Alabama Daily News - Mother Pleas for ‘Second Chance’ Bill

The Opinion-Editorial "Mother Pleas for ‘Second Chance’ Bill" was featured at the Alabama Daily News website. It was written by Ann Manley, a lifelong Alabamian who lives in Montgomery. She is the mother of three children, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of five, and is member of Yarbrough Street Baptist Church.

The "Second Chance" Bill is House Bill 29, sponsored by Representative Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), and would allow individuals who have been convicted of a felony to be resentenced under certain circumstances. The Alabama House Judiciary Committee approved HB 29 in January and is awaiting a full hearing in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Excerpts from the Op-Ed are below.

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A few days ago, I visited my husband’s grave to honor the second anniversary of his death at the age of 94. Jim was a decorated WWII combat veteran who fought in the Battle of Bulge. His greatest hope before he died was to see our son walk free from the Alabama prison system. 

Although Jim’s wish did not come true, it’s not too late for me. But I’m 88 so the clock is ticking. Our son, John Manley, has been incarcerated 37 years for property crimes. Although he never physically harmed anyone, never even saw any victims, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. But a bill currently in the Legislature would create a way for John to finally come home to me. HB29, the Second Chance bill, would give a judge right here in our hometown of Montgomery a chance to review John’s case and decide if it still makes sense to keep him locked inside St. Clair prison. 

For years, Jim and I made the long drive up I-65 at least once a month to see our son. In prison, John began to make amends for his crimes. He worked hard to earn an associate degree in science from Gadsden State Community College. He completed a course in furniture building from Gadsden State. He learned to be a barber. Through numerous courses on alcohol and drug dependence, John has sought to ensure he would never succumb to addiction if he were eventually released. 

You might be reading this and thinking, “of course this man’s mother believes her son is ready to get out, but what about the victim?” 

Of course the victim deserves a say. When John’s attorneys contacted him and shared the story of John’s rehabilitation, the victim was relieved John had used his time in prison wisely and signed an affidavit supporting his release. 

Our home is full of pictures and framed news articles of my late husband and his Army honors. His name was James Windom Manley, and I still miss him every day. But I have to believe that he did not trek through Europe under General Patton to help liberate France, only to have his only son die in an Alabama prison for nonviolent property crimes.

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You can read the full Op-Ed, "Mother Pleas for ‘Second Chance’ Bill," featured on the Alabama Daily News website. The Alabama Daily News is news organization that gives readers high-quality coverage of government and politics without political bias or corporate spin.