Category Archives: Life Sentences

Journey Through Crime, Justice & Literature – The Series

Posted on February 17, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In this series, I trace how a teenage brush with homicide headlines became a lifelong interrogation of justice. From police tape and tabloid “if it bleeds, it leads” narratives to courtrooms, prisons, and the literature that wrestles with guilt, I ask what truth survives punishment. Along the way, I revisit forgotten voices, personal losses, and hard-earned lessons—seeking a language that honors victims, confronts systems, and insists on humanity, story at a time, without flinching. Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, Black History Month, Education, ezwwaters, Genealogy, Growing Up, Justice Chronicles, juveniles, Life Sentences, Martin Luther King, Murder, Parole, parole board, Politics, race, raising black boys, Reentry, remorse, Segregation, Slavery, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, Streets of Rage, The Black Blood of Poetry, urban decay, Urban Impact | Leave a comment

Journey Through Crime, Justice & Literature, Part IV

Posted on February 16, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I began writing this fourth and “final” installment of “Journey Through Crime, Justice & Literature” on Martin Luther King Day. I re-read Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (16 April 1963), not for purposes of this series, but on this … Continue reading →

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Journey Through Crime, Justice & Literature

Posted on December 16, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I first became interested in the story of crime and punishment, how we tell those stories, at 16 years of age. Then, three childhood friends were arrested for two homicides. Two were immediately arrested, one was on the run for … Continue reading →

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Strategies for Effective Advocacy in Criminal Justice Reform

Posted on September 15, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The four-part series on a successful advocacy campaign led by formerly incarcerated people, and the accompanying research blogs, in one place. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles, Life Sentences, Murder, Osborne Association, Parole, parole board, Politics, Reentry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Participatory Research: A How‑To Blueprint

Posted on September 2, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

A practical guide to co‑designing, conducting, and deploying participatory research in criminal legal system advocacy—grounded in the 2025 white paper on incorporating lived expertise. Continue reading →

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The Anatomy of Advocacy, Part 3: Strategy in Action – How They Won the Fight

Posted on August 27, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Inside the research, coalitions, and bipartisan sponsorship that led to Chapter 310 of the Laws of 2008 and discharges from lifetime parole. Continue reading →

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The Anatomy of Advocacy, Part 2: Birth of the Ad Hoc Committee on Lifetime Parole

Posted on August 20, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

How directly impacted New Yorkers formed the Ad Hoc Committee on Lifetime Parole and chose a winning strategy to change the law. Continue reading →

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The Anatomy of Advocacy, Part 1: How “Tough on Crime” Politics Reshaped Justice in New York

Posted on August 13, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

How Governor Pataki’s ‘tough on crime’ agenda and Jenna’s Law reshaped parole and sentencing in New York—and set the stage for grassroots reform. Continue reading →

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The Anatomy of Advocacy: Transforming Criminal “Justice” in New York

Posted on August 11, 2025 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Starting July 13, 2025, a Four-Part Series titled “The Anatomy of Advocacy” will explore a criminal legal system advocacy movement led by formerly incarcerated individuals. It highlights New York’s “tough on crime” era, the formation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Lifetime Parole, strategic campaigning, and lessons learned for successful advocacy efforts. Continue reading →

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A Constantly Evolving Lifespan: A Review of “This Life” by Quntos KunQuest

Posted on February 8, 2023 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

A life sentence in prison is life, that is, there is living to do in prison, even under a life sentence.  Quntos KunQuest, in his novel, This Life, demonstrates that life goes on inside of prison.  Since 1996, KunQuest has … Continue reading →

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