Background
(Today, June 10, 2025, my husband, Michael, should be home. Today was supposed to mark the start of his conditional release, a glimmer of light after months of resilience and faith. But instead of welcoming him home, I find myself penning this blog post, fueled by heartbreak and indignation, as Michael remains unjustly detained by a broken system that continues to fail its own principles of justice and fairness.
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has not just denied Michael his deserved freedom; they've effectively held him and countless others hostage amid their own internal struggles and policies. It feels like Michael and so many other inmates are being used as leverage by a BOP under pressure, burdening families like ours with the injustice of stalled processes and lost hope.)
Broken Promises and Bureaucratic Neglect
Michael’s conditional release date was determined by law, a promise made to families that their loved ones would be given a second chance under legislation like the First Step Act (FSA) and Second Chance Act (SCA). By law, Michael’s eligibility for home confinement was to be reviewed 17 to 19 months prior to today. Instead, the review process has been stalled without explanation, going against directives from the associate warden.
Even worse, his caseworker has dismissed his eligibility outright, callously stating that Michael “will be in for a very long time.” This isn’t just neglect; it’s cruelty. It’s a betrayal of a system that claims to value rehabilitation, fairness, and second chances.
Michael, who has lived a life of responsibility and generosity, is trapped in this web of systemic failures. Why? Because the BOP's internal turmoil has relegated its most vulnerable to mere pawns in their bureaucratic chess game.
A Broken System Sacrificing Families
Behind the walls of the BOP are not just inmates but mothers, fathers, sons, and husbands. They are people like Michael, who have families waiting for them and communities depending on them. Yet, the BOP’s internal policy changes have overshadowed any commitment to fairness or decency.
These changes, which include reduced pay for staff, strict limitations on vacation days, and less robust benefits, are undoubtedly creating internal strife within the BOP. But instead of addressing these issues transparently, the ripple effects have crashed into the lives of inmates and their families. It feels as though our loved ones are collateral damage in a war between BOP administration and its policies.
This excuse, this injustice, falls so heavily on people like us who are left waiting, hoping, and fighting to bring good men like Michael home.
Why Michael Deserves to Be Home
Michael is not just a low-risk inmate; he is virtually no risk at all.
- He has no prior offenses.
- He maintained a spotless record across three years of pretrial release, including adhering to numerous searches and drug tests.
- He has spent his time in prison not just following rules but making a difference.
- HE IS INNOCENT OF THE CRIMES HE IS IN PRISON FOR. HE DID NOT STEAL MONEY FROM HIS DAD OR LIE IN COURT
Michael has taught classes, attended courses, and stepped up to help staff and fellow inmates alike in an overcrowded and understaffed facility. He’s not just been good; he has been exemplary. He deserves to be home, not just because of his behavior in prison, but because justice demands it.
A Network of Support
Michael’s family is ready to welcome him back and provide a safe and stable environment for his transition. From ensuring his medical care as a level 3 inmate to offering unwavering emotional and logistical support, we have prepared ourselves and our home for his return since the day he surrendered.
An Unjust Conviction
Michael’s initial conviction carries its own weight of injustice. Accused of nonviolent financial offenses, he was convicted on distorted charges that painted an unfair picture of his intentions. His punishment is grossly disproportionate, especially for a man with no criminal history or malicious intent.
A Call to Action
This isn’t just about Michael’s freedom; it’s about the values we uphold as a society. It’s about asking ourselves why a system built on rehabilitation seems bent on breaking both inmates and families.
I call on anyone reading this to stand with us. Here’s what you can do to help:
1. Raise Awareness
Share Michael’s story. Social media, emails, conversations with friends and colleagues – every voice counts in shining a light on these systemic failures.
2. Advocate for Reform
Contact the BOP and voice a concern here: https://www.bop.gov/inmates/concerns.jsp
3. Demand Transparency
Urge the BOP to provide clarity on its policies and ensure reviews for home confinement are conducted promptly and fairly.
4. Send Encouragement
If you know someone with a loved one in the justice system, reach out. Remind them they are not alone. A small gesture of solidarity can go a long way.
A System in Desperate Need of Change
It’s easy to feel powerless when facing a machine as vast and unyielding as the Bureau of Prisons. But as I sit here, writing this with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart, I know we cannot give up. We cannot allow our loved ones to be forgotten or dismissed.
Michael is more than an inmate. He is a husband, father, friend, and contributor to society. His continued incarceration is unjust, and it is a call to all of us to demand better from the very systems meant to uphold justice.
Today should have been Michael’s first day of freedom. Instead, it is another day of waiting, fighting, and holding onto the hope that justice will prevail. Thank you to everyone who stands alongside us in this battle.