Friend,

Carlton grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a state with one of the highest levels of incarceration in the country. He was six years old when his older brother Kendrick got out of prison, and he was eight when Kendrick went back. That brief time together and Kendrick’s long absence from his life are big reasons why Carlton — our friend and former colleague here at FWD.us — chose to become an attorney and fight for criminal justice reform, both in his home state and nationally. 

Carlton describes the two years his brother was free as the happiest of his life. But that time together was far too short, and his brother served over 20 years of a life sentence. It has been exceedingly hard on their mother, who has for years made the long trek to the prison to visit her son. It’s a burden no family should have to bear. 

And so it’s with great pleasure that I want to tell you that Carlton’s work, and the work of many great organizations in Louisiana, like the Louisiana Parole Project and VOTE, who have refused to give up on this fight, has paid off. Last week, Kendrick was granted parole, and he’ll be reunited with Carlton and the rest of his family for the holidays. It’s a testament to the work of Carlton and many others that they never stopped pushing for reform, and they never gave up despite the many systemic and political obstacles. We know how important it is to provide ongoing support for individuals and their families as people return home from jail or prison. 


Please join me in supporting Kendrick and his family as he returns home from prison on GoFundMe for the Holidays.

One in every two American adults has had a family member in jail or prison, including one out of every four who, like Carlton, has had a sibling incarcerated. Everyone deserves an opportunity to come home. 

This work is hard, and can too often be discouraging. But, as Kendrick’s situation shows, it is critical that we continue to create a free and just system that allows families to be reunited and lifts the barrier of long-term sentences without an opportunity for parole. Winning justice will take time, but keeping families safe and together is a goal worth fighting for.

This holiday season, please help support Carlton, Kendrick, and their family.

Thank you for your support,

Zoe Towns
Vice President, Criminal Justice Reform, FWD.us