The Lifers’ Families and Friends Project, “Voices of Hope,” organizes families and friends of life-term prisoners to understand, participate in, and reform the California parole system.
One in five California prisoners are serving a life-term sentence. Most have the possibility of parole, but for the last 20 years the annual parole rate for lifer prisoners has been less than 1%, in part due to the vastly expanded presence and testimony of crime victims in parole proceedings under Proposition 9.
Voices of Hope empowers the community to provide input in the parole decision making process. Many lifers have surpassed the suitability criteria stipulated by the Board of Parole Hearings, and have demonstrated they will make positive contributions upon return to their communities.
Current Projects
Letter-Writing Campaign
Our letter-writing campaign enables families and friends of lifers to demonstrate community support for the release of loved ones whose record, accomplishments and contributions have surpassed the suitability criteria established by the Board of Parole Hearings.
Board of Parole Hearings Executive Board Meetings
Lifers’ Families and Friends are participating in the Board of Parole Hearings’ executive meetings. We are using this public forum to express concern about the obstacles lifers face in meeting the suitability criteria set by the Board, and about the Board’s reluctance to recognize when these criteria have been met.
Upcoming Projects
Writ of Habeas Corpus Petitions
Families will be educated to write Writ of Habeas Corpus petitions to support the release of their loved ones.
Voices of Hope is organized by Flozelle Woodmore, a former lifer whose work is supported by a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship.
