C.L. and the Judge

CL was my first African American Horticulture student and he was selected by me to be a potential tutor once he completed the class requirements. He was bright and non confrontational. Something he seemed to keep learning after killing a man over what he now called “a bunch of nonsense!” He would spend the rest of his life in prison over it. No parole. After interviewing him for the class, I was surprised to find out he had been working for a demolition company we had used at the Detroit Medical Center before “catching his case,” as he referred to it. I thought what a small world I live in, and how interwoven relationships are. The DMC was my family. I had grown from a young college student into a responsible adult earning an Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Arts degree using their tuition reimbursement program. The company he had worked for helped in the demolition and expansion of the Detroit Medical Center. I had a great respect for him. He acknowledged he messed up and accepted his fate. .

He completed the requirements for my class and earned his certification. I hired him for a tutor position in my classroom. By hiring him I was able to attract younger African American students to Horticulture and hopefully give them the skills they needed to be successful once they left the prison. It was always an uphill battle for my students involved in the drug trade. I had seen it first hand when I worked at the DMC, and I was seeing it here at the prison. The greenhouse, garden and grounds were viewed by my critics as nothing more than a plantation. Many imprisoned on drug charges viewed themselves as political prisoners, and my Horticulture class was the “man’s way of saying they needed to be back on the plantation.” This convoluted logic I worked to change through out my career. CL helped by being a positive role model and he brought integrity to my program. He explained as he recruited all the benefits my class could offer them, and the waiting list grew exponentially. I lost contact with CL as he moved on to pursue an opportunity in maintenance, and he was transferred to a prison in Detroit.

Towards the end of my career of 25 years I was surprised to run in to him again. He was now working as a monitor in our new psychiatric housing unit and couldn’t seem happier. The prison in Detroit had been closed and he asked to be transferred back here. He also explained that his sentencing judge had been out to visit him and he was shocked. That just doesn’t happen. He believed it to be an answer to his prayers. I had to agree. The judge was getting ready to retire and was looking at the prison records of all the inmates he had sentenced and he came across CL. He could not believe that in his 25 plus years of imprisonment, CL had nothing but good work reports, and evaluations in his file. He had been ticket free, and never given a bad report. The judge thought that was incredible and he wanted to know if CL was remorseful for killing the man he had been imprisoned for. CL explained that he was and that just recently he had to bury his father. That pain was unbearable. He now knew of the pain he created for the family of the man he killed and was very remorseful. He recognized it was a sin to murder, and he became a model prisoner as part of his repentance. Though he had to admit it was not an easy road to follow in prison.

He said the judge looked at him and shook his head. All he kept thinking was that this was impossible. For his sentencing judge to be talking to him in the prisoner visiting room and rehashing his case on an autumn Sunday afternoon was mind boggling. Most guys would be watching football games. He then informed me that the judge smiled at him and informed him that he would be recommending CL be released from prison at a public hearing at an undisclosed date. CL would be brought to that hearing by the DOC. They said their goodbyes and CL was still in a state of shock. Just like the judge had told him, CL was brought to the public hearing in belly chains and handcuffs. The judge reviewed his prison record for those in attendance, and made his recommendation that CL be released from prison as time served. His prayers had been answered when he received a letter from the judge’s office explaining that he would be released. CL was glad to have run into me 25 years earlier, and for everything I had taught him about life, but mostly ,for being a positive role model for him. I explained the feeling was mutual. He brought integrity to my program and for that I am grateful. I wished him well on his upcoming release, and we said our goodbyes. I am certain he is making a positive impact in his community. TO BE CONTINUED….

Putin’s war and invasion of the Ukraine continues. His propaganda is reminiscent of another who made similar mistakes and met a tragic end. I believe his fate will end in the same way. Slava Ukraini Glory to the heroes.