Judy Henderson – Pardoned After 35 Years; and Beauty For Ashes – Faith In Transitioning Prisoners

Judy Henderson – Pardoned After 35 Years

Judy Henderson and her boyfriend at the time Greg Cruzan were charged with the 1981 murder of a jewelry store owner in Springfield, MO. Henderson wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger yet she got 50 years and Cruzan got acquitted. Since 2004 three different Governors had denied her appeals for Clemency. The in 2018 just before leaving office Governor Greitens granted her the relief she had been seeking after his office had reviewed her case and came to the conclusion that not only did the prosecution benefit from bribed witnesses, but Henderson’s original lawyer concealed from her a possible plea deal in order to aid his other client — Henderson’s boyfriend, who allegedly did the actual killing.

Host Latahra Smith talks with Judy about her wrongful conviction, the Governor Greitens Pardon and her drive to help other wrongfully convicted citizens come home.

National Council of Formerly incarcerated Women and Girls – https://www.nationalcouncil.us/

Beauty For Ashes – Faith In Transitioning Prisoners –

Since the beginning, Beauty for Ashes Ministry has followed their vision to reduce recidivism by providing Christ centered programs that prepare offenders for reentry by focusing on: Inner healing of past wounds, Discipleship through the study of God’s word, and Life skills and mentoring Successful home plans that include a community of support
The ministry has built strong relationships with numerous organizations and individuals that work with the offenders once they return home.

They are looking to partner with Churches and individuals through their Oaks Of Righteousness program and more to mentor within and outside the prison walls, teach a trade, support for children of inmates and minister to those who need a positive, stable message. Host Melvin Merritt talks with Gina Hanna about the work of Beauty For Ashes inside and outside the walls as well as how you can be involved in rebuilding the lives of those who are incarcerated.

Beauty For Ashes Contact –
Gina Hanna 816-72-2803
email – [email protected]
website – http://www.bfa-ministry.org/

The JoJR Calendar for the week of June 10th

Corey’s Network invites survivors of murder to their weekly workshops to learn how to deal with grief, the media, police investigations, court, and moving forward after a homicide has occurred. This is a workshop, not a grief group. You should bring something to take notes with and please include only those individuals mature enough in age to deal with issues being covered during the meeting. The next workshop, How To Deal With The Media, will be held tonight, Monday June 10th from 6 to 8 PM at the Church of the Four Corners, 14300 E. US HWY 40, KCMO. The church is located East of the HyVee at 40 Hwy and Noland Rd. For more information and listing of future workshops call 816-834-9161 or email [email protected] or look for Corey’s Network on Face Book.
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You are invited to join NORML KC on Wednesday, June 12th, from 4 to 6pm at Plexpod, 300 E. 39th Street, KCMO (39th and McGee) to talk to city leaders about the buffer zone for medical marijuana dispensaries. Councilman Jermaine Reed has proposed an ordinance of 750ft away from schools, daycares and churches. Article XIV (14), legalizing medical marijuana prohibits placing an undue burden on patients accessing their medicine. Some feel the proposed buffer zone would constitute an undue burden on the patients of Kansas City and are proposing a buffer zone of 300 ft or less.
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Human Trafficking: Today’s Slavery a speech by Victor Boutros founding director and CEO of the Virginia-based Human Trafficking Institute will be held at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, June 11, at the Plaza Branch Library, 4801 Main St, KCMO. Mr. Boutros,, will examine the modern scourge of human trafficking that claims hundreds of thousands of victims in the US, more than 40 million worldwide and efforts to combat it.
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The Prison Story Project presents On the Row, Stories from Arkansas Death Row Inmates – a Scripted Reading of the stories of 10 men on Arkansas’s Death Row, Thursday, June 13th, 7:30 pm at St. Pauls’ Episcopal Church, 11 E 40th St, (40th and Main) KCMO. This content is for mature audiences and may not be appropriate for children. You can find out more about the Prison Story Project at their website http://www.nwaprisonstories.com/
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The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls is sponsoring a postcard campaign to all 50 Governors urging them to use their clemency power to release women incarcerated in their state who are elderly, criminalized survivors of violence, enduring sentences of more than 10 years, and/or living with long-term or life-threatening illnesses, and all girls incarcerated in juvenile detention centers. If you would like to find out more about this campaign and how you can send postcards to the Governor of your state.
The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls is sponsoring a postcard campaign to all 50 Governors urging them to use their clemency power to release women incarcerated in their state who are elderly, criminalized survivors of violence, enduring sentences of more than 10 years, and/or living with long-term or life-threatening illnesses, and all girls incarcerated in juvenile detention centers. If you would like to find out more about this campaign and how you can send postcards to the Governor of your state.

National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
Website – https://www.nationalcouncil.us/

Sample Script –

Dear Governor [ ], I urge you to use your clemency power to release women incarcerated in our state who are elderly, criminalized survivors of violence, enduring sentences of more than 10 years, and/or living with long-term or life-threatening illnesses, and all girls incarcerated in juvenile detention centers. Meaningful criminal justice reform must include clemency. #FreeHer.

Info for postcards to Governor –
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5XY2QZoybVTxndgDjebzBl-HlbhKEgMvwDE2BV0aN5RjWkQ/viewform

Send postcards to –
Office of Governor Michael L. Parson
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Phone: (573) 751-3222
Fax: (573) 751-1495

Send postcards to Governor of Kansas –

Office of Governor Laura Kelly
Capitol, 300 SW 10th Ave., Ste. 241S
Topeka, KS 66612-1590

Toll Free: 877-KSWORKS (877-579-6757)
Local: 785-296-3232

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