Redemption Earned
  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Apply
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

CRIME & PUNISHMENT vs. REDEMPTION & FORGIVENESS

March 7, 2023/2 Comments/in Alabama Prisons, Criminal Justice, The Executive Director's Corner/by Admin

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT–These FIRST two words form the foundation of our criminal justice system. When crimes are committed and a perpetrator is charged, other words become important: presumption of innocence, constitutional rights, and fairness.

In Judge Kechia S. Davis’ courtroom, another word was the theme for the day: forgiveness. Yes, Barbara Ekes, the mother of a wonderful young man, told the judge that she did not want the man who, with his vehicle, killed her son twenty years ago, to spend another day in prison. Mrs. Eckes told Judge Davis that she prayed every day that she would live long enough to see Douglas Layton, Jr. free.

Mrs. Eckes told the Judge and Doug Layton that she wanted him to be released.

She said, “My son was not a saint, but he was a good man. I want Doug released so that he can have an opportunity to live a life that would honor my son and his memory….My son has not been present to help take care of me, but I want Doug to be able to take care of his mother.”


In preparing for the hearing, Mrs. Eckes waivered on whether she wanted to testify in court: her health is not good and getting around is difficult but her primary concern was seeing Doug. She wondered if she had really forgiven him and that if she saw him, would hard feelings overwhelm her. She almost did not come to the courthouse. It was going to be too much. But, she faced her fears; she told her daughter, Samantha, that she would accompany her to the courtroom. Tears flowed, but so did forgiveness.

Douglas told Mrs. Eckes and Samantha, who lost a beloved brother, how sorry he was for causing the death of their son and brother. He asked if he could hug her and Mrs. Ekes acquiesced. Thus, in Judge Davis’ courtroom, a man convicted of murder embraced the mother of his victim, a moment of healing, evidence of the fullness of her forgiveness.

Before the hearing, two mothers embraced: the mother who lost her son forever and the mother who lost her son for two decades. Thanks to Barbara Eckes, who even advocated without success to the Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles for Doug’s parole, Mrs. Layton will have her son returned.

There is now closure for Mrs. Eckes and freedom for Doug Layton to prove that he, as he said, is not the man he was when he ran over this special young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

Mrs. Eckes’ prayers have now been answered: Doug Layton is redeemed.

Doug Layton is FREE.

 

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.redemptionearned.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Redemption-earned-deck-2.png 1080 1080 Admin https://www.redemptionearned.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Main_Reversed-300x300.png Admin2023-03-07 04:24:032023-03-29 16:47:27CRIME & PUNISHMENT vs. REDEMPTION & FORGIVENESS
2 replies

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Redemption Earned ayuda a los reclusos de Alabama, ancianos y enfermos, a obtener la libertad condicional: - Espanol News says:
    December 11, 2023 at 4:20 pm

    […] y superpobladas cárceles del estado. Se llama Redención obtenida. Los abogados del grupo pusieron El caso de Layton. ante un juez, incluido el testimonio de la madre del hombre al que […]

    Reply
  2. Seeking redemption for aged and infirm prisoners amid Alabama's high bar for parole - n-cryptech says:
    December 11, 2023 at 11:30 am

    […] overcrowded and dangerous prisons. It’s called Redemption Earned. Lawyers with the group put Layton’s case before a judge, including testimony from the mother of the man he […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • The Alabama Parole Board’s Heartless Denials: A Call for Reform
  • Embracing Redemption: The Release of Robert George
  • PAROLE: Reforming Alabama’s Criminal Justice System
  • Client Profile: Thomas Eugene Owens-‘He will never be free again’
  • Cumberland School of Law student Sydney Moore wins Parole for Redemption Earned Client

Recent Comments

  • Danita Grayson on Work release program is a WIN for everyone in Alabama
  • sheri williams on Client Profile: Thomas Eugene Owens-‘He will never be free again’
  • Holley on Executive Director’s Corner: Leola Harris, a dying woman DENIED parole.
  • Thanks, Dr_ma c k (@ y a h o O )C o M on PAROLE: Reforming Alabama’s Criminal Justice System
  • Thanks, Dr_ma c k ( y a h o O )C o M on Client Profile: Thomas Eugene Owens-‘He will never be free again’

Archives

  • September 2024
  • March 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • July 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • June 2022
  • February 2022
  • October 2021

Categories

  • Alabama Prisons
  • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • Criminal Justice
  • Habitual Offender Law
  • News
  • Pre-Law
  • Research
  • The Executive Director's Corner
  • Uncategorized
  • Work Release

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Do you care? If so, please donate!

DONATE

Redemption Earned, Inc

PO Box 2286
Birmingham, AL 35201
info@redemptionearned.org

Privacy Policy

Stay in touch with Redemption Earned on our social media or by joining our email list:

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© Copyright 2022 by Redemption Earned | Website by AMP and branding by Here Molly Girl
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Executive Director’s Corner: Leola Harris, a dying woman DENIED parol...Alabama prisons—it’s getting harder and harder to get out alive. Scroll to top