Raymond Gilbert Morrison was born in 1963. He was raised in small town community. He has three sisters, he is very close to all. He has always been quiet and interested in travel, motorcycles and family. He would travel across county, always carrying family photos. He had a special bond with his grandfather Mickey Goldstein. His father had moved to CA. when Ray was 8 and his grandpa was very important in his life. He graduated from High School, and went directly into the Marine Corp. for three years. (His dad was also a Marine.) He has extraordinary talents in electrical and mechanical fields. He was married, owned a home, and worked as certified GM mechanic in CA. He moved back to IL after his divorce and his grandfather's death. His life after the divorce seemed to crumble, he met and had a child with an individual from CA. After numerous attempts to make a life for his son he headed home to IL. He wanted custody of the boy but was unable to get it.

He went back to CA after dozens of calls from the x-girlfriend who told him her life and their sons were in danger (she was selling drugs and owed several thousand $ to dealer). Ray returned to CA and had an argument with the man who had 31 prior convictions and was a drug manufacturer. He threatened Ray with a gun. Unfortunately, Ray left and got a gun and returned. There was a fight and shots were fired across a truck in the driveway. The neighbor heard three or four shots. Ray shot twice and both shells were found. The drug dealer legally could not own a weapon. However Ray said he had a derringer, which does not discharge shells. None of this was brought out in the trial and Ray was denied a lie detector test!

The charges against Ray: Attempted voluntary manslaughter, personal use of firearm. He was given three charges on May 9 2001. The court had duplicated charges and imposes an illegal enhancement. The 2nd charge was dismissed Count 3 , assault with a semi automatic weapon and personal use of a fire arm.

Date Sentenced April 22, 1997, ray spent one year in jail prior to trial.

Length of sentence Six years plus 4 years consecutive.

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Ray was sent to Calapatria Prison and immediately asked to meet with the Rabbi (his name is Posner). Because of the closeness Ray had with his grandpa I believe he wanted to know more about his heritage. Ray has always been a searcher, although he appears quiet and shy at times, he is very thoughtful and thinks deeply about things of God. He is a believer in the truth and its strength, (he wanted the courts to administer a lie test prior to the trial). He continued to ask and has been refused to this date.

Ray asked me to send Hebrew study books to the prison, which I did. He asked the Rabbi what would be helpful and studied diligently. Before Passover he made the decision to follow the Orthodox Jewish faith. Rabbi Posner continued to meet with him at least once a week to study. When Ray first began to grow his beard there was not a problem, after eight months at Calapatria an old prison grooming standard was reinstated, Ray felt so strongly about his decision to follow God's laws that he would not comply and shave. At that time he had 27 points, and had no write ups during his imprisonment. He was written up repeatedly, brought up to committee numerous times and politely stated he would not shave his face. He filled all the necessary appeal paperwork and could have kept the beard if he lied and said he had a skin problem, he would not do that. He had been targeted for abuse and spent extended time in the hole without anything but his underwear. He was told to meet with the Rabbi at Lancaster. Ray refused and the Rabbi told me he wished that Ray would have come to him like that and he could have done something about that treatment. Ray has been faithful in his studies over the last several years. I visit twice a year if possible from IL. We spend five hours a day for three days and during that time he has shared this thoughts and dreams. He has a tremendous knowledge and thirst of the word. He receives study materials as well through the mail. We have sent him books through the book stores. He is learning Hebrew and is somewhat frustrated at how it has taken him so long to pick up this wonderful language. Ray is soft spoken, but has had a few fights over his religion. Ray is a big fella, thankfully... and has had to defend himself from the skin heads and others who find his believes offensive. There are some staff that have taken delight in seeing him at level four C status, he now has 120 plus points. For four years he was on C status with no privileges, no phone, no work, 23 hours in his cell. finally after writing to legislators and the warden to explain he was taken off C and was allowed to call and work.

He is a certified GM mech. and can do all types of elec. work. He could be so helpful there and keep up his skills. Finally he was asked to teach a auto mech class, that was on B yard were he was housed. While he was away from lancaster for custody hearings there was a terrible riot on B yard! Three inmates were killed and thirty injured! When he returned he was placed back on that yard, I was told it was policy and he could request a transfer, that did not happen for two months and during that time he was put in Administrative Seg., with no writing materials, all of his belongings were taken, no shoes, soap, comb etc. ! After several weeks he was moved to Yard D! I had called Sen. Scott in CA. and the Dept of Corrections, ADL and Prison Ombudsman , finally just a few days before my visit he was taken from AD SEG and moved to D. My greatest desire is to have my son home ! in IL to begin a new life when he is released. He has another five years, however this time may be shorted with the illegal charges he was given. In IL there are no grooming standards and he would not be at a level four due to being classified a Program Failure!There is something called a Compassionate Transfer, I pray that is possible for him. He has family who could visit him here on a regular basis. There is a prison in Dixon IL just a few miles from my home. There have even been threats against his life! The system is flawed in CA, love of God is punished and people are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. He is paying for more than the crime he committed protecting his family, he has been given one and one half years more to serve because of facial hair! No drugs, gangs etc. he keeps to himself, shares the words of God. Please help him! God protected him and he was away when the riot took place, there is so much pent up anger in the prison for inhumane treatment ! by some guards and so little compassion . People are treated like anim als, there is no rehabilitation. Races are kept separate, and not encouraged to be friends. How can an inmate then be expected to get back into society and live with others in peace.

I thank you so much for you caring and all you have taken on to do, for Ray and others like him!

Love , Donna & Ray