My father, Jeff Mizanskey, has served over 21 years of a life sentence for nonviolent marijuana offenses under Missouri's three-strikes-law. He's now in his 60s and because Governor Jay Nixon has refused to grant him clemency, Missouri lawmakers introduced a bill that would free anybody serving a life sentence for marijuana in the state. My dad is the only one.
My father has been in prison since he was 41. His parents - my grandparents - have since passed. While my dad has been trapped behind bars, generations of kids and grandkids have been born into our family who have never even met the man.
The State of Missouri spends roughly $22,000/year to keep him locked up. Meanwhile all my dad wants to do is be a productive part of society, work and pay taxes, be with his family.