I had the pleasure of getting to know a little about Flozelle Woodmore. She served 20 years of a life sentence for killing her abusive partner. After 10 parole hearings, at six of which she was found suitable, she was finally released in August 2007.
Flozelle now works with A New Way of Life Reentry Project in Watts and spends her spare time with her daughter and granddaughters. Flozelle was there when her youngest grandchild was born.
Here are her comments in a recent interview:
What have you been doing since you got out?
I have been working to improve the education of the loved ones of the incarcerated in hopes they can and will assist their loved ones serving life sentences to receive parole grants and release as they should have years ago.
Was finding work difficult?
Not for me, due to the support of Susan Burton, Founder and Executive Director of A New Way of Life Reentry Project.
How is the world different for you now that you are back on the streets?
Many people I knew and loved have passed away, including my mother and oldest brother.
What was the most difficult thing to adjust to when you were first released?
Facing my son’s situation (he got a life sentence as I was being released). Then I learned his case lacked the evidence to uphold the conviction.
What goals have you achieved since you got out?I have achieved some of my goals – obtain work, get my own place, get a car (I have two), and help my family with things that would make life a little easier for them.
What goal do you most look forward to accomplishing?
Getting my son a fair trial and/or getting him out. Also getting approval to go see him. He has not seen me since he was nine years old; he is now 26.
I’m sure your goals and your dreams have changed a lot since you got out, what goals to you have in mind now?
I have quite a few, one being to see the faces of families and friends as they see their loved ones be released, all due to the work they did to make it happen.
What sort of things do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
My spare time is scarce; however, I try to spend time with my grandchildren and my daughter.
Flozelle recently received a Soros Justice Fellowship award for her work with A New Way of Life in Watts.
Would you elaborate on what the Soros Fellowship is about?
The Soros Fellowship is sharing with families of lifers my experiences of incarceration, and the steps that I took to free myself, in hopes it can be utilized to free their loved ones who are well over due for receiving a release date.
