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Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" < Back Megan Powell Mar 9, 2024 “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu For people serving life with parole sentences in South Carolina, the hope for release on parole dwindles with every passing day. South Carolina currently has one of the lowest parole rate grants in the entire country , and as a result, some of the people who deserve release the most are being kept in prison. “I know for a fact I will never violate the law again. I’d be a fool to come back here if given a chance for parole,” said a currently incarcerated person. On February 19th, Time Served hosted Reawakening Hope—a collaborative event aimed at energizing and motivating advocates from all over South Carolina who care about sentencing, parole, and reentry reform, and providing a glimmer of hope for the people who are currently incarcerated in South Carolina. “This is the first time I’ve seen this,” said Jerry Blassingame, Founder and Executive Director of Soteria CDC. “I’ve been out 25 years, and this is the first time that I’ve seen formerly incarcerated people in a room getting ready to organize.” Photos courtesy of Isaac Ellison, Time Capsule Media, LLC. Time Served is extremely grateful for Mr. Ellison's donation of his time and services in covering this event. The crowd was comprised of a record-breaking number of formerly incarcerated advocates, loved ones of currently incarcerated people, and colleagues from local and national organizations, including: · The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth; · Families Against Mandatory Minimums; · South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; · University of South Carolina School of Law; · Justice360; · South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center; · Soteria CDC; · JumpStart; · FreshStart Visions 5.0; · And more. In addition to hearing stories of hope and change from formerly incarcerated advocates, we discussed the 2024 policy priorities of the SCJP, which include reforming South Carolina’s broken parole and compassionate release systems, eliminating juvenile life without parole, and passing Ban the Box legislation. Previous Next

Read Time Served’s Accessibility Statement to learn how we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all visitors to our website. Accessibility Statement Measures to Support Accessibility Time Served takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of Time Served: Integrate accessibility into our procurement practices. Ensure that our website meets accessibility guidelines. Conformance Status The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Time Served is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. Feedback We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Time Served. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on Time Served: Phone: (864) 546-5060 E-mail: info@tsscnow.org Visitor Address: Triune Mercy Center, 222 Rutherford Street, Greenville, SC 29609 Postal Address: P.O. Box 615, Taylors, SC 29687 We try to respond to feedback within 2 business days. Technical Specifications Accessibility of Time Served relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer: HTML CSS JavaScript These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used. Limitations and Alternatives Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility of Time Served , there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations, and potential solutions. Please contact us if you observe an issue. Assessment Approach Time Served assessed the accessibility of Time Served by the following approaches: Self-evaluation Formal Complaints Please contact Time Served at info@tsscnow.org . Formal Approval of this Accessibility Statement This Accessibility Statement is approved by: Allison Elder Executive Director of Time Served

Meet Debbie Kasle, a dedicated volunteer with Time Served, committed to supporting our mission and helping individuals impacted by the justice system find a path to a brighter future. Meet Our Dedicated Volunteer BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Debbie Kasle VOLUNTEER Debbie is a dedicated volunteer at Time Served, supporting the team with both development and client work. Debbie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Tulane University before going on to receive her law degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She began her legal career practicing corporate and securities law at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg in Chicago, Illinois, and later at DeNune & Killam in Toledo, Ohio. After stepping back from her career to raise her family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Debbie remained committed to public service, volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and advocating for children in the foster care system. Her commitment to ethical and compassionate service led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin, after which she founded Kasle Planning, a firm focused on medical ethics and advance health care planning. In 2017, Debbie returned to law with a renewed focus on social justice. She served as a volunteer staff attorney with the Milwaukee Justice Center, providing legal support to low-income, unrepresented litigants. She also worked as a mediator with Mediate Milwaukee, helping landlords and tenants resolve disputes. Committed to supporting immigrant families, Debbie participated in the Dilley Pro Bono Project, assisting immigrant mothers and children at the U.S. border with their asylum cases. Most recently, she has volunteered with Root & Rebound, where she provided legal advice to individuals impacted by the prison system.

Amanda Belfiore is a Reentry Legal Services Attorney at Time Served. Meet Our Reentry Legal Services Attorney BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Amanda Belfiore REENTRY LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY Amanda is originally from Newport News, Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Justice and Policy from James Madison University in 2019 and her J.D. from the Charleston School of Law in 2023. During law school, Amanda served as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, advocating for children in family court, and worked as a Law Clerk helping represent employees in cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation in the workplace. After graduating, Amanda was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and is currently awaiting admission to the South Carolina Bar. Once admitted, she will join Time Served as the Reentry Legal Services Attorney. Amanda is excited to be joining Time Served and continue her commitment to social justice and criminal justice reform.

Meet the dedicated Board of Directors behind Time Served, guiding our mission to provide second chances and empower individuals impacted by the justice system. Our Board of Directors The Board of Directors at Time Served brings together a diverse group of leaders committed to advancing justice and supporting meaningful change for formerly incarcerated individuals. Our board members work collaboratively to guide Time Served’s mission, championing innovative legal solutions and systems-change initiatives. Each board member is deeply invested in building pathways to opportunity and dignity for those affected by the criminal justice system, ensuring that Time Served remains a powerful advocate for equity, compassion, and lasting impact. Ana Walker CHAIR Born and raised in South Carolina, Ana Walker practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, as an Assistant Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Ana subscribes to a belief shared by Bryan Stevenson, attorney and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative: “We are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” No one should be judged based solely on their worst day. Over her time as a criminal defense lawyer, Ana started to understanding how much American history—including events that occurred over 150 years ago, such as Reconstruction after the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution—continues to maintain the vast disparities within the criminal legal system. Today, people of color and minorities routinely suffer discrimination at the hands of law enforcement, the courts, and the legislature. Ana hopes her advocacy makes even a small impact towards widespread systemic change. Ana wholeheartedly supports Time Served’s mission and work. Their model of direct representation combined with policy advocacy works towards circumventing, and hopefully one day abolishing, the hurdles commonly navigated by those released (and those progressing towards release) from incarceration, attacking South Carolina recidivism rate head-on. Improving the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated improves the lives of all South Carolinians. Don Austin VICE CHAIR Don Austin currently serves as the Facilities Manager at the Triune Mercy Center. They share Christ’s love while meeting the physical needs of their parishioners and provide life-changing opportunities to the disadvantaged. Don has personally experienced mass incarceration in South Carolina, and he has benefitted from legal services that helped him break free of that cycle. In 1992, Don started to experience the cycles of addiction, poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. Eventually, Don was referred to United Ministries’ Place of Hope, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Greenville. That’s where the seed was planted, and he was given lots of resources to help him get his life back together. He successfully completed the Overcomers and the C.S.R.C. substance abuse programs and was given a job at the Salvation Army. Don received a full pardon of his entire South Carolina record and dedicates his life now to helping others overcome the same obstacles he did. He has worked at Triune Mercy Center for 14 years, and he recently celebrated 20 years of sobriety. Taylor Gilliam SECRETARY Taylor Gilliam is secretary of the Time Served Board of Directors. After serving most recently as the Pro Bono Director at the University of South Carolina School of Law, Taylor is now an Assistant Federal Defender for the Columbia office. He is a 2011 graduate of The Citadel and received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2014. The current President of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, Taylor has previously served on various committees within the YLD and was named “Young Lawyer of the Year” in 2020. Prior to joining the law school, he was an Appellate Defender at the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense. Taylor has handled over 300 cases before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court, including 20 oral arguments. Taylor is also a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy, class of 2019. He is a former Chair of the Public Service Committee of the Richland County Bar Association which recently held its sixth annual “Practical Knowledge for Any Attorney” CLE.

Learn about Time Served’s mission to support individuals impacted by the justice system. We provide advocacy, resources, and opportunities to help build brighter futures. About Us Our Story Time Served was founded in 2023 by a team of passionate women lawyers with combined decades of experience in the criminal legal system. Time Served is a South Carolina-grown legal aid organization designed to meet the needs of those most impacted by mass incarceration in our state. Our clients have already overcome immense hurdles, survived traumas, and are ready to be wholly restored to the community. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing legal services and systems-change advocacy for South Carolinians with prior criminal system involvement. Our clients’ needs vary, from record cleaning for old charges that are still holding them back and family reunification assistance after incarceration, to medical release or parole representation after decades in prison. Time Served provides legal services free of charge, because we believe that finding the money to hire a lawyer shouldn’t be another barrier that system-impacted people have to overcome in order to break free of the cycle of mass incarceration. OUR MISSION Our Mission Our mission is to improve the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated South Carolinians through direct legal services and litigation, and to dismantle extreme sentencing in South Carolina, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations whose criminal system involvement was rooted in part in other traumas and injustices they have experienced. OUR TEAM Our Team Allison Elder EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR More About Allison Megan Powell DEPUTY DIRECTOR More About Megan Amanda Belfiore REENTRY LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY More About Amanda Mar'Quez ("Mo") Oglesby PARALEGAL More About Mar'Quez Ndayishimiye "Flo" Florence DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE More About Flo Debbie Kasle VOLUNTEER More About Debbie Kaylie Stapleton VOLUNTEER PARALEGAL More About Kaylie

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All Posts Civil Rights Nov 7, 2023 3 min Civil Rights You, too, can vote in South Carolina (probably). The right to vote is one of the most crucial tools we, as American citizens, have in our toolkits for change. And you should be using it.

Mon, Feb 19 | Wesley United Methodist Church Reawakening Hope Join Time Served as we host a launch event for our 2024 policy and advocacy work. We're at capacity. Please contact us at info@tsscnow.org for assistance. See other events Time & Location Feb 19, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Wesley United Methodist Church, 1725 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA About the event Time Served is proud to host Reawakening Hope -- a launch event for our 2024 policy and advocacy work. Guest speakers and panelists include Time Served staff, systems-impacted activists and leaders from across the state, and more. We will explore our top three policy priorities for the year: South Carolina's broken parole system, ending juvenile life without parole, and ban the box legislation. RSVPs are required for food and capacity purposes. This event is open to the public, but due to the nature of the conversation, you must be 18 years or older to attend. Show More Share this event

Latest News Mar 9, 2024 Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" Read More Feb 1, 2024 Time Served collaborates with FCC to host public commentary event Read More

< Back Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" Megan Powell Mar 9, 2024 ​ “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu For people serving life with parole sentences in South Carolina, the hope for release on parole dwindles with every passing day. South Carolina currently has one of the lowest parole rate grants in the entire country , and as a result, some of the people who deserve release the most are being kept in prison. “I know for a fact I will never violate the law again. I’d be a fool to come back here if given a chance for parole,” said a currently incarcerated person. On February 19th, Time Served hosted Reawakening Hope—a collaborative event aimed at energizing and motivating advocates from all over South Carolina who care about sentencing, parole, and reentry reform, and providing a glimmer of hope for the people who are currently incarcerated in South Carolina. “This is the first time I’ve seen this,” said Jerry Blassingame, Founder and Executive Director of Soteria CDC. “I’ve been out 25 years, and this is the first time that I’ve seen formerly incarcerated people in a room getting ready to organize.” Photos courtesy of Isaac Ellison, Time Capsule Media, LLC. Time Served is extremely grateful for Mr. Ellison's donation of his time and services in covering this event. The crowd was comprised of a record-breaking number of formerly incarcerated advocates, loved ones of currently incarcerated people, and colleagues from local and national organizations, including: · The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth; · Families Against Mandatory Minimums; · South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; · University of South Carolina School of Law; · Justice360; · South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center; · Soteria CDC; · JumpStart; · FreshStart Visions 5.0; · And more. In addition to hearing stories of hope and change from formerly incarcerated advocates, we discussed the 2024 policy priorities of the SCJP, which include reforming South Carolina’s broken parole and compassionate release systems, eliminating juvenile life without parole, and passing Ban the Box legislation. Previous Next