As the founder and executive director of Violence Interrupters in Chicago, I believe in second chances. I also believe in restorative justice, which allows those who have done wrong in our society to repair the harm done to victims.
I teach restorative justice at the college level, and during my 20-plus years in the anti-violence arena, I have collaborated closely with former top leaders of street gangs, who, after being incarcerated, have participated in my restorative justice workshops to promote peace, reduce violence and save lives. They include Melvin “Head” Haywood, co-chairman of the Gangster Disciples Nation; Willie Lloyd, leader of the Vice Lord Nation; Jerome “King Shorty” Freeman, leader of the Black Disciples; and Willie “Minister Rico” Johnson, a former Almighty Vice Lord Nation chief.
I have witnessed firsthand how former gang leaders have reformed after paying their debts to society. Instead of returning to a life of crime, they became committed to promoting peace and saving lives.
This is why I am appealing for U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to reduce Larry Hoover’s sentence. This recalculated sentence would not only grant him an advance release from the supermax prison in Colorado to a more hospitable prison in Illinois, but it also would bring him closer to his family and potentially pave the way for his involvement in restorative justice efforts. With his experience and influence, he could work with organizations such as Violence Interrupters, repairing decades of harm and potentially changing our society.
In 1998, Hoover, co-founder of the Gangster Disciples, which once was described as the most notorious street gang in the nation, was sentenced to life in prison. He was convicted on 40 criminal counts after being previously sentenced to a life term on a state conviction for a 1973 murder. The Colorado prison houses notorious criminals, such as Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. ADX Florence is one of the harshest prisons in the nation; it’s known as the Alcatraz of the Rockies, where no prisoner has ever escaped. Some law enforcement officials believed Hoover should never be released because they say some 50,000 members of his organization rained terror on Chicago and across the nation for half a century, and they believe he still wields influence on the Gangster Disciples just as he did for more than 20 years from an Illinois prison.
Three years ago, Hoover appealed for early release under the federal First Step Act, established under then-President Donald Trump. Mega-stars and influencers such as Kanye West and Drake have appealed for Hoover’s release. Co-defendants in the case were released under the First Step Act, but Hoover was denied. His family believes it is because of his legendary status, which still carries tremendous street credibility.
Although the judge denied his release, he left the door open for another appeal.
After serving 26 years at Florence, including many days in solitary confinement, Hoover, a 73-year-old married father, has filed another appeal for early release. Last week, he appeared at a video conference before Blakey, saying he is a different man now. His journey of reformation, if successful, could serve as an inspiration for others. Blakey is expected to render a decision later this month.
As a nationally recognized anti-violence expert, I believe Hoover has reformed. The evidence is present in his family.
His son, Larry Hoover, Jr., attended Brother Rice High School and graduated from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. The younger Hoover said that when he interacts with his dad, he does not talk about being a gangster; he talks about education. Hoover Jr. and his mother founded Paradigm Shift Academy, which exposes youths to education opportunities.
When Hoover was sentenced to serve a life term at Illinois’ Stateville Correctional Center in 1973, there were 864 homicides in Chicago. In 1998, when he was transferred to the federal prison in Colorado, there were 703 homicides. This year, there have been more than 400 homicides.
It is time we think outside the box to reduce homicides. During my career, I hired more than 300 ex-offenders with only a 7% relapse rate. Several former high-level street gang leaders helped design the Ceasefire Public Health Model, which the Department of Justice has confirmed achieved the results. I believe Hoover can be valuable in this process. Let us grant Hoover the chance to join us in this effort to eradicate violence in Chicago and nationwide.
Tio Hardiman is founder and executive director of Violence Interrupters Inc., an adjunct professor who specializes in restorative justice and a national speaker on anti-violence efforts.
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