To Whom it Concerns,

How are you? I PRAY that you ALL are doing Good and that my letter finds you guys in Great Spirits!!

THANK YOU for the News Letter that I just received!! I will Look forward to receiving updates through your News Letters.

There are a few concerning things that has happened in the State of Illinois that are directly Affecting ALL the Real Jailhouse Lawyers.

First, in December 2021, I Graduated from Blackstone Paralegal Institute where I earned a Certificate in Paralegal/Legal Assistance. So I am Super Proud of what I've done. And I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my pursuit. to further my education.

The problem that has came up is that on April 11, 2022, Blackstone issued a letter on our tablets, saying that it has come to thier attention that their Paralegal Program examinations have been "Compromised" in Illinois State Corrections. And that to combat that, moving forward they will require a student to take a "Final examination" conducted by a "Proctor".

My Aunt called the lady we was in contact with when I was a Student, she told her that it was infact someone from IDOC (a Staff Member) who "Tiped" them off that Students were cheating on their exams. And it was the same Person who offered the idea of using a "Proctor" for the Testing.

You see, the problem with this is, IDOC DOES NOT care if People are cheating. What they care about is the 180 days Good Time they was "Required" to give out for successfully completing the Blackstone Program due to the New Law Passed by the Illinois Lawmakers (Earned Program Sentence Program Credit) Personal, NO Body EVER told me about the 180 Days Good Time for successully completeing the Program. I NEVER found out until Blackstone issued thier letter. But anyways, the whole issue is the 180 days that IDOC DOES NOT want to give out, it has NOTHING to do with anything else !!

In 2018, I was told I could NOT enroll in the College that IDOC has a contract with for the Illinois Prisons due to my Life Sentence. So I reached out to Universities and Colleges that offer Degree Programs through the Mail. Which there is quite a Few who offer that. But they ALL REQUIRE

a "Proctor". So I reached out to my Correctional Counselor, the Warden and then had to write a Grievance because they told me NO on getting me a "Proctor". So I even went to the Governor's Office, ultimately, I was told that Illinois DOES NOT Offer "Proctors", and have NOT since about 1998.

So the point is, that IDOC has Successfully Eliminated the Blackstone Paralegal Program from the State of Illinois. The IDOC have reached out to Blackstone telling them a buch of BS and have Successfully Eliminated the Program all because of the 180 days Good Time.

We desperatley NEED Advocates to Fight this Suppression of Education and to get the word out there to the world of what they are doing here in Illinois !! Please Help us !!

Also, I'm going to Launch an Advocacy Group for Illinois Inmates and thier Loved One's. I'm taking my Success in getting Inmates Relief on thier Criminal Cases to the next Level. I found a willing Partner and together we will be offering Professional Level Assistance for Post-Trial Motions and Petitions for Drastically less than Illinois Attonerney's are charging. These Greedy Attorney's are charging any where from $6,500 - $15,000 in Illinois for Post-Trial Motions. Majority of Inmates and thier Loved One's CANNOT afford that and forces them to reach out to "Jailhouse Lawyers", a Gamble in of it's self here in Illinois. Alot of the so-called Jailhouse Lawyers in Illinois are ONLY after Money. So needless to say, there is a VOID in Illinois for someone to offer a Service in which we are going to. Once it is Launched, I will have my Partner Contact you. I am also , I believe, will be targeted by IDOC for Helping Inmates and thier Loved One's through out the State. So I would ask you to PLEASE keep tabs on me and Advocate for me when they try to shut me down.

I like to think of myself as a Freedom Fighter. So while I'm Fighting my Wrongful Convition, I'm HELPING ALL those I can on my way out !! And since doing Legal Work and HELPING Inmates Fight their Cases is a Passion and my Lifes Calling, I Plan on pursuing a Law Degree once I'm released so I can not only HELP Inmates with Post-Trial Motions, but would be able to actually go into a Court Room and Argue the Case too !!

THANK YOU for your Service !! We NEED People like you out there !! I Look forward from hearing back from you and if you have ANY questions PLEASE ASK ok !! Again, THANK YOU for Everything !! PLEASE Tell Everyone I said Hi and THANK YOU too !!

4-30-2022

CRAIG HERRICK

To: Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative c/o Tyler Walton, Eaq. 7-19-2022

From: Craig Herrick [Redacted] IL [Redacted]

Re: Seeking Educational Opportunities at New York University School of Law

To whom it concerns,

Hi there, how are you? I pray that your doing fine and that my letter finds you in Good Spirits !!

I just recieved your latest Module

THANK You ... I always look forward to learning everything I can to expand my

Knowledge regarding the Law !!

This brings me to a Question for you and the New York University School of LAW...Does the New York University School of Law offer any Programs and / or a Degree Program through the Mail to Prisoner's like Me ??

(1)

Education is very Important to me !! My Goal is to eventually earn a LAW Degree.

I want to be an Attorney one day after I'm released from Prison. But while I am

in Prison I'm trying to use my time to pursue my Education!!

I have been able to get my GED while here in Prison. At another institution I was able to enroll in College where I earned 12

College credits. However, I was Transfered to another Institution and I'm unable to enroll

in their college programs that they offer here. But I did Not let that stop me from

Pursuing my Education !! I ended up enrolling in the Black Stone Paralegal Program

Where I was Able to earn a Certificate when I Graduated. I'm sending you a copy of it.

Now I'm Seeking Colleges and Universities who offer a Degree program for Prisoner's through the mail. I have access to a "Proctor" who can give me the exams.

As I Understand it, in July 2023, Prisoner's will have Access to PELL Fronts in order to pursue their Education.

(2)

So in that light, I'm seeking a College or a University who will be a Good fit for me and offer a Degree Program that I would want to obtain.

As I said, I want to earn a Law Degree. That is my Goal. So I would like to know if your University, since it is a school of LAW, offers a program that I can enroll in to earn a Law Degree ?? Or if Not would your University Consider offering a Program for Prisoner's like me to earn a Law Degree from your University?

I'm making a Serious Request to further my Education and a Genuine desire to earn a Law Degree. In that regard, I would appreciate your HELP in Advocating On not only my behalf, but also for other Prisoner's across our Country who also would like to earn a LAW Degree, to the New York University School of LAW to consider a Program for Prisoners to earn a Law Degree through their University!!

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding my pursuit of a Law Degree. I also want to THANK You for your Time, Advocacy

and HELP !! THANK YOU

Craig

(3)

Blackstone Career Institute

Awards this Certificate in Legal Assistant/Paralegal

upon

Craig A. Herrick

who has fulfilled all the requirements prescribed by the School and is entitles to all of the honors, rights and privileges thereunto appertaining.

In Testumony Whereof this recognition of achievement is given this 5th day of January 2022

[Signature]

President

[Signature]

Director of Education

Blackstone Career Institute

PO Box 3717, Allentown, PA 18106-3717

Student Transcript

31 Lesson Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate Program

915 Clock Hours

Student: Craig A Herrick [Redacted]

Address: [Redacted] IL [Redacted]

Student Number: 08044089

Enrollment Date: 08/17/2020

Completion Date: 01/05/2022

Status Date: 01/05/2022

Student Status: Graduated

Text/Subject Date Completed Grade

Lesson: 1

Introduction to Law 09/14/2020 70

Contract Part I 09/02/2020 80

Contracts Part II 09/02/2020 90

Contracts Part III 09/02/2020 90

Lesson 2 :

Law of Torts Part I 11/11/2020 95

Law of Torts Part II 11/11/2020 85

Law of TOrts Part III 11/09/2020 95

Law of Torts Part IV 11/09/2020 95

Lesson: 3

Criminal Law Part I 12/07/2020 95

Criminal Law Part II 12/07/2020 95

Lesson: 4

Real Property Part I 02/25/2021 90

Real Property Part II 02/25/2021 90

Lesson: 5

Real Property Part III 03/22/2021 90

Real Property Part II 03/22/2021 90

Lesson: 6

Pleadings in Civil Action Part I 03/22/2021 90

Pleadings in Civil Actions Part II 03/22/2021 95

Practice in Civil Actions 03/22/2021 100

Criminal Procedure 03/22/2021 100

Lesson 7:

Wills Part I 03/22/2021 100

Wills Part II 03/22/2021 85

Trusts 03/22/2021 75

Lesson: 8

Law of Private Corporations 08/02/2021 100

Law of Partnerships Part I 08/02/2021 100

Law of Partnerships Part II 08/02/2021 100

Lesson: 9

Constitutional Law Part I 08/10/2021 95

Constitutional Law Part II 08/10/2021 95

Lesson: 10

Constitutional Law Part III 08/10/2021 90

Lesson: 11

Legal Research Part I 11/30/2021 100

Lesson: 12

Legal Research Part II 11/30/2021 100

Lesson: 13

Employability Skills 12/01/2021 100

Lesson: 14

Ethics 11/30/2021 100

Student Average: 92.74% **Final** This Document Issued: 01/05/2022

Blackstone Career Institute

By: [Redacted] B.S., M. Ed.

TO: Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative

FROM: CRAIG HERRICK [Redacted]

To Whom it Concerns,

How are you? I PRAY that my letter finds you in Good Spirits and that you're doing fine !!

I recieved your last packet and in it you had a "Permission" document for you to use any or All of my letters. I am including it filled out back to you guys. I'm Not for sure if there is anything useful for you to use from me because I really do not complain about alot of things that happen to me, but instead seek out Solutions to the Problems.

You have paired me with a Pen Pal named [Redacted]. I'm excited about that because for a long time every where I've been transfered or moved to it's like I'm on an Island by myself. There simply is NO One around me who is at my level regarding the study of the Law or understands my ideas.. So this gives me someone to talk to, share my ideas and also to Teach what I've learned. I do Plan on sharing ALL my ideas and what I've personally learned through the "Crucible" off Real Trial Court Hearings. If in the event she want to share with you my letters to her with you, then you have my "Permission" to utilize anything that I have written to her. I can Only imagine that the information that I will be sharing with [Redacted] can Help others too !!

I do have a Question that I've asked you guys before but have Not recieved any Answer to. Can you guys Advocate for us Jailhouse Lawyers who want to pursue a Law Degree to seek Enrollment into Your New York School of Law ?? Starting July 1, 2023, the Federal Government has lifted the BAN on "Pell Grants" which allows inmates like me to pursue College Degree's. I have already been "Officially Admitted" to Upper Iowa University to pursue an Assocaite's Degree in Criminal Justice. I decided this route because there simply is NO Law School willing to allow me to enroll. You guys could be the First Law School in a Long time to allow inmates, i.e. Jailhouse Lawyers, to earn a Law Degree. This Action would be the Ultimate Action that demonstrates that those of us who are incarcerated and are Serious about changing our lives and have a Passion to Help others are also worthy and NOT as Most of Society believes are a waste of energy or compassion !! Please let me know if this is a possibility !!

1

It is my Greatest Desire to earn a Law Degree !! If you guys can Advocate for others like me ... well we would Forever be in debted to you guys !! THANK YOU !!

I look forward to your next packet. Until then, again, THANK YOU for your Time, Attention and HELP regarding my Fight for Education and Freedom !!

DATED: 4-2-2023

CRAIG HERRICK [Redacted]

2

May 30, 2024

TO: Darren Breeden

Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative

Please forward This TO Darren Breeden! THANK YOU!

TO : Mr. Darren Breeden, Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative

FROM: CRAIG HERRICK

MAY 30th, 2024

[Redacted]

[Redacted] IL [Redacted]

May 30th, 2024

Dear Sir,

How are you? I Pray that your doing fine and that my letter, Documents and Request seeking your Aid finds you in Good Spirits!

First, I would like to make sure that you correct my Address to the above New Address. Unforseen circumstances lead me to be Transferred to [Redacted]. So Any and All mail coming from you guys are being drastically delayed. And Now I'm Facing even More Retaliation here due to my Advocacy work. However, that will Never Stop me from Helping People Who Need it the Most !! You know, I like to say that Martin Luther King Jr. said it the Best when he Proclaimed that, "It is Always the Right Time to do What's Right!" !! As such, that is my mind set No matter what!

I want to Thank You for your Personal Letter that you wrote to me Dated July 12, 2023. Ves, I know, it has been a long time. And I do Appoligize, but it's been a very Difficult Journey since I recieved your letter.

Your Letter about your experience in Prison and how you came through it and on this side Resonated Profoundly with me. Mainly because what you've been through and what you have Achieved is exactly what I have set as my Goal. So to hear from Someone who has been there and done it, as they say, especially when I thought I was Alone is Deeply Comforting! THANK YOU for your sharing your Personal Journey with me !!

Since I recieved your letter, I've been doing alot of things, as I call it "R" n "D" or Research and Development. So it is my understanding that I Need to earn a Bachelor's Degree in order to pursue a Law Degree. Am I Correct! From this understanding, I was originally accepted as a Full time Student at Upper Iowa University to earn an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice. However, I had to re-apply because my original application time had expired. So when I re-newed my application, I changed my Degree Program to a Bachelor's Degree and am Majoring in Criminal Justice. I'm sending you the Work Sheet from Upper Iowa University regarding the Classes that I Need to take and the Credit they gave me for my previous work.

In your letter you said at the end that you would support me in my efforts to attend Law School to the Degree that you could. As such, I'm writing you seeking your Help and Aid in that endeavor.

CONTINUED ON BACK

1

I really do Not have Anyone that I can count on to Help me in my pursuit for my Education. I have done Everything that I can by myself and now I'm in Serious Need of Help and am Hoping that you will be able to Help me get my Educational Journey started !!

I'm also sending you a copy of my "Student Aid Report" for the Federal Aid that I applied for in the form of the Secondary PELL GRANT that is Now available for incarcerated individuals. However, as you can see from the letter that I recieved from Upper Towa University, they have Not Recieved "Approval" from the United States Department of Education to use the "PELL GRANTS".

I Need Help in communicating with the United States Department of Education to get them to give Upper lowa University Approval and I have No One who can or is willing to Help me. I have myself wrote letters to the Department of Education, but it seems my letters have fallen on Deaf Ears.

I'm seeking your Help and Aid in trying to get the Department of Education to Allow me to use my "PELL GRANT" at lipper Towa University. Can you Help me !!

I understand that you are based at New York School of Laws and my Request might seem like a Conflict, but I Hope that you do Not see it that way for several reasons.

First, before I can enroll in Law School, I have to earn a Bachelors Degree. Once I do that, it is my intention to enroll at NYU to earn my Low Degree. Now, I currently have a Life Sentence, however, I do have a few issues in Court and I will be resentenced from 20-60 years. It is my Attorney's intent to get me resentenced to "Time Served" in exchange for foregoing Criminal Charges against the State's Attorney for Committing Fraud upon the Courts, amongst other charges. But we'll see. But with this being said, I already have a Job lined up as a Paralegal for an Attorney and I want to begin my Bachelors Degree in here and finish it out there when I get out. Because I am connected with NYU through the Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative I have a sense of Loyalty to the School and want to go there to earn my Law Degree.

For all the above Reasons, will you Please Help me in my pursuit of my Education? Can you Please Help me Communicate with the Department of Education and Push them to give Upper Towa University "Approval" to use the PELL GRANTS for incarcerated individuals ??

I want to THANK YOU for your Time, Assistance and HELP regarding my Request for HELP! I know that your Super Busy so it means alot to me! Also, I know this might seem abnormal, but since your letter to me I Now know that what I'm trying to Accomplish can be done, you've did it, and I know that I'm Not One off and I'm Not Alone ... but would you consider being a "Mentor" to me ?? It's like I'm on an island by myself with No One to talk to on relate to who understands on on the Level I'm on !! THANK YOU! I Look forward to your letter in the Near Future! CRAIG !!

[Signature]

1

UPPER IOWA -UNIVERSITY-

December 12, 2023

[Redacted] ATTN: Craig Herrick [Redacted]

Dear Craig,

We received your new application for the Self-Paced Degree Program, and your application file is already complete as we have all your official transcripts (Lake Land College & Blackstone Career Institute) on file. Additionally, the FERPA form you had completed for your first application expires based on the end permissions date you granted your FERPA Contact. Your FERPA Permissions for Marsha Herrick ends on 12-15-2026, as this was the date you indicated the permissions would end. You can always update the end date on the permissions anytime during your enrollment at UIU by completing a new FERPA Permissions Form.

Enclosed with this letter you will find an official advising worksheet for your Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree plan, as well as a registration form if you are looking to register for the upcoming session in the Self-Paced Program in the 23-24 Academic Year.

The advising worksheet is your official tool to help you determine what courses you need to take to complete your degree program. As you register for and complete classes, keep tallies on what you need left to complete your degree. You will have an academic advisor assigned to you to assist with registering for class.

Reviewing your advising worksheet:

When you are reviewing your Advising Worksheet, you will see the courses that you have taken are checked off by a check mark and the ones you need to take are with a X. The number of credits applied is indicated on the first page underneath the Summary Information. Please review your Advising We sheet and contact us with any questions.

Financial Aid:

It is at this time incarcerated students are not eligible for Financial Aid (Pell Grant) at Upper Iowa University. If new information is released by the U.S. Department of Education regarding an update on Financial Aid/Pell Grant for incarcerated students at UIU. Our Financial Aid Office will send out information to UIU students once we have been notified,

In order to offer federal financial aid to incarcerated students, a school must have approval from the Department of Education. At this time, Upper Iowa University does not have that approval. We are unsure if this is something that we will be able to offer incarcerated students in the future. So, unfortunately, we will not be able to award you any federal aid to assist with paying your tuition.

If you'd like to enroll in the Self-Paced Program at this time, you will have to pay out of pocket for the course(s). UIU also offers payment plans students can enroll in. Payment plans are setup

with the Business Office. UIU's Self-Paced courses are $330 per semester credit and each class is three semester credits so it is $990 per class for the 23/24 academic year. Books will be in addition this and will be the responsibility of the student to purchase. The average cost of books is $125 - $175 per course.

Payment Plans:

> Upper Iowa University is excited to provide an opportunity for students to pay educational expenses by setting up an interest-free monthly payment plan that is available to all students. Payments plans allow students to distribute the costs of education over a period of time rather than paying large lump sums all at once. Payment plans are due by the scheduled due date as specified on the payment plan. Payments not received by the scheduled due dates will be subject to a $25 late fee for each overdue payment. Payment plans must be in place by the Wednesday before the start of the session.

>Self-Paced students are offered 4 month or 6-month payment plans. UIU's Self-Paced courses are $330 per semester credit and each class is three semester credits so it is $990 per class for the 23/24 academic year.

An example of the 6-month plan-

If the student were enrolled in one 3 credit class they would be paying $165 each month towards their bill at UIU with the 6 month payment plan.

> Students interested in learning more about the payment plans or setting up a payment plan, should contact the Office of Student Accounts directly by calling 1-800-553-4150 or email [email protected]

REGISTRATION

Our next Self-Paced Session 34 (February) will go from February 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024. Registration closes January 28, 2023. To register for your first class(es), please fill out the attach registration form or have your FERPA Contact reach out to us.

Here are your recommended courses: You can begin with up to 2 courses

ENG 101: English Composition 1 SOC 110: Principles of Sociology (required major course)

Let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

UIU Admissions Office Upper lowa University 605 Washington Street | PO Box 1857 | Fayette, IA 52142 Toll Free: 1-800-553-4150