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My name is Joy Nelson and my brother Thomas Nelson is serving a 10 year sentence for a non-violent crime. I started this petition on his behalf — here is his story in his own words:
I went to prison for corruption, the only thing I felt confident about was that my three children were in great hands. While I served 10 years for breaking my constituents’ trust as mayor of a town in Louisiana, I knew that my trustworthy wife would provide for our children and shape them into good, productive members of society. But that solace came to an end on September 23, 2012, the day my family was involved in a devastating car accident that left my wife and one of our three young children incapacitated, possibly for the rest of their lives. Now, the only person who is able to take care of my wife and children is me.
Just before the accident, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) had amended its Compassionate Release Program to permit the release of an inmate whose spouse becomes incapacitated. So when this tragedy struck, I requested release — not complete freedom, but home confinement — to care for my spouse and children. It has twice been denied, despite the fact that prison wardens, staff and medical professionals all support my release.
I need the BOP to grant my request for a Compassionate Release, so I can serve the rest of my time on house arrest and care for my family.
The Compassionate Release law states that the welfare of an incarcerated person’s family must be central in considering a request for release. Legal assessments have determined that no other family member is capable of, or available to, care for my infirmed wife and kids besides me. This law was written to cover cases just like mine.
I am a first-time offender. I’m serving a sentence for a non-violent crime, in a low-security prison camp with no bars, no fences. My status as a model inmate has been confirmed by my Unit Team staff and warden. The warden approved my request for Compassionate Release and forwarded it to the BOP General Counsel in Washington for final approval, and that is where it was inexplicably denied, twice.
Meanwhile, I am borrowing money to pay a caregiver for my wife, whose severe traumatic brain injury has left her permanently incapacitated. She often cannot tell our children apart, let alone take care of their daily needs.
Please join me in asking the BOP to honor its own program statement, and permit my Compassionate Release to home confinement. My wife and my children are in trouble, and this program may be their last hope.
Be a Seed for Change 
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