Oscar Giles serving life for burglary. Just one visitor in 37 years. Wants to see his mother before
Giles broke into a liquor store at 3:30 a.m. in Lakeland, Florida when no one was present. He says that when officers arrived on the scene, he ran and was caught shortly thereafter.
Officers found a gun on the ground about three blocks away from the store and attributed the gun to him; his fingerprints were not found on it.
Giles said he committed the burglary because he was “young and stupid”. Since he was incarcerated 37 years ago, Giles says he has had only one visitor.
He hopes to be released from prison so that he can spend time with his 90-year-old mother before she dies. She lives in Alabama and is not physically able to visit him.
It’s “tough and lonely” in prison, Giles says. “I been in prison for 37 years. Seems like I would get used to it. But that will never happen.”
While in prison, Giles has taken life skills programs and participated in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. He attends programs six nights a week and reads, exercises, and walks in his spare time.
He told the ACLU, “I am older and wiser now, I am sorry for all the pain that I caused for my family…I just want to get out and do the right things.”
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses.
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As voters, citizens, taxpayers and bystanders, we as a society have inhumanely punished thousands of nonviolent people. Currently Washington DC and 30 states have compensation statutes for wrongfully convicted inmates. Congress’ recommended amount is $63,000 for each year served. On the other hand, overly sentenced victims who in many cases have suffered equally or worse typically receive $20 and a bus ticket if they are fortunate enough to ever be released.
Select the link below to donate directly Giles to help him with legal and other expenses. Most of these inhumanely sentenced inmates don't remember the last time they were able to buy personal items or snacks from the commissary. No donation is too small. JPAY is used for state inmates and Western Union for federal.
No Harsh Justice inmate has ever been convicted of a violent crime.
Donate to Giles' Legal Fund (Select Florida, Inmate ID=067434)
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