duty.

Over the years we have witnessed steady erosion of our Rights. We have seen the “enforcers” or “guarantors” become the major violators of the principles so clearly and soundly stated in our Constitution and addressed in the Bill of Rights. Whether this is through ignorance, indifference, expediency or misplaced political power which the offenders are eager to expand, it is hard to say. We intuitively know that something is wrong. When there is a time that gross assaults are made upon our Rights, or efforts to minimize them are draped in the flag, we must be wary. When our opposition to these efforts brings upon us insults and doubts about our patriotism, we must remember the admonition: Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

We must fight back.

There are many areas where we can act to halt the erosion of our Rights. We have chosen to work in an area where there is an obvious attack, The Criminal Justice System. We know we can make a difference to ease the Financial Burden and Human Suffering evident in the System. We can help to refocus upon our Rights and how they should be “guaranteed.” In doing so we hope to be able to save literally hundreds of millions of dollars a year, lighten the burden of families—Children—and communities. At the same time, we want punishment to be applied where it is justly called for without favoritism and unnecessary. We want punishment to be acceptably swift, balanced and fair. Incarceration must involve a meaningful effective rehabilitation program.

It is proven that long sentences do not reduce recidivism. Compounding laws only create jobs for lawyers and cost more money. We want any suspicion removed that we have “the best justice system that money can buy”. We are called upon to remove from Law the vagueness of conspiracy and make sure that sentences are based upon charges that are provable and without hearsay and suspicion only. We must remove the propensity to make everything a crime—to criminalize every error or every option from the “norm.” Our Country deserves our best efforts.

We need your help and urge you to study our presentation, visit our web site and contribute as you can to help.

Lloyd Winburn

Seeking Justice with Equity

*Paraclete: Advocate, comforter; intercessor, helper. (Biblical: Holy Spirit)

TODAY THERE ARE 3,033,321 INDIVIDUALS IN PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES

One out of every 75 American Males, Men and Boys, is in prison.

There are countless others who are on probation--- for a total approaching 7,000,000. The number is growing. This is a tremendous financial drain on our economy. With an annual cost approaching $90,000,000,000, things have to be turned around. We are applying the punishment and ignoring the causes of our problems. As much as, $45,000,000,000, can be directed to other needs annually.

To be able to focus on these numbers, consider that we are spending now about $5,000 per student per year on education while we spend more than $30,000 per year on individual prisoners in the system.

The Criminal Justice System is in a shambles. For too long we have taken the quick fix approach, abandoned the idea of rehabilitation and discarded the Constitutional mandate with regard to fairness and equity in justice. Balance is gone from the system. Prosecutors wield inordinate power while judges are hampered in their jobs.

Politicians disregard the beneficial potential of change and cringe at any suggestion that we are being “soft on crime.” Wrapped in the cloak of patriotism, in un-warranted fear and weak faith in our democratic system, we have abandoned justice with equity. We have adopted unconstitutional approaches to indictments, trials, sentencing and incarceration. More importantly, there is a well organized force out there that would have everyone--you and me--act and function within the limited confines of their own narrow ideal of freedom, individuality and civic duty. Laws are written by “nit-pickers” who feel justified to prescribe morality of their own standards at the cost of our individual freedom.

All is not lost. There are good solutions. We can save our system and bring it back into line with the Founding Fathers’ original plans for us. There is hope. The Paraclete Foundation is working to build a major force for good while, creating a nation-wide network of knowledgeable, concerned activists. We concentrate upon educating the public in general and policy makers specifically of the problems. We are deeply concerned with the problems that plague our judicial system, especially as they pertain to the sentencing and incarceration of offenders. There is needles waste and unnecessary suffering. We are striving to relieve some of the suffering of the children, wives/husbands, families and friends of those serving time in prison. For lack of funds or due to their ignorance of the Law, many are suffering unjust terms. It is inconceivable for the uninitiated to understand how many children are affected by the cruel deliberate indifference in what is happening today. We can and do help. We help with clarifying the law, making known the conditions of prisons, and point out the inequity involved in sentencing practices. We track laws and regulations in an effort to eliminate unfair and unjust practices. Our extensive educational program is carried by our associates to the far corners of the country-- into public assemblies, civic clubs, into homes, churches and lodges, at colleges and in schools at PTA meetings and school board gatherings. We present alternative measures to political leaders on a personal basis in each Congressional District, each Senatorial Office.

By direct efforts, we help file appeals, separate fact from fiction of sentencing, screen sentencing decisions for abuses, errors or oversight. We have the assistance of lawyers, paralegals, priests and parsons… citizens from all strata of life.

Ours is not a partisan enterprise. Republican or Democrat, an informed citizen will want to join with us. At stake are the lives of many children, many spouses and other members of families affected by incarceration. Unfortunately some offenders must be incarcerated for the public’s good. We work diligently to assure sentences meet certain principal objectives:

• Provide assistance to those who have been unfairly victimized by the system in any way.
• Assure the safety and security of persons and personal property;
• Strive to prepare convicted individuals for release back into society;
• Accomplish equity and fairness in all sentences;
• Repair or revise the justice system to unfair, over-zealous prosecution, disproportionate sentencing, and cruel and unacceptable treatment of the incarcerated.

Increasing the prison population will not solve the problem. It serves only part of the need. More of our resources can be freed for addressing effective preventative measures. You can help us to realize our goals to make our Country safer, kinder, gentler and financially stronger. We all know of the many things right about America, but feel we can be better. This is a way to assure constant strengthening of our moral fiber. Our efforts, yours and ours, can put a stop to the erosion of our Constitutional Rights. We can and must return to a society whose values reflect the philosophy of our Founding Fathers of equality, justice, balance and fairness. FAMM... look them up.

Education, Information, Commitment, Action, Community Service---this is what we strive for. We are convinced that dedication to these key elements of our life will put us back on the path of our heritage. Please help us.  contribution today.