Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story!

More than 125 people turned out for the premiere screening of HFP’s new film— Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story! Our second annual film festival, aptly titled Voices of Humanity, began with a catered Italian dinner in the Central Park Place ballroom in Grand Haven. After the dishes were cleared, delightful music was provided by the fine Grand Rapids based gospel group, The James Family Singers.

Among the numerous displays in the ballroom was an exhibit prepared by the HFP staff, showing complimentary cards and letters received from our clients for services provided in a kind and compassionate manner. The evening could not have ended better than with the brief, emotional observation from Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge, Gary C. Giguere, Jr., who had served as Michigan counsel in the Maurice Carter effort 20 years ago. As a special guest of HFP, the Honorable Gary Giguere said this about his involvement in the Carter case:

It made me a better lawyer,

It made be a better judge,

It made me a better person!

From the Desk of Doug

Marla Mitchell-Cichon

She makes it happen!

I have known Marla for years as a good friend. I knew that, before she retired, she did a wonderful job as director of Michigan’s well-known Cooley Innocence Project. I’m well aware of the face that she is regarded as a distinguished attorney among her peers. What I didn’t know is that she never gives up!

Some 5 years ago my son Matt, who at that time was HFP’s CEO, wanted to give me a special birthday present. He contacted Marla, who serves on our Board of Directors, to ask if there was anything that could be done to clear the name of the late Maurice Carter. Though innocent, Maurice had spent 29 years in prison.

Well, that started it!

For the next several years, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Mitchell coached U of M law students on how to prepare an application for Maurice’s pardon. That application was filed with the Michigan Parole Board in July.

She didn’t stop there. In her opinion the Carter story, which led to the formation of HFP and ended with a request to the Governor for a pardon, would make an excellent documentary. She even assisted in obtaining funding to accomplish that goal.

HFP’s 2024 film festival feature would not have happened without the persistence of Marla Mitchell-Cichon!

Any job very well done that has been carried out by a person who is fully dedicated is always a source of inspiration.

— Carlos Ghos

Wrongful Conviction Observance

October 2, 2024, marks the 11th annual International Wrongful Conviction Day. This year's theme is The Pursuit of Truth. The first International Wrongful Conviction Day was launched on October 2, 2014. Ever since that day, cities around the world have annually recognized the date to honor those who are wrongfully convicted. Landmarks across the U.S. and Canada illuminate in yellow and white on the 2nd to draw attention to this important day of recognition and validation. It was a Michigan wrongful conviction that eventually led to the formation of HFP!

Musings of an HFP Whistleblower

Dog Handlers: Five dog handlers, or 25% of our group, are slurping spud juice and/or using drugs. Craziest part is we're supposedly picked for being the best-behaved part of the population. So, imagine what the majority of this place's denizens are like!

Addiction: I want to be charitable, and I certainly thank God I've never been addicted to anything, but having to live around these guys who'd sell their souls for one more high while their bodies rot is asking too much given how much thieving and other problems they bring. Some of these guys are time bombs with fuses so small just the thought of a spark will set them off. I have no desire to be in their or anyone else's path of destruction.

Prison Staff: I miss the days when guards cared about their job, or at least knew how to do it. I mentioned this to my bunkie and he laughed, saying we've been in too long when we know how the place is supposed to run over this new breed of staff.

Life in Prison: Four concrete walls forming a box, with thick bars in the small window, and a door with shatterproof glass so everyone can stare at me all day long. Yeah, sure says "home sweet home" to me. Not!!!

Friend of HFP Honored!

On Tuesday, September 24th, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame honored award-winning journalist, national bestselling author, and beloved professor, Alex Kotlowitz, with the Fuller Award for his lifetime achievements! The event highlighted Kotlowitz's lasting importance as one of our greatest storytellers. He was the 17th author to receive this prestigious award! Alex, a personal friend of HFP Founder, Doug Tjapkes, and the late Maurice Carter, is currently a professor at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, where he’s been teaching since 1999. While in Benton Harbor researching in preparation for his famous book, The Other Side of the River, he repeatedly heard reference to the name of Maurice Carter. Later, Doug Tjapkes learned of this connection and made contact with the author. The rest is history. They became best friends, and Kotlowitz traveled to Ottawa County upon Maurice’s release to meet him in person. He was featured several years ago in HFP's Author Series, and he makes a personal appearance in our new documentary—Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story. Our congratulations to a fine writer and beautiful friend!

Upcoming Events from our Partners!

Expungement Clinic Registrations

• Benton Harbor: Click here!
• Lansing: Click here!
• Inkster: Click here!

We aren’t living here to be remembered or to win elections. We’re living here to be caretakers of goodness and love and justice and decency, so that those coming 100 years from now, those whose names and faces we'll never know—will find these things waiting for them.

 ― John Pavlovitz