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THREAD:This is Henry before he got a death-in-prison sentence, aka life without parole. An Army veteran who became addicted to drugs while stationed overseas, he committed 4 robberies in Alabama in which no one was physically injured, the largest amount he stole was $103. (1) 
Henry has spent 33 years in Alabama prisons for this. He's committed no violent acts in prison, yet is still considered a "violent offender" because of his crimes, and thus was denied multiple appeals for a sentence reduction that would have given him a chance for parole. (2)
Henry got clean in prison. Despite being surrounded by contraband drugs and alcohol, he's completed every rehab program available & remains steadfast in his sobriety. He's worked in the prison kitchen & craft room & in his spare time reads his Bible and goes to the chapel. (3)
Henry is one of the men I'm writing about for @PENamerican's Writing for Justice fellowship. He is among hundreds cast away by Alabama's 3-strikes law & sent off to prison to die for burglary, robbery & drugs, doing more time than people convicted of rape & murder. (4)
Today I'll meet Henry's sister & mother. They visit him regularly, even though his mom at 86 has to use a walker. Years ago, she told police where Henry was, not knowing he faced a mandatory LWOP. She was afraid the drugs would kill him but now blames herself for his fate. (5)
Henry's incarceration has devastated his family. His son was 7 when his dad was locked up for life. Henry was 29, today he is 62. One thing I've learned in getting to know these folks: PEOPLE CHANGE. A system with mandatory LWOP doesn't allow for that.#cjreform #SecondChance (6)
