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Right now, five adults await death in prison for non-violent, marijuana-related crimes. Their names are John Knock, Paul Free, Larry Duke, William Dekle, and Charles “Fred” Cundiff. They are all more than 60 years old; they have all spent at least 15 years locked up for selling pot; and they are all what one might call model prisoners, serving life without parole. As time wrinkles their skin and weakens their bodies, Michael Kennedy of the Trans High Corporation has filed a legal petition with the federal government seeking their clemency.

A spokesman for Gov. John Lynch stressed yesterday that a plan is in place to deal with violent offenders when they are freed from state prison under the new law mandating parole nine months before the end of a maximum sentence.

Ryan Holle, 25, convicted of murder, is serving life without the chance of parole at the Wakulla Correctional Institution in Florida.

In the same county as the Sheriff sitting in the facility named after him, we also find that most "habitual offenders" commit non-violent crimes. In fact, more are "habitual offenders" for drugs, parole or bail violations than for violent crimes.

More Arrests for Pot than Violent Crimes [Infographic]

In the United States, the number of arrests for marijuana possession now exceeds the number of arrests for all violent crimes combined. The Huffington Post infographic below illustrates the surprising statistics provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Joshua Messier had a good life that was turned upside down by the onset of schizophrenia, then ended at the age of 23 at the hands of correction officers at Bridgewater State Hospital. The hospital is run by the state prison system, and is home to the most violent mentally ill people in Massachusetts.

Officers while restraining Josh, suffocated him literally to his death. His death certificate says cause of death, is "cardiopulmonary arrest during physical restraint". The manner of death is ruled a homicide. The officers involved have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Supreme Court on Monday limited the use of life terms in prison for murderers under 18, ruling that judges must consider the defendant’s youth and the nature of the crime before putting him behind bars with no hope for parole. In a 5-4 decision, the high court struck down as cruel and unusual punishment the laws in about 28 states that mandated a life term for murderers, including those under age 18. The justices ruled in the cases of two 14-year-olds who were given life terms for their role in a homicide, but their decision goes further. It applies to all those under 18.

Daily News @ http://RevolutionNews.US ~ THE disgraced cross-dressing commander of Canada's largest air force base pleaded guilty today to 86 lurid sex crimes, including two murders that "stunned" the military.

Colonel Russell Williams, 47, a married pilot who once flew the jet used to ferry Canada's Prime Minister as well as the British royal family on a visit, displayed no emotion as he admitted to his crimes in a Belleville, Ontario courtroom.

He faces life in prison, with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years.

Daily News @ http://RevolutionNews.US - The Oklahoma State legislature has passed a bill that's now heading to the governor's desk to be signed which would mandate a sentence of up to life in prison for converting marijuana into hashish. OK already has a law that allows those convicted of cultivating or selling marijuana to be sentenced with up to life in prison. Reason's Matt Welch weighs in.