Political prisoner profiles: Maliki Shakur Latine

Family and friends of Maliki Shakur Latine call for justice

Birthday: August 23

Maliki Shakur Latine is a person who has consistently acted, studied, and worked for the betterment of his community. He is a very peaceful and deeply spiritual person who spends his time helping others. In his youth, Mr. Latine made a series of mistakes that put him behind bars for much of his life. He has educated himself and served his community while serving his time in New York State correctional facilities. It has long been time for him to come home to his outside family, friends, and community.

Maliki Shakur Latine was born in the Bronx on August 23, 1953. An early sense of spirituality and community responsibility as a young Muslim lead him to join the Nation of Islam and then the Bronx Chapter of the Black Panther Party. He was taking political education classes, serving in community programs, and developing a life-long interest in history, philosophy, and spirituality.

Unfortunately, on July 3rd, 1979, a traffic accident lead to a tragic event involving Maliki Shakur Latine, police officers, and others. On October 1, 1981, Maliki Shakur Latine was sentenced to twenty-five to life for attempted murder in the first degree and seven and one half to fifteen years for assault in the first degree.

In prison Mr. Latine continued his community work and study, through increasingly wise, mature and peaceful means. He has continued to study philosophy, ancient civilizations, Islam, and many other topics. Mr. Latine has completed Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Abuse Treatment (ASAT). He has served as a program assistant and an electrician’s helper. He’s taken vocational classes and received his GED in 2011. He has not received any disciplinary action in the past six years. He is on the Honor Block Committee at Clinton Correctional Facility. He has served on Inmate Liaison Committees at several facilities and has taught classes on reentry and release. He writes letters and receives visits so as to connect with his community, give advice, and make contributions. Unfortunately, Mr. Latine has also suffered from his life-long multiple food allergies and has been unable to receive an optimally appropriate diet while in prison, despite multiple recommendations from allergists, physicians and other health professionals.

In his most recent parole hearing, on April 15, 2014, the parole board acknowledged Maliki Shakur Latine’s positive behavior, the positions he’s held, and the programs he has taken to improve and educate himself. They also acknowledged that their COMPAS Reentry Risk Assessment found him to be at a low risk of reoffending. They acknowledged the letter that Mr. Latine wrote to the police officer’s family, expressing his remorse and giving his apology. So why did they not grant him parole?

They spent the majority of the hearing focusing on the original crime and on rumored and speculated affiliations, which have never been raised in court. It seems that the seriousness of a crime can never be mitigated and the false rumors can never be expunged from a record. The parole board seems to want to hold Mr. Latine forever, despite his achievements and his low risk of reoffending. This is an injustice.

Maliki Shakur Latine was 25 years old when the incident took place and he is now 61. He has served 35 years, over half of his life, in prison. He has appeared before the parole board six times and has been denied six times.

The parole board has acknowledged that Maliki Shakur Latine has a stellar record of self-rehabilitation and community service and a low risk of reoffending, yet they denied him parole for the sixth time in 2014 and his appeal was denied in May 2015.

Thanks to wonderful community support and fundraising, Mr. Latine’s lawyer was able to file an Article 78 in early September. While awaiting the result, his lawyer, family, and friends are beginning to prepare for Mr. Latine’s next appearance before the parole board in April 2016. Visit justiceformaliki.org on the web, @JusticeforMSL on Twitter, or “Justice for Maliki Shakur Latine” on Facebook for updates and opportunities to get involved. As Maliki Shakur Latine said in his statement for NYC ABC’s Running Down the Walls event in September, “a Warming Embrace of Loving Solidarity to You ALL!

Visit justiceformaliki.org to donate and check out @JusticeforMSL

Family and Friends of Maliki Shakur Latine

justiceformaliki.org

Maliki S. Latine  #81A4469

Shawangunk Correctional Facility

P.O. Box 700

Wallkill, New York 12589