Action Alert to Support Parole for Janet & Janine: June 25 – 27

On Saturday, June 16, MOVE member Debbie Africa was released on parole from State Correctional Institution (SCI) Cambridge Springs after 39 years and 10 months of incarceration. 

Fellow MOVE members Janet and Janine Africa, however, were denied parole despite having virtually identical Department of Corrections records as Debbie. [Information on how to take action below.]

Janet, Janine, and Debbie all:
– Have gone more than 20 years without a misconduct for any rule violation
– Were recommended for parole by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
– Were recommended for parole by former PA DOC Secretary Martin Horn
– Were recommended for parole by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
– It is beyond dispute that Debbie, Janet and Janine present zero threat to public safety

The Parole Board has denied them the opportunity to return home based on unlawful factors. Claiming the two minimized the offense and did not express remorse, the Board ignored the only relevant assessment under Pennsylvania law: that the two do not present a threat to public safety.
The Parole Board also lied, claiming that Janet and Janine received the negative recommendation of the prosecuting attorney, when in truth Philadelphia’s District Attorney, Larry Krasner, recommended all three women – Debbie, Janet, and Janine – for parole, his office stating that it “was “confident” that Janet and Janine “will not pose a threat to the Philadelphia community” and that their “continued incarceration does not make our city safer.”

Take Action – Call the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons and Parole Chairman Leo Dunn:
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole: 717-787-5699 – Ask for Chairman Leo Dunn’s office
Send Email message: ra-pbppopc@pa.gov 

Talking Points:
– Janet and Janine have not had any rule violation in more than 20 years
– Each has the support of the DOC, former DOC Secretary and nationally-renowned corrections expert Martin Horn, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
– Janet and Janine do not present a threat to public safety and should be released just like Debbie
– The Board must stop making political decisions in the MOVE cases: when judged on their record in the DOC and community support Janet and Janine have a right to be released

Demand:
– That Leo Dunn agree to have the Board reconsider its denial
– Grant Janet and Janine Africa release on parole