Greetings,

My name is Roman Lee Jones. I am currently housed at . My sentence is two hundred and twenty five years. I have been incarcerated since (1995) this is my first and only convictions. Since my incarceration I have studied and learned the law and digest a large part of Rules/ Statutes / Codes basically you name it I read it. At the moment I am currently working on a
Successive Post Conviction Petition. In Indiana the three prisons I was at have no paralegal Training period. The law clecks teach and help one another. To make things even worse the staff place in the law library have no training in law or any experience in the justice system period.

My work status is Iam a Law Library Clerk that
have helped hundreds of people with their cases. One of the challenges that I have is that lack of current material. The program the Department of Correction has chosen to us is Lexus Nexis. In which it is always four months
behind on material. I would love to be involved in any paralegal training and give in put on how certain aspects of the law should be studied. I have a Bachelors Degree from Ball State University with A minor in Criminal Justice.

My mind is always open on New Avenues to challenge sentences,
Criminal Convictions, and working to obtain freedom as well as uphold our constitutional Rights.

I humbly await a response a reply. Thank you very much.
Roman Lee Jones

Rodney Derrickson,#CW6633
SCI Forest
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733

November 6, 2023

Jhody Polk
Founder and Director
Jailhouse Lawyer Initiative
at the Bernstein Institute for Human Rights
139 MacDougal St., B22
New York, NY 10012

Dear Jhody,

My name is Rodney Derrickson. I'm from Pennsylvania and currently incarcerated at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (The mailing address listed above is a contracted mail company that electronically sends our mail to prison staff here in Pennsylvania).

I am elated to become a member of JLI, and really look forward to connecting with you and other staff, and student volunteers.
I am really impressed with your dedication to this project and I want you to know if there's any support that I can offer from the state of Pennsylvania just let me know.

I read your open letter to all jailhouse lawyers and feel your passion and vision for how you see us as needed fixtures within the prison walls, and your plight to provide jailhouse lawyers a voice and resources.

I am also familiar with the Justice Defenders organization in Africa, and learned about the innovative work they're doing for the jailhouse lawyers there many years ago, and when I read you went to visit that program and also working to bring it here, I said THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT !!!

I also saw where you mentioned that JLI is in conversation with Columbia University Law School on ways in which JLI can help revise the Jailhouse Lawyers Manual, and how JLI members can also be paid consultants in the rethinking and writing process! That's real, and to be honest with you, I'm not seeing people who were once inside talking like you're talking so I'm feeling your visions for sure.
I also said that same after reading Darren's powerful open letter to us, too many are not talking the kind of talk with the actual action behind it!

So here's a little more background on me, I'm a jailhouse lawyer (with nearly 24 years of litigation experience), criminal justice reform advocate, Peer Support Specialist, and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) , facilitator. I also facilitate Emotional Intelligence workshops here at the prison!
I am the founder, and director of the Prisoners' Lives Matter Pennsylvania which is an online campaign that advocates for the humane treatment, transformative rehabilitation, educational opportunities and second chances for all prisoners. Follow up @prisonerslivesmatterpa (Instagram/Facebook), and @PLMPACampaign (Twitter).

I am also the subject of a student lead campaign called Bring Rodney Home, which is a campaign that seeks to expose my wrongful conviction. For more about my story view BringRodneyHome.com and follow our social media platforms @bringrodneyhome (Instagram/Facebook), and TeamDerrickson (Twitter).

I am also a resentenced juvenile lifer, and resentenced to 30-years to life which will make me eligible to see the parole board next year after serving 30-years of an unjust and wrongful conviction!

As I said, I'm excited to support this project and I'm proud to become a member of JLI, and I'm looking forward to learning more and sharing some great ideas with the team moving forward!
I'm proud of your achievements with this project, and I commend you on all you're doing and I wish you the best in completing your undergraduate degree!
Staff, and students at JLI can message me through connectnetwork.com, under the prison location Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and enter my name Rodney Derrickson and Inmate No. CW6633.

I'm enclosing a copy of my resume, and portfolio. I now will have to update each to include my JLI's membership: )
I'll be returning my answers to the questionnaires, and prompts ASAP!
Take it easy, and one day at a time!
In solidarity and support,
Rodney Shaheed Derrickson
enclosures