Free at Last

Note: this blog was sent as an email to the Inside-Out Instructors nationwide. Tyrone is a member of the national leadership, recently released from Graterford Prison. The email is re-printed here with his permission.

Hi Everyone.

By now I’m sure you heard the incredible news that I finally had my life sentence commuted? It was December 14, 2011 when the board voted me through; December 30, 2011^h when then Governor Ed Rendell signed my commute papers; and March 14, 2011 when I walked out of Graterford for the last time as a prisoner. I’m free and walking the streets of Philadelphia for the first time in 36 years. Believe me when I tell you, it’s an incredible feeling, and one I will never forget. It’s been an exciting time for me experiencing freeing for the first time in 36 years. I’ve been adjusting quite well with the help of so many people, especially my family.

As I think about my status today and how I got here, I can vividly remember reading all the encouraging words you and so many others had provided as my case was being heard last year. It’s all still so surreal for me. After nearly 4 decades in prison, locked away in a cage, struggling daily to keep my human dignity, sometimes feeling hopeless and even at times having to accept the fact that I would eventually die in prison, here I am, sitting in the Inside-Out Center writing to thank you for supporting me on this incredible journey.

At this point it’s been about a month since my release. I wanted to allow some time to pass before I notified you about my situation in order to give myself some time to adjust and get comfortable with even using the internet (WOW). Now that I am able to navigate this incredible technology, I wanted to not only let you know where stand, but also to thank you for the love you’ve shown me.

The transition has been surprisingly smooth, though not without the many challenges that present themselves in re-entering a complex, fast-moving world. I hope I can count on your continued support through this transition. And I hope to be of support to you, too -- especially in my capacity as part of the Inside-Out staff -- as you continue and expand
the work that you're doing.

Again, thanks so much!

Tyrone

Tyrone

Tyrone was a founding member of the Graterford Think Tank.  He was in Lori Pompa's first class taught at Graterford almost ten years ago.  He was the president of the Lifers society, and has been a part of many, many projects on the Inside to improve the quality of life for all people incarcerated there, and to better himself and stay connected to the outside world.  For all these reasons, he was interviewed multiple times, and has appeared regularly in newspaper articles (find in The Philadelphia Weekly here) and even books ( that describe the lives of men and women serving life sentences.  After thirty-six years of incarceration, he was facing the rest of his life still in Graterford.  In Pennsylvania, a life sentence means a life without parole.


(Tyrone is pictured in the lower right corner)

In the Inside-Out context, Tyrone was a leader of the Think Tank.  I met him when I was trained as an Inside-Out instructor two years ago.  All of the Think Tank was incredibly welcoming, kind, and insightful.  I experienced something very similar to the first Inside-Out class I was a part of, with a strong sense of welcome and community developing immediately.  Tyrone was a central part of that feeling for me.  He immediately welcomed me, the youngest member of the training group, and made me a part of the group.

Tyrone's life sentence has been commuted.  He is now, again, a free member of society after more than three decades in prison.  His release is part of national news because of the central role he has played for years in directing the national program.  Now he will continue to do so, but now from a position on the national leadership group at Temple University, in the free world again.

I hope he will be sharing stories and updates with all of us.  As he moves back into the larger world, I am wishing him all the best, and knowing that he will go far.  All of us are better and more blessed to have him as a part of our free world and our national community.