Angelo 'Nut' Daniels: A System That Refuses to Change

I send my honors to Brother Angelo "Nut" Daniels, my DC homie. He's an upright and fearless brother, and I send my greetings and respect.

Recently, I got word that a judge denied his IRAA request.

What is IRAA?

For those unfamiliar, the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) is a law enacted in Washington, D.C., that provides sentencing relief for individuals who were incarcerated for crimes committed when they were 25 years old or younger. This legislation acknowledges what science and common sense have long told us, young people's brains are still developing, and their decision-making isn't fully matured.

Under IRAA, eligible individuals can petition the court for a sentence reduction after serving at least 15 years, provided they demonstrate rehabilitation and readiness to reintegrate into society. The law aims to correct harsh and excessive sentencing, particularly in cases where young offenders have long since changed and evolved. Yet, despite meeting the criteria, Brother Nut was denied.

Nut has been incarcerated for 30 years. He's been separated from his family and friends twice as long as I have. I feel his pain, yet he remains hopeful.

He recently shared a heartfelt message through the More Than Our Crimes organization, encouraging other incarcerated men to stay strong. He reflected,

"Despite my many program achievements and the fact that I have not had a serious incident report in over a decade, the judge still used my past against me."

Even in the face of this setback, he remains hopeful. That resilience is powerful, and we thank you for your strength, Nut.

But this is where I have to address a major flaw in the system.

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The Hypocrisy of “Responsibility”

Nut spoke about "taking responsibility" and "handling the consequences of our actions." His message was a warning to younger incarcerated people, be mindful of your actions because your past can keep you from going home.

And while I respect and agree with him to an extent, there's something deeper we need to unpack.

What Does “Responsibility” Really Mean?

People love to tell incarcerated individuals that they need to "take responsibility" and "be accountable for their actions."

Let's be clear, prison is accountability.

Every person sitting behind bars has already been forced to answer for their mistakes. They've served time, faced punishment, and endured years sometimes decades of confinement.

But before someone can be held responsible, they must first be made aware of what exactly they are being held responsible for.

This is where the system's hypocrisy is most blatant

Punishing People for Rules That Didn’t Exist

Nut’s IRAA request was denied despite his decade-long track record of good behavior.

Why?

Because of his actions before IRAA even existed.

Think about that for a second.

Denying someone relief under IRAA based on actions they took before the law was even in place is like passing a new law today that says everyone must stop at a four-way intersection, then sending tickets to people who didn’t stop at that intersection years before the law even existed.

Would anyone accept that as fair? No.

But that's exactly what is happening with IRAA.

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Double Punishment: The Unfairness of Institutional Violations

For decades, incarcerated individuals have been punished for institutional violations.

If they commit an infraction, they already face penalties like:

✔ Solitary confinement

✔ Loss of privileges

✔ Loss of good time credit

Yet now, those same violations are being used AGAIN to deny them relief under IRAA.

That’s DOUBLE punishment.

And in Nut's case, his last serious violation was over 10 years ago.

If that's not evidence of growth and transformation, then what is?

The Lie of “Public Safety”

These oppressors; judges, prosecutors, and lawmakers, love to act as if their sentencing decisions are about "public safety."

But what kind of person locks up an 18-year-old kid for 30 years and still refuses to release him after he has proven that he has changed?

This system has locked away thousands of young men and women during the prime of their lives and thrown away the key. And now, even when a law like IRAA exists to correct these injustices, they find loopholes to keep these individuals inside.

The judge in Nut's case claimed he is still a threat to society, even after a decade without a serious infraction.

That's not justice. That’s a lie.

If Nut isn’t a different person after 30 years and no incidents in a decade, then what does rehabilitation even mean?

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This Isn’t About Safety It’s About Control

Isn’t About Safety It’s About Control

I didn't think my view of this system could sink any lower.

I was wrong.

This isn't about safety. It’s about control.

It's about keeping people like Nut locked away because they can.

But the truth is out.

We see it.

And we won’t stop fighting until this corrupt system is dismantled for good.

Manumission Is The Mission!