Kristeen Irigoyen-Hernandez aka Lady2Soothe Follow @OurVoicesEcho
PAROLED 2018!!!
CONCERNING THE PENALTY FOR A PERSON WHO ESCAPES FROM A PLACE OF CONFINEMENT OTHER THAN A COUNTY JAIL OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Escape from a Colorado State Dept. of Correction facility or halfway house CANNOT be used to extend a sentence.
Details on Colorado House bill HB 12-1213, introduced Jan. 30 2012 and last acted on May 17, 2012. When this bill was signed by Governor Hickenlooper it rendered such an adjudication inapplicable to a person who is convicted of escape or attempt to escape from a place *other* than a county jail or a correctional facility.
My name is Harold Smith
MY STORY
I was convicted of aggravated robbery and habitual criminal in June 1998. Aggravated robbery is a Class 3 felony which carries a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison. However, I had 2 Class 5 non-violent prior felony convictions. The first was possession of a dangerous weapon which I was sentenced to 2 ½ years in the Colorado Department of Corrections in 1993. I was allowed to go to the half-way house in May 1994. I walked away (escape) in September of that year. I was charged with, and convicted of escape, and sentenced to one (1) year DOC and one (1) year parole. This was the second felony used to adjudicate me a habitual criminal. I was on parole for the first escape when I caught the aggravated robbery January 26, 1998 which makes me ineligible for executive clemency. The punishment for aggravated robbery is 16 years was multiplied by 3 which extended my sentence to 48 years. Those are the facts of my case.THE INJUSTICE
In 2012 Colorado Representative Rhonda Fields sponsored House Bill 12-1213 (hereinafter referred to as HB 12-1213) which states “AN ESCAPE SHALL NOT BE USED TO ADJUDICATE A PERSON HABITUAL CRIMINAL”. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed HB 12-1213 into law May 17, 2012, however it is not retroactive. I am still in prison due to a law which is no longer relevant or applicable in cases such as mine. In other words I have completely served my time plus additional time for the crimes I’ve committed, which would have subsequently allowed me to be the free and the socially productive man I’ve evolved into today.I have been lobbying Congress for four (4) years in an attempt to have this law sanctioned as retroactive. I’ve been in contact with State Representative Jovan Melton who assured me he was 90% positive retroactivity would be enacted by legislature as expressed in a formal document by the beginning of April 2016.
Unfortunately the Retroactive Amendment of HB 12-1213 did not materialize as State Representative Jovan Melton expected as he was unable to secure endorsement by Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Dickey Lee Hullinghorst who refused to even consider the proposed new bill during an election year.
Ironically, the passage of the Amended HB 12-1213 Bill for retroactive application would only affect myself and 5 other people. Only 6 people would be released immediately from the Colorado Department of Corrections statewide.
Representative Jovan Melton has assured me the newly Amended HB 12-1213 Bill will be one of the first five (5) bills introduced to the upcoming January 2017 session and maintains he does not have to submit the bill to the Speaker of the House providing it is one of the first 5 bills proposed. Rep. Melton is convinced Amended HB 12-1213 will pass the House and Senate and signed into law.
Meanwhile as we await the Jan. 2017 session, Rep. Melton suggested I compose a letter to Governor Hickenlooper, addressing it directly to Rep. Melton at his office which he would personally hand deliver to Governor Hickenlooper, which I did in April. I was to explain the circumstances of my incarceration which has been extended three fold past my conviction sentencing. I was to remind the Governor he signed HB 12-1213 “an escape shall not be used to adjudicate a person habitual criminal” into law and as the Governor undoubtedly believed people such as myself are not habitual criminals. It was also recommended I ask the Governor to review the injustice of over-sentencing, over-criminalization, sentencing reform, prison and reentry reform which at this point is unnecessarily harsh and contributes to prison overcrowding while ballooning the state prison budget, and rectify this injustice by commuting my sentence to the original 16 years as time served.
I have family and friends out in the real world who love, respect and are proud of me but it’s not enough to push though the governmental red tape. If you or anyone you know can help I would truly appreciate any and all input, or even a friendly letter of support.
Many thanks and blessings for taking the time to read my message
HaroldFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION You can reach Harold at:
Harold L. Smith
DOC #: 81050
Buena Vista Minimum Center
PO Box 2005
Buena Vista, CO 81211COLORADO LEGISLATORS
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
136 State Capitol Bldg.
Denver, CO 80203-1792
Fax:(303)866-2003
Tel:(303)866-2471
email: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/share-your-comments
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/Representative Jovan Melton
Email:jovan.melton.house@state.co.us
200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-2919
http://jovanmelton.com/Michael Bennet (D) Senior Senator
Denver Metro Office
1127 Sherman St., Suite 150
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-455-7600
Toll Free: 866-455-9866
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/?Cory Gardner (R) Junior Senator
1125 17th Street, Suite 525
Denver, CO 80202
P: (303) 391-5777
F: (202) 228-7171
https://www.gardner.senate.gov/contact-cory/email-Diana DeGette (D) House Rep. District 1
600 Grant Street, Suite 202,
Denver, CO80203
(202) 225-4431
https://degette.house.gov/contact/send-me-an-email/email-meJared Polis (D) House Rep. District 2
1644 Walnut St.
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 484-9596
Fax: (303) 568-9007
http://polis.house.gov/contact/boulder.htmSenator Mark Udall
Email: Senator_Mark_Udall@markudall.senate.gov
20510 Westminster, CO 80031
Phone: 303-650-7820Michael Bennet (D) Senior Senator – 127 Sherman St #150, Denver, CO 80203
Scott Tipton (R) House Rep. District 3 – 225 North 5th Street, Suite 702, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Ken Buck (R) House Rep. District 4 – 7505 Village Square Dr. Suite 207, Castle Pines, CO 80108
Doug Lamborn (R) House Rep. District 5 – 1271 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Suite 110 Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Mike Coffman (R) House Rep. District 6 – Cherry Creek Place IV; Suite 305 3300 S. Parker Road Aurora, CO 80014
Ed Perlmutter (R) House Rep. District 7 – 12600 West Colfax Avenue, Suite B400, Lakewood, CO 80215
Slavery is alive and well, and absolutely thriving in the American prison industrial complexes. The 13th Amendment of the US Constitution reads: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”. Section 26 of the Colorado State Constitution reflects this as well. The language in either document has not been amended, repealed, or deleted to date. Many people reading these words do not believe this to be fact. It is I promise. The big difference between today’s slavery and the slavery of old, is that in 2016 it is not racially discriminatory; if you break the law, no matter your race, creed or color, and are convicted-you ARE and WILL BE until your release a Slave of the State, and you will be treated as such. I broke the Law in Colorado, and according to the constitution, I am a slave to Colorado. It is the LAW!
That said, the simple fact is that I have done ALL of my TIME for the offense I was convicted of, so, how is it possible I’m still on this plantation? I am still in prison because an old law gave my physical custody and control to the State of Colorado for a sum of 48 years. My human rights are secondary to the State’s claims on my body. They own me, pure and simple.
Right is right, and wrong is wrong. No matter whom it is. Whether it is me, or the State of Colorado, the fact remains the same: I did wrong when I broke the Law, I fully admit and regret that fact. However, under current Colorado Law, it clearly spells out that I have already PAID IN FULL for my actions. And deservedly so. That is JUST, and RIGHT. But what is so WRONG is that after nearly 19 years (3 years OVER the maximum penalty for the crime, and nearly 4 years since the Law was revised) the executive and legislative representatives for the people of the State of Colorado callously see fit to still hold me prisoner. This is Wrong and Unjust! This is tragic! This is Slavery in all its glory. This is allowed to stand, I believe in my heart, because the public does not know about it.
I’ve learned over the years most Americans are fair and just, and when they recognize Injustice they fight to get justice. Which is why, with my extremely limited resources, I am utilizing social media as best I can, from prison. I NEED YOUR HELP!! I think if you, the public knew my story you would be appalled. My family and I are. We are just so small and insignificant in this battle for my freedom against the State of Colorado. Will you help us please?
Some people who read this may be offended by my use of the term “slavery” to describe my situation, to them I would humbly say “No offense intended”, yet what other institution in our nation’s history do you know of, besides slavery which permits the State sanctioned bondage of human beings against their will? The current criminal justice system not only permits this, but in my case, -even after I have served ALL of my time-lets me sit in prison, and does nothing about it, actively ignoring this Injustice.
Our nation is one of laws, the foundation of a democratic society. Our people and our laws make this a great nation I love dearly, the greatest nation on God’s green earth. I am proud to be an American, but I need to be a FREE proud American. When I am released, I want to earn back all of my rights as an American citizen, and all that it entails, including, and especially, my right to vote. I need to have a voice in the Laws which affect me and my loved ones. When the laws of the land are no longer relevant, or applicable, the State Legislature changes the law in the interest of justice. This has already happened in my case. But they did not make it retroactive, which is why I am still in prison.
I am asking the Colorado State Legislature to pass legislation for RETROACTIVE APPLICATION OF House Bill 12-1213, and C.R.S. 18-1.3-801 (5) to my convictions. This action would release me from prison forthwith. I am also petitioning Colorado State Governor John Hickenlooper (he signed HB 12-1213 into law) to commute my prison sentence to 16 years’ time served. Which would also release me from prison forthwith. If you have not already done so, please visit my Facebook @JFHIC.
If you are a believer in Justice for All, PLEASE SIGN the COLORADO AMENDED HB 12-1213 RETROACTIVE APPLICATION: IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR HAROLD SMITH PETITION.
Sign the Petition at CHANGE.ORG
#HaroldSmith
#HaroldSmith #LetOurVoicesEcho
#HaroldSmith #LetOurVoicesEcho
#HaroldSmith #LetOurVoicesEcho #ColoradoHouseBill12-1213
If you or anyone you know can help I would truly appreciate any and all input or even a friendly letter of support. And please re-post this to your social media pages asking your friends to sign and re-post.
Many thanks from the bottom of my heart, and blessings for taking the time to read my message.
Respectively, Harold 
Harold L. Smith
DOC # 81050 Unit A4-4
Buena Vista Minimum Correctional
PO Box 2005
Buena Vista Colorado 81211
Let Our Voices Echo 