Free Amy
You may know Amy Locane from season one of “Melrose Place,” the iconic John Waters’ film, “Cry Baby,” or any number of films in her IMDB credits. I know Amy as my friend from high school. We met when we were 15 and friends ever since.
In more recent years, you may know Amy Locane from her legal troubles, bandied about in online news outlets.
Here’s the timeline:
- June 27, 2010 — Driving while intoxicated, Amy was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident.
- November 2012 — Amy was convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter, sentenced to 3 years in NJ State Women’s Prison
- June 2015 — Amy was released on parole. Immediately after her release, her husband filed for divorce and custody of their two daughters
- July 2020 — NJ Appeals Court ruled her initial sentencing was insufficient/inappropriate and in September of 2020, Amy was re-sentenced to serve 8 years in NJ State Prison.
The pieces that are missing from this timeline are that Amy served her time, has been rehabilitated and a productive person in society. Amy takes complete responsibility for her actions on that fateful night. June 27, 2010 was the last time she had an alcoholic beverage. Since her release from prison in 2015, Amy has made it her mission to speak to kids as a cautionary tale. She takes her sobriety seriously. She has also spent many years repairing the relationship lost with her daughters while in prison and regaining their trust that “Mom isn’t going anywhere. I’m here for you and with you.” And now, all of this has been stripped away. Amy is back in prison. Her daughters are suffering again. The family who lost their loved one in that horrible accident seem intent on revenge, not justice.
We can all agree: drinking, driving, loss of life… horrible, horrific, tragic, senseless.
But I ask the question: how can we keep nailing Amy to the cross? While some may think the original sentencing was too lenient, and maybe it was, but it was the court-ordered sentencing and Amy served her time. How is it possible that she is re-sentenced for the same crime, and forced to serve time again in prison, for a crime which she had already been sentenced and time served?
I thought there was something called, “double jeopardy.” That you couldn’t be re-tried and re-sentenced for the same crime. Apparently, not in the state of New Jersey.
I’m putting this out into the social media universe because this is worthy of attention. Amy and this injustice are worth your time and attention. Her daughters are worth your time and attention. And everyone who has come before her and after suffering the same injustice, are worth your time and attention.
Please share this with everyone you know. Please follow her story. Please keep her family in your prayers.
I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read this.
