News but no news

I got a letter back from the governor's office on my clemency. They still have not received my petition from the Prison Review Board. I am still having people write in and they can until a decision is made (hint hint!).

At my hearing the prosecutor mentioned nothing about the facts of my case, which was odd. With everyone who had a hearing that day they argued against their case. You know what they mentioned on me? A fight I had in here in 1997 - yes 1997. Really that all they had on my prison record. I think they really could not attack my court records and documents. Whatever the reason is, it is odd.
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Dedication and patience

When I look at some of the older prisoners and how some have come back to prison. Some don't have nothing - I mean not even money to buy soap and deodorant. The state really does not take care of people. Then I was watching this program about senior citizens living in America. One lady said she often goes hungry after paying her bills.
In seeing that I realize that tomorrow starts today and if you want to be ready for tomorrow, you have to start today. This is why I am trying so hard to get these convictions overturned. It's not the time but the record that I want to clear.

To everyone who wrote to the Governor on my behalf: thank you so much and may GOD bless you!
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Please help me get clemency!

A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

A wise man once said “A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. This is the reason why each one of is should get involved in events that may or may not concern us if an injustice is being done.

I have been incarcerated since I was 17 for crimes I did not commit. Despite irrefutable evidence of my innocence my cry for justice has gone unheard. The courts’ reviews of my convictions has been cursory to say the least. The evidence concerning my innocence was barred based on procedural grounds.

This has led me to petition the Governor of our state for clemency. Clemency has become a popular remedy in Illinois due to problems with the Illinois’ Death Penalty. Due to the vast amount of petitions (mostly groundless) a busy Governor may not have the time needed to dedicate to a petition like mine.

The more support for my cause, the better my chances are of getting my claim heard. Anyone can write to the governor in support of my clemency petition. Any and all letters in support to the Governor are welcome.

Address your letter to the Governor at:
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62701
US

Please make sure your letter refers to: Support for clemency for Charles Jones, docket # 27547

Please view the facts of my case on my website. With your help and God’s will, I will finally be given the justice I deserve.
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Max or dorm

This place is becoming less bearable. We have a new warden and seems like they are trying to run this place like a max joint.
A lot of guys are transferring to a minimum security to escape the madness. I can go but I feel like as long as I am not getting into trouble here and have gotten used to it I can deal with it.
Plus most minimum security are dorm style and I can not live in a dorm. You are trying to sleep and you got five or six guys walking around-can't do it.
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Keeping fingers crossed!

The petition for clemency has been sent in, to the Prison Review Board, the governor and wherever else they need a copy of it . Hopefully it will meet the deadline of February 7, this means that the hearings can be held in Chicago.
Keeping fingers crossed that 2008 is the last year in prison for Charles!

About the tai chi book, this was a neat prison soap in itself. After 2,5 months the committee's decision was that Charles could have the book, but then it had gone mysteriously missing from the Mailroom. It was reported stolen.
Then it turned up again! Just as mysteriously. After which the committee decided Charles was NOT allowed to have the book. *shakes head*
That is the final verdict apparently. For now at least.

Motion denied!

The judge denied my motion on November 1 2007 (after nearly five years!). The good news is now I can go on to the next stage. I am in the process of writing my cousin now for the lawyer. I paid for my transcripts and should have them shortly. The judge said that I raised the issues before. However I raised the fact that my lawyer did not call in certain witnesses. I did not provide affadavits as to what these witnesses would have testified to - as required by law. This is why my previous appeals were denied.
This petition was the first time I presented affadavits so the judge was wrong in that aspect. She appointed me a lawyer named Laura Bausser. I talked to her already! She sounded optimistic on appeal and said she is willing to start working on my case. I told her to wait until I see what this lawyer is talking about. Now I will have my case decided by a three judge panel. Once this court rules I won't have to wait any further. I will be given a new trial.
In the meantime I can petition the governow because I have nothing pending in lower courts.

Blast from the past

Sometimes you find something that you didn't know you were looking for.

In the early 1970s Charles' dad, also named Charles Jones, was a professional basketball player, playing for a club here in The Netherlands. There was not much info, let alone pictures, about that period.

Through the newspaper clippings that Charles sent me, I found an old team member who had played with his dad. He had kept a scrapbook about those days and lo and behold, there was a picture of Jones Sr.

Isn't that amazing?

Charles Sr. is the guy jumping highest...