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| William Payne |
William Payne #280194, OCI
birth year: 1973
Incarcerated since 1994
To My Family & Friends,
As you are most likely
aware, I am making an effort to gain my
freedom. In order to successfully
accomplish this, it will be extremely
important to have a strong support
network, both prior to and following
my release. I realize that you all have
very busy schedules and I do not want you to take up all of your time trying to
look up addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and other things. The purpose of this letter
is to advise you of ways in which you can help me, and to also provide you contact information for members of our State Legislature, Parole Board, and the
Governor.
One very important way of
support is to write letters of support on my behalf. These letters would be
included in a packet that would go before the judge in my case. These letters
could be from you, where you could describe the positive changes you have
noticed in me over the years, as well as the role you will play as a member of
my support group upon my release. Letters of support from people who do not
know me are also acceptable. Examples of this sort of people could be potential
employers, educators, members of local churches, community leaders, or even
just friends of yours! Their letters would describe ways in which they would be
able to support me, such as offering employment, providing haircuts, spending
time with me doing positive and worthwhile things in the community, or just
being someone I can talk things through with.
Another way of providing
support is to become involved in grass-root organizations that deal with mass
incarceration and excessive sentencing. Sometimes, remaining silent is mistaken
for agreeing with something. Some of these organizations are W.I.S.D.O.M,
Micah, Inc, MOSES, JOB, SOPHIA, ESTHER, and CUSH.
Write a letter of support
to the Wisconsin Parole Commission to support the release of William H. Payne,
DOC #280194. These letters of support are viewed as evidence that I have a
network of family and friends that will help me upon my release. These letters
show:
1. That there are people who know and care about me.
2. That I have outside support while I am in prison.
3. That there will be people there to help me when I get out.
4. The good side of me, which helps to balance the bad side, which is
the only side that appears in my criminal files.
There are several things that should appear in the letter of support:
1. Your relationship to me (Brother, Sister, Daughter, Friend, etc)
2. How long you've known me.
3. Your belief that, despite my crimes, that I am a good person who is
worthwhile of being given another opportunity and the reason you feel this way.
4. Your belief that I will be a productive, law-abiding member of the
community, if given the opportunity. Describe improvements in my attitude,
behavior, and anything else that I've done to improve myself. It would also be
appropriate to describe the types of assistance you will provide, such as
consultation, references, employment, finding housing, etc.
The letters of support should
have a "decent" appearance. If possible, the letter should be typed.
If the letter of support includes an offer of employment, it should preferably
be typed on Company letterhead and include the employer name, the type of work
being offered, my position, and the pay rate. Ideally, this letter should be
one page, but if you have more to say, the letter can be longer.
Letters of support can
be sent as often as you like! When you send letters regularly, and not just
when there are upcoming parole hearings, it validates your on-going support for
my release by showing consistency and active support. It's a strong indication
to the Parole Board that you will stand by me after my release.
When writing to the
Governor or State Legislature, tell them that Wisconsin's old laws of parole
are not being upheld properly. Inmates were required to meet the conditions set
by their sentencing judge, but the State of Wisconsin is failing to uphold the
laws these inmates were sentenced under, which means they are serving more time
than their sentencing judges ever intended. In order to keep the focus on these
issues, make a commitment to call, write, or e-mail your Legislature, Senator,
or the Governor. You can say things such as, "I support the release of
parole eligible inmates" or "I do not agree or support the Parole
Commission being reduced to only one Parole Chairman."
I have included a copy of
my sentencing transcript and a copy of Baron Walker's Motion for Sentence
Modification. Please read them! As you can see in the case of Baron Walker, the
actual facts of his crimes were not the issue; it was the fact that he had met
all sentencing conditions and was still being held. (Baron Walker's motion was
successful, and he is now a free man.)
I believe, that with your help, my chances of
being successful in obtaining my release are greater than 90%.
As mentioned earlier in my letter, support can come from people or
organizations that do not know me. This includes churches, community leaders, school
teachers, counselors, or attorneys that are willing to help out. Some of these
individuals or organizations can be found online. Update my Face Book page and
let people viewing my page know what I am seeking to accomplish, and how they
can help.
I have limited access to information on
contacting the people and entities mentioned in this letter,and no access to the internet at all. However, I do have some contact
information that will help you get started.
Governor Scott Walker Wisconsin
Parole Commission
115 East State Capitol
3099 Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53702 P0
Box 7960
Madison, WI 53707-
WI State Assembly: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/
WI House of Representatives: www.house.gov/htbin/findro
I hope the information is helpful to you. Again, I know that you have
very busy schedules, and while I might not say it very often, I do very much
appreciate all the help and support you have given me over the years. Thank
you!
Letter to the Parole Commission
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is William H. Payne, and I am currently
incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution. I am writing this letter to
ask for your consideration to grant me the opportunity to resume my life as a
free citizen and to become a productive member of society.
I was born and raised in a housing project on the south
side of Chicago. My neighborhood was a very rough, dangerous environment,
strife with violent criminal activity, drug dealing, prostitution, and gang
warfare.
Life at home was not immune from the activity going on in
my neighborhood. As a small child, I was beaten by my mother's boyfriend,
sexually abused by his niece, and I lost several family members, including my
young niece, to violent acts.
As a teen, I too gave into the influences of the
environment around me and started engaging in criminal activity. As I grew
older, I began to abuse drugs; my criminal activity began to spin out of
control, and eventually resulted in the commission of a homicide. I was a young
man with no direction who had received only improper guidance in life.
I have been incarcerated for over 21 years. When I
entered prison, I was a troubled, angry young man with little education. I was,
for all practical purposes, completely illiterate.
During my incarceration, I strove to improve the man
that I once was. I have learned to read and write, and went on to earn my High
School Equivalency Diploma.
When my sentence was imposed, there were certain criteria
that was set in order for me to have a chance at reintegration into the
community. This included educational as well as programming needs. I
successfully completed all court-ordered educational and programming
requirements. In addition, I identified and completed extra programming and
educational modules that I felt would help me to be successful in reintegrating
back into the community. These programs were intended to improve upon my
survival skills, cognitive thinking, and problem solving.
While not inclusive of all the classes and programming
that I have completed, I would like to describe some examples of what I have
attended and completed.
Turning Point 1 and 2 are intended to provide methods of
coping with alcohol and drug addiction.
Restorative Justice addressed the effects that my crime
had upon not only the victim and his family and friends, but also the impact on
my family and friends; additionally the ripple effects on the community as a
whole.
Peer Therapy Group explored how the violence, abuse, and
crime early in my life influenced my criminal activity and drug abuse as a
young adult.
Anger Management, as the name implies, taught me methods
and strategies for controlling my anger.
The Grief Support Group dealt with the loss of life and
helped me to understand the .effects my crime had on the victim's family and
friends.
I continue to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics
Anonymous.
The M.I.C.A. (Mental Illness and Chemical Abuse) program
has helped me to handle virtually any situation that may arise during the
course of my day. The emphasis of this program is on being an active listener
and teaches coping skills that enable me to function productively in society.
The M.I.C.A. program also offers assistance in finding housing, employment, and
offers resources to help me be successful. M.I.C.A. has given me so much hope
towards achieving my post-release aspirations. All I ask is for the opportunity
to demonstrate my commitment to be that productive member of society.
A common theme as I went through all of my programs was
amazement on the part of the professionals conducting the programs that I had
even survived the many hardships and violence that was so prevalent throughout
my youth.
I have appeared before the Parole Board a total of 6
times. Below is a brief summary of the results, as well as the general
reasoning behind these actions.
My 1st parole hearing was on August 10th, 2008. I was
given a 36 month deferment. Unfortunately, I have misplaced my copy of the
Parole Commission Action (DOC-1208) from this hearing, so I do not have the
specific reasons for these actions.
The 2nd parole hearing was on June 7th, 2012. I received
a 24 month deferment. The reasons given for this action are listed as follows:
1. You have not served sufficient time for punishment.
2. Your institutional conduct has been satisfactory.
3. Your program participation has not been satisfactory.
4. You have developed an adequate plan, but will need
agent's verification.
5. Release at this time would pose a serious risk to the
public.
On May 2014,
my 3 rd parole hearing was held. I was given a 24 month deferment, and the same
reasons
were given for this action.
The 4th parole hearing was on May 25th 2016. I was given
a 12 month deferment, for the same reasons. I had my 5th parole hearing on June
30th 2017, with the same results and reasons.
On May 15th, 2018, I had my 6th parole hearing. I
received an 11 month deferment with an endorsement to a minimum security
prison. The reasons for this action were also the same, with the exception of
the subject of program participation. This was changed from "Not
Satisfactory" to "Satisfactory."
At the last three parole hearings, in the
"Commission Comments", it is noted that this is my first
incarceration, but that I have a significant criminal record and was on
supervision at the time for two different cases. I would like to point out that
these cases were misdemeanors, not felonies. Also, I would like to re-iterate
that at the time, I was the angry, troubled young man that I described earlier
in this letter. I am no longer that person; in over 20 years of incarceration,
I too have had the opportunity to change my thought processes and mature.
I am very proud of the changes I have made in my life,
and of everything that I have achieved. Those who have known me for a long time
often comment on how different I have become, in a positive way. I have had
ample opportunity over the years to reflect upon the enormity of my crimes. To
say that I am very remorseful for what I have done would be a huge
understatement. Unfortunately, I cannot turn back the hands of time and un-do
my crime. I have hurt so many people with my acts, and I will have to live with
this for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, I am also blessed to have a loving family
and friends that will be a strong support group when I reenter society. I am
touched by their trust and support, and I don't ever want to let them down too.
Again, I ask that you consider, all that I have
accomplished while in prison when making your decision, and I'm grateful for
your time.
Respectfully,
William H. Payne
