JENNIFER MEE
Society-First
The mission of Society-First is the promotion of a system that focuses on preventing future victimization rather than a system based on punishment. We believe that this new focus is possible and will end mass incarceration in America.
JMeeFree are proud to support Society-First, a grassroots campaign group to change the harsh Florida sentencing laws.
Society-First believe in preventing future victimization rather than a system based on punishment. They believe sentencing and incarceration should be focused on punishment to run alongside redemption and forgiveness. Jennifer, like thousands of others in Florida, has been sentenced to LWOP with no chance to ask forgiveness and to show she is not that person, or ever really was that person. Jennifer, like so many in Florida, does not deserve to die without living. Society-First are here to change that.
Society-First is a Christian based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which seeks to bring about social and criminal justice reform that puts society first. They are focused on ending mass incarceration in Florida, a state that leads the WORLD per capita in Life Without Parole sentencing, that has more LWOP sentences than 30 other states COMBINED! That’s two-thirds of the states within the entire US, and still they fall short by a thousand.
The whole premise behind the movement is to bring awareness to the nation and the world of how disproportionate Florida’s sentencing is compared to every other state… compared to the rest of the world.
By going from prison to prison Society-First are, essentially, taking the message to the streets (so to speak) before giving it to the courts to interpret. They allow the People to interpret the violation of the Constitutional law set forth in Article 1 Section 17, when it states “…indefinite imprisonment is forbidden.” Mass incarceration in Florida has been built off the backs of these illegal Life sentences, and as such mass incarceration will fall by these Life sentences. Indefinite imprisonment has been unlawful in the state of Florida for 135 years now, as Article 1, Section 17 of the Florida Constitution under “Excessive Punishment” clearly states, “…INDEFINITE IMPRISONMENT IS FORBIDDEN.”
Society-First are tired of accepting the crumbs of reform that fall from the legislative table and are building a new table that brings true reform. Florida declares 25-30 thousand of its citizens irredeemable and sentenced to die in prison. How can this be? Is there no room in Florida for redemption? Of course there is and Society-First are pushing to make that change. No longer will they allow redemption be the road less traveled… for a world without redemption is a world without change, and a world without change is a world without hope
Society-First are a part of the Road to Restoration Coalition and have a team of attorneys who are willing to represent every single Lifer in the state of Florida, and they will not hesitate to file 13,000 plus motions into the court system all at one time.
JMeeFree urge you to contact Society-First today and help transform the Criminal & Social Justice System in Florida. Click here to visit their website and find out how you can support and contribute to change. You can also email Reform@Society-First.com for more information. Contact Society-First and find out more today, change is well overdue
“It is not true that everyone is special. It is true that everyone was once special and still possesses the ability to recover it.
Society-First have started 2023 with an initiative called Ready or Not. Over the last year Society-First, along with others looking for sentencing reform in Florida, have been working on a proposal to make changes that are well overdue. We at jmeefree are excited about and fully behind Society-First with the Ready or Not proposal.
The Ready or Not proposal, phases 1 and 2, can be found here
Take some time to read through Society-First Ready or Not proposal. Support, take part in and start to make real change.
Society-First held a meeting with Church leaders in June 2022. As part of that, Society-First asked Jennifer if she would like to add some words of her own. Here is what she said.
Good evening, To everyone out there who is willing and ready to help.
Show the world how the justice system works and how in a split second peoples lives can be changed for ever whether you are a victim or the person who committed the crime. At the age of 19 i was given a life sentence and unfortunately in Florida life means life. no parole, no early release, or any type of opportunity at a second chance at life even though at 19 my life was just beginning. Youth and ignorance aren’t a justification to wipe away the wrong of my situation or devalue the life that was lost. There are no words that could ever convey the depth of what I feel but I can only allow the whirlwind of emotions to fuel me to continue to make changes for the better. The young impressionable girl is gone. I have spent every year doing all and everything that I can to be productive and make better decisions to let the world know I’m not irredeemable. My life still has purpose and I know that God has not washed his hands of me. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy not for myself, the family of the victim , nor for a society that has constantly been torn apart by violence. Yet I ask that you open your hearts and you will hear my cry for a second chance and forgive me for not taking into account anything that would result of what my actions would cause. I want to say I appreciate everyone’s support it means a lot to me.
People ask me all the time how do I feel? Well let me start off by saying there isn’t a time when I’m not thinking about that night on October 23 2010. when the young man’s life was taken. It hurts me to my heart to know that I was a part of the reason why an innocent life was taken. There isn’t a night when I’m sleeping that I don’t dream about it and I’m very remorseful for all the pain that I’ve caused. I wish I could turn back the hands of time and change everything and make things right….. I just ask that maybe one day Shannon’s family can forgive me in the part that I played in the whole scenario…..I’m not a vicious person and nor would I purposely set out to cause harm to anyone. I want everyone to know, including Mr.Griffin’s family…that I’m truly sorry and I pray every day that you may find it in your heart to let me see outside these prison walls one day. My change and maturity may not quell the anger that is felt toward me but I truly hope to have an opportunity to show the world as well as the people I’ve affected the best version of Jennifer Mee. I want to help any and every person I can to make better decisions and not have to make the same mistakes I did.C