[Pnews] Parole Letters for Political Prisoner Robert Seth Hayes

[Prisoner News]

Greetings Friends, Family, Supporters,

We are writing to request letters of support for parole for Robert Seth 
Hayes. Though Seth is presently awaiting an Appeals Unit release 
decision appeal he is scheduled for the his 10th board appearance this 
June. Seth is currently in his 41st year of incarceration, and is his 
mid 60's.  We have a draft letter below for a guide. The more 
personalized your letter is the better it is for the board.

Thank you for you time and please add to your letters.


-State your relationship to Seth, family or supporter.
-State who you are health care worker, citizen, mother, judge, 
carpenter. ect...
-Please refrain from any profanity and be professional

Below is a long list of accomplishments one can choose from what Seth is 
currently working on or has already done. Below that list there is 
Seth's Biography.

Please send you letters to Seth's Lawyer- Cheryl Kates at
PO Box 734
Victor, NY 14564

Institutional adjustment ... completed phase I, Phase II, and Phase III 
of "mandatory programming" of DOCCS. Facilitator of Pre-Release programs 
(see certificates); completed ART, and AVP (basic, advanced, workshop 
leadership and facilitator training); completed the state education 
department, Adult Peer Counseling Comparde Helper Program (see 
certificate); in 1999, completed the Inmate Program Associate Training 
(see certificate); completed Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program 
in Teachers Aide (see Certificate); stufied Business Law and Economics 
at Ohio University through correspondence course; presently attending, 
Hudson Links College inmate courses thus far completing Basic Math, 
English, presently engaged in American History and Ethics.

Has Served as a clerk in both the General Library and Law Library as a 
paralegal assistant. Worked in Food Service, Grounds Maintenance, IGRC, 
General Business and Ethnic Studies. A path of continued learning to 
improve and enhance his community devoted mind. He has not had a 
disciplinary ticket since 1999. That was dismissed 4 months later, but 
prior to that, none since 1989. Since 1999 he has received no 
disciplinary tickets of any type but rather accommodations for his hard 
work, dedication and positive role responsibilities in whatever course 
or level of work called upon to complete. He is now engaged in his 41 
year of incarceration. With a discipline and work accredited mannerism, 
one ins hard press to understand why he is time after time, turned down 
for parole release. He presently awaits an Appeals Unit release decision 
appeal as we speak. Undoubtedly many incarcerated have strong instant 
offenses for which they are serving time for. But in Seth's case one 
would be hard pressed to find a case like his. Continued denial of 
parole since 1998 having already completed his original sentencing, with 
a strong deterrent record of support for laws and remorse for his past 
actions, who is still incarcerated.


*Biography*
Robert Seth Hayes was born in Harlem, New York in October 1948. His 
father, John Franklin Hayes, was the child of sharecroppers and came to 
New York City from South Carolina; his mother, Francine Washington 
Hayes, moved to New York from Pittsburgh. Both of Mr. Hayes' parents 
worked for the U.S. Postal Service, trying to provide a better life for 
Seth and his four brothers and sisters. They also instilled in their 
children the desire to work for the betterment of their community. Seth 
writes, "My mother taught me to visualize family universally, not 
individually." Seth's father was a World War II veteran and a member of 
the United Negro Improvement Association, the Black Nationalist 
organization founded by Marcus Garvey.

Growing up in New York City, first in Harlem, later in the Bronx and 
Queens, Mr. Hayes saw one Black neighborhood after another suffering 
from neglect, despair, anger and defeat. During 1950s and 1960s with the 
growing rise of the civil rights and Black power movements Seth recalls 
witnessing over the years a birth of hope and determination to overcome 
these conditions.

After his schooling in New York City, Mr. Hayes worked as a psychiatric 
aide at Creedmoor Hospital. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent 
to Vietnam. He saw combat, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart, 
National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the 
Vietnam Campaign Medal.

In the armed forces, Seth underwent a change of consciousness. After the 
death of Martin Luther King Junior in 1968, Seth's troop was ordered to 
patrol the city streets with fixed bayonets to put down the rebellions 
resulting from Dr. King's assassination. "It was the saddest day of my 
life," Seth remembers, "and I could never identify again with the aims 
of the armed forces or the government."

Upon returning to the United States from Vietnam, Seth was swept up in 
the Black Liberation movement and joined the Black Panther Party. He 
worked in the free breakfast for children program and began dedicating 
his life to the betterment of Black people. His knowledge of the effects 
of racism on the Black community convinced him that the Black Panthers' 
program of community service ad community self-defense was what was 
needed. His work, like that of so many others, was disrupted by 
COINTELPRO. Fearing further attacks, he went underground, believing it 
to be the only way to protect the work of the Black Panther Party and 
the Black movement in general.

Robert Seth Hayes had two children prior to his arrest and imprisonment, 
and he has remained closely involved their lives and upbringing, despite 
the difficulties presented by his long incarceration. His son, Chunga 
and daughter, Crystal, herself mother of Myaisha. Seth calls his family 
"the loves of my life." He describes his relationship with Crystal this 
way, "She has had the most intense impact on my life, always 
questioning, full of joy and insight, grasping lessons and maintaining 
her own dreams. She has kept me striving always to expand my knowledge 
and illuminate my principles, as I struggle to stay abreast of her 
questioning mind."

Seth is now currently happily married to his wife Sheila. Though after 
being transferred from Wende to Sullivan Correctional Facility has made 
it difficult for regular visiting.

Seth has been diagnosed with Type II diabetes and Hepatitis C. He has 
been extremely ill and had great difficulty procuring the necessary 
healthcare and has needed the help of his lawyers and some state 
political leaders in order to get adequate treatment.

While in prison, Seth continues to work for the betterment of the 
community in which he lives. He has participated in programs with the 
NAACP, the Jaycees and other organizations and has worked as a 
librarian, pre-release advisor and AIDS counselor. Whenever possible, he 
has taken college courses. He is also a longtime advisor and 
collaborator in the annual "Certain Days" Political Prisoner calendar 
project. He is dedicated to continuing to work for social justice when 
he gets out of prison. While at Wende correctional facility Seth was 
working to put together a "lifers program" to help rehabilitate 
prisoners and prepare them to reenter the community. Seth also coached 
basketball and worked on assisting a local restorative justice project 
taking place in Buffalo.

Thank you all for your time!
******************************************Draft 
Letter************************

Senior Parole Officer

Sullivan Correctional Facility

P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116

Dear Senior Parole Officer of Sullivan Correctional Facility:

I am writing on behalf of Robert Hayes #74A2280, who is scheduled to 
appear before the parole board for the tenth time in June of 2014. 
Robert Hayes' application for parole was denied when he last appeared 
before the board two years ago. At the time of that appearance, his 
record was excellent and continues to be so. Mr. Hayes has studied 
Business Law and Economics through a correspondence course at Ohio 
University and is presently attending Hudson Links College inmate 
courses. He has completed Basic Math and English and is currently 
studying American History and Ethics,

Mr. Hayes has continued to work to help others and improve himself. 
While at Clinton Correctional Facility, he facilitated in the HIV 
Educators program to assist others as well as becoming a member of the 
Lifer's and Long Termers Organization, whose primary goal is to educate 
and instruct newly arriving inmates in adjustment to and preparation for 
final release from incarceration.

While at Wende Correctional Facility, Mr. Hayes coached basketball and 
participated in a local restorative justice project. These are but a few 
of his many accomplishments over his years of incarceration. I am 
confident that were he to be released, he would be a great asset to the 
community and to society at large.

There is no question that the crime for which Mr. Hayes was convicted 
was a serious crime. However, he has shown remorse and takes full 
responsibility for his acts.

I am sure that you will agree that after serving almost 40 years, Mr. 
Hayes' release at this time would not deprecate the seriousness of the 
crime or undermine respect for the law.

Moreover, if you examine all of the factors that are used to predict 
whether a person is likely to recidivate, those factors indicate that 
Mr. Hayes will not engage in any criminal activity. His disciplinary 
history during his incarceration indicates that he obeys the rules in 
prison; he has a supportive network of family and friends on the outside 
available to assist him in his reintegration back into society and he 
had an extensive work history prior to being incarcerated, in addition 
to obtaining marketable skills in prison that will help him to obtain 
employment. Nothing is gained by his continued incarceration, and much 
is lost, as he has much to offer the community upon his release.

By the time that Mr. Hayes appears before the parole board, he will be 
66 years old---more than 40 years older and considerably wiser than the 
man who was charged with committing the crime. He is a compassionate, 
caring individual and deserves a second chance.

Please grant Mr. Hayes parole and give him that second chance.

Sincerely, _____________________





-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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