Petition MT Governor in Support of Manuel Redwoman

Part 1

February 20 th, 2006

Manuel Redwoman needs your immediate support, and many letters sent to the Governor of Montana, asking why he was not offered release at his Parole Hearing in December. These letters need to be sent as soon as possible and it would be great if you could send a copy to the Legislators. Snail Mail letters are the best choice, but additional emails can help. There are many reasons why Manuel should have been released, so they will be presented in 3 parts. Each part can be the topic of a letter to the Governor, independently from the other parts. (Short letters have a better chance of being read).

It is very important that you use your own words, so that each letter looks personal. Form letters that all look alike would not be helpful. Please remember that accuracy is important, that all letters should be respectful, and need to be signed with your full name and address. To make a difference, a lot of letters are needed, as many as possible. Each letter will matter. For further information or if you wish to email us a copy of your letter, please contact us directly. Thank you for your time and continued support.

Dodie Finstead and Brigitte Thimiakis

Please do not forward this posting to the officials, and do not use our personal addresses when emailing them.

Part 1

Manuel Redwoman (#24920) is a Native American who has been incarcerated for many years in Montana. He has been a model inmate and not only has he served one third of his sentence, but he also had excellent parole plans. However in December 2005 he was told that while he is given parole, his release cannot be considered or allowed before November 2007, in fact a month before the next parole hearing he could have.

During his incarceration, Manuel Redwoman has worked tirelessly on religious issues, standing up for his People's religious rights at Deer Lodge. His efforts resulted in better rehabilitation programs and structuring for numerous inmates, and in better religious policies concerning sweat lodge ceremonies, the possession of sacred herbs, sacred items, and other improvements. He was requested to do a national article in prison but declined after the Settlement Agreement was reached.

- has worked on the Native American treatment program, the promotion of a positive cycle for younger Native Americans so they have a real sense of respect and honor for their culture and tradition when released.

- raised awareness about serious cases of medical neglect for Native American prisoners, including Veterans, Justin Wing and other prisoners.

- has been retaliated against many times for his efforts in helping secure basic rights for Native Americans; he was forced to stay in isolation for years although he did not even have a write up.

MT Governor Brian Schweitzer himself has said that there is a need for more Native programs, and pre-release centers, in particular in his article Study Indian Justice (Billingsgazette, September 05).

Manuel Redwoman has - an exemplary record of 91 or 92 month clear conduct, without any write-up. He also has excellent work, conduct housing and behavior records.

- only 4 points (very low), is in minimum restricted custody, currently in the honor dorm.

- served more time than the minimum time required by law to be eligible for parole

- has taken all the required classes as well as every class available to him.

At his first bi-annual parole hearing, he was told to give time on low side. Having achieved that, he should have been released at the second parole hearing, as counselors and other staff members believe he should have been.

It is also a serious matter of concern that during the Parole Hearing, Board Member Mr. Curtiss made several inaccurate statements.

- He stated that Mr. Redwoman has NOT served even 1/2 of his sentence. In fact the State law only requires any inmate to serve 1/3 of their sentence to qualify for parole, so he was elegible for parole, having already served over 1/3 of his sentence.

- He stated that Mr. Redwoman had 3 felonies. In fact, he has 1 felony, 1 deferred felony, and 1 misdemeanor.

- He said that his sentence was 25, but it is not, as they only count 20 years.

- He also stated that Mr. Redwoman had a Parole violation. Fact is that it was a probation, NOT Parole violation that he was late for.

Native Americans are kept incarcerated longer than they should be. And for years, MT legislators have been asking why.

It is still unknown why the parole board would grant him parole release one month prior to his next bi-annual parole date, when other inmates with worse records and more years left on parole were allowed to transfer out of state. One might notice the difference in the results of his parole hearing and the case of Vincent S. Hallam, a white man, with a 300 year sentence for 3 counts of deliberate homicide (the murder of three 18 year old and under girls); he was given parole after having done only 30 years, which is barely 1/10 of his time for a heinous crime and without pre-release.

Why is Mr. Redwoman not allowed equal consideration for Parole, like everyone else is?

It would seem that Mr. Redwoman would at least have a recommendation for pre-release this year at his parole hearing.Yet the Board decided to keep him at least for another 23 months. It is hard to understand why he would not be offered a release. Why is this?

Contact Information:

Governor Brian A. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
406-444-3111, FAX 406-444-5529

To email him a copy of your letter you can click on this link:

Governor Contact Page

Governor Brian A. Schweitzer

Please email a copy of your letter to the following officials or legislators:

Joe Jayne

Carole Juneau

Max Baucus

Veronica Small-Eastman

A few Mailing Addresses:

NORMA BIXBY (D) HD 41

PO BOX 1165, LAME DEER, MT 59043-1165
Home:

(406)477-6602, Bus: (406)477-6602

JOEY JAYNE (D) HD 15

299 LUMPRY RD, ARLEE, MT 59821-9747
Home:

(406)726-4207 Bus: (406)726-4207

JAYNE57@HOTMAIL.COM

CAROL C JUNEAU (D) HD 16, PO BOX 55, BROWNING, MT 59417-0055
Home:

(406)338-5689, Bus: (406)338-5689

CSJUNEAU@3RIVERS.NET

VERONICA SMALL-EASTMAN (D) HD 42

PO BOX 262, LODGE GRASS, MT

59050-0262, Home: (406)639-2536, Bus: (406)639-2536 BARVX@HOTMAIL.COM

JONATHAN WINDY BOY (D) HD 32,PO BOX 269

BOX ELDER, MT 59521-0269
Home:

(406)395-4407 Bus: (406)395-4407 WINDYBOY_J@YAHOO.COM

PART 2 - Letters in Support of Manuel Redwoman February 25, 2006

Please contact again the Governor of Montana asking why, considering his Positive Involvement in the Community, Manuel Redwoman was not offered release at his Parole Hearing in December.

Reminder: These letters need to be sent as soon as possible, with copies to the Legislators. Snail Mail letters are the best choice, but emails can help too. Please do not copy but use your own words so that each letter looks more personal. Also accuracy is important and all letters should be respectful, and signed with a full name and address.

Please do not forward this posting to the officials, or use our personal addresses when emailing them.

Thank you
Dodie Finstead and Brigitte Thimiakis dodie_finstead@yahoo.com, thimiakischool@the.forthnet.gr

Background info: Manuel Redwoman, Northern Cheyenne/Lakota/Arapaho, has been incarcerated for many years in Montana. He is in prison for mitigated deliberate homicide; his victim was a well-know, recidivist child molester who had been after one of Manuel's young nephews; a relative of the man's testified for Manuel.

Part 2 Info: In addition to being a model inmate and having served one third of his sentence, Manuel also had excellent Parole Plans. Yet, in December 2005 he was told that while he is given parole, his release cannot be considered or allowed before November 2007, in fact a month before the next parole hearing he could have.

However, there is no doubt that Mr. Redwoman would be a productive and contributing member of society.

Manuel Redwoman founded a group in support of his reservation several years ago. With a group of friends and family members, and many volunteers, he has worked hard to help the people in need. In 2000, the first donations were sent to the reservation.

In 2001, he decided to try and start larger projects, to help prevent other children from ending up in prison, and to let them know others do care about them.

Since then, he has actively helped to send countless donations wherever the needs were more acute. Large numbers of donations were sent in support of the Children Shelter, Senior Center, Tongue River Shelter/Homeless Center, Head start, Daily Care. The donations were also distributed in such a way that they could reach single families, elders, children, and in general families in need.

Since 2001, they have received well over 17600 lbs of items that include countless boxes of school supplies, toys and books, Christmas gifts, warm clothing for children and elders, shoes, toiletries, household items, warm blankets, food including large amounts of fresh fruit and dried fruit, Christmas treats, and so on. Also Christmas parties and warm meals were arranged whenever possible, even after the end of the larger projects.

Mr. Redwoman cares about his community very much and is committed to his People. His own personal story made him understand even more how important it is to raise awareness about the difficulties many children and families have to face on his reservation.In spite of his personal hardships he has done everything in his power to be a supportive and active member of his community.

Considering all his contribution to his community and the fact his prison record is also exemplary (about 91 months), why was Mr. Redwoman not released? Why did he not at least receive a recommendation for pre-release this year ?

Contact Information:

Governor Brian A. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
406-444-3111, FAX 406-444-5529

To email him a copy of your letter you can click on this link:

Governor Brian A. Schweitzer

Please email a copy of your letter to the following officials and legislators listed above.

Manuel Redwoman - Honor Your Spirit, Protect the Children Fund

Contents

February 2006 Reports

Last updated on February 27, 2006