Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: G, 1965-1970. A-71, folder 597. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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Jan 7, 1966

Dear Dr. Van Waters

I am an inmate here at Walpole State Prison serving three on & after sentences.

I came upon your address from another inmate who had a problem, as I do, & you were able to see his problem in a far different light than did all others. My hope is that you may also seem y problem as you have his. I am ignorant to the ways of the court & feel that I have been subject to its darkest side.

Perhaps if I can impose upon you, I may be able to express what I feel has been a severe hand of justice.

At any rate, my appeal to you for help remains the only hope I have left.

I was on parole from a 6-8 year sentence for breaking & entering in the night time when I heard that the police were looking for me. I didn't know why but, I became panicy & started thinking crazy. I stole a car & got caught. When I

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went to court, I was informed that I had other charges placed against me. The charges were, contributing to the deliquence of a minor, & an unnatural act. I wasn't sure just what was what but I was told that if I saved the state the time & money that I would receive a five year sentence. If I tried to fight it I was informed that I would get the maximum of ten years for stealing the car. I knew that they could do this so I did indeed plead guilty. After pleading guilty with the promise of receiving no more than five years, the judge announced in the court - "Have you been promised anything by anyone at all here in this court room"? Naturally I had to say no. Then when I ever heard him read out the sentences to be served on & after one another & the amount of time I was getting. I was completely unable to believe my ears. The sentences handed down were 3 1/2 - 5 years for unnatural act to start after the 6-8 I was serving & 5-8 for using a car without

orthority to be served on & after the 3 1/2 - 5 years. A total of 13 1/2 - 21 years. I immediately appealed to the appclit court. Several months went by & I finaly went before the appclit court. A few weeks latter I received notice from the court that they could do nothing for me. I lost all hope then & didn't care much about anything until today when I was discussing my sentence with another inmate who has found you to be one of the few people that take on an itnerest in people that are destitude or in other ways unable to help themselves. It is too bad that people like yourself are so few & far between. Perhaps your close relationship with inmates of prisons has given you the insight that all judges should have before being given the task of determining a man or woman stay in prisons. Surely if some was understood about how prisons can change a persons life, the judge would indeed hesitate in handing down some of the severe sentances he

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now feels are just.

Perhaps my letter seems a bit greedy. I am not sure. But if so, I had not intended it to be. I merely dont know where to start or where to turn & was given a little hope that you may be able to show me where I might have something to hope for.

I havent explained very much here on, as this letter wouldh ave been too lengthy. Also I am not sure that you may not already be to busy with something far more important to be able to hep me. If in any way you are able to help me in any way at all, I would deeply appreciate it & would feel indebted to you for new hope on life.

Thank you very much for any & everything & the time & consideration you've taken in reading this.

I Remain Respectfully

Richard Gingras