Help Bobby Sneed Heal

Nearly a half century ago, Bobby Sneed was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. After 47 years, he was finally given a second chance at freedom, when the Louisiana parole board unanimously agreed to release him. Tragically, the week he was set to be released, he was found unresponsive in a prison dorm. Miraculously, after multiple attempts to revive him, he survived. It was assumed, but never proven, that he had overdosed on drugs. In the weeks that followed, instead of treating this health problem with substance abuse treatment, instead of treating a disabled and honorably discharged Vietnam veteran - who also had to regain the ability to walk and talk, following a massive stroke years ago - with some dignity and respect, the State of Louisiana mounted an unprecedented effort to keep Bobby in prison.

For 284 days, thanks to the efforts of 11 taxpayer-funded attorneys, Bobby was illegally detained - or more accurately, kidnapped. Even after multiple state judges ordered Bobby's immediate release, it took the intervention of a federal judge for the State to finally relent and agree to release him. Because of this illegal detention, Bobby spent his 75th birthday and the holidays in a jail cell. For more than a month (and still today), Bobby has been left unable to properly feed himself, because prison staff "misplaced" his dentures.

When Bobby was in his 20s he agreed to be a lookout for a robbery gone wrong. Lives were lost, and deep pain was inflicted on innocent people. Although he never even entered the building where the crime happened, he does not deny culpability for his actions, and he paid for that tragic decision by spending nearly his entire life on a prison plantation. Despite the illegal detention that capped off Bobby's time in prison, Bobby was released with nothing but the clothes on his back. He has never, and may never, receive any sort of accountability from his government for the wrongs committed against him.

Although we are deeply grateful to finally have Bobby out of prison, and receiving the healthcare he needs, because of Bobby's numerous physical ailments, he is unable to work, and it will take months for Bobby to begin to receive social security. Made worse, Bobby still needs teeth.

Bobby is very lucky to have a loving and supportive family, who have been dedicated to him during this time - and, like Bobby, have been deeply disrespected. The battle they endured to finally get him home was just one phase of the longer battle to help him heal, get healthy, and in a place where he can live out the rest of his days peacefully and with dignity.

And that is where we come in. Bobby and his family don't just need our help, they deserve our help. Please give what you can.

For more on the legal saga that Bobby, his family, and his pro-bono attorneys' valiantly fought, please read this coverage by The Lens.