STATE PAROLE BOARD NOT ALWAYS FAIR

I have been reading stories in the paper about the Alabama Board of Pardons
and Paroles, and I thought you might like to hear another side of it. I'm
in prison for a drug possession charge, and I have served 14 years of a
25-year sentence. Yes, I got 25 years for possession of drugs, not
trafficking, and I received it 14 years ago. My case took place in 1988,
out of Huntsville.

I understand that I broke the law and I should have to come to prison, but
not for such a long time. To me, that's overkill.

I had a parole date of May 2004. Just about a month and a half ago, the
parole board sent me another parole date, for February 2006. Yes, they
upped my parole date by almost two years for no reason. I thought they were
trying to get non-violent people out of prison, not keep them in longer.

What is really bad about all of this is that not long ago, the parole board
was going to try to go to court to win the release of two rapists, the
Thornton brothers. This just does not add up to me: trying to get two
rapists out when there are people with non-violent crimes whom the board
could let go but will not.

I have to stay in prison until February 2006. I will be doing 18 years for
possession. You tell me if it is right for the taxpayers to have to keep
paying to keep me in prison for so long, when there are people out there
waiting to come to prison for a variety of violent crimes.

LEON HICKS

Fountain Correctional Center

Atmore