Colby Standley and Maria Kinsey Released from Prison, Hope to Reunite Soon
We are happy to share that Last Prisoner Project (LPP) constituents Colby Standley and Juanita “Maria” Kinsey, who have been married since 2012, have now both been released from prison. The couple have not been able to hear each other’s voices since they were sentenced in 2019.
After having served over three years of a sixty-three-month sentence for conspiracy to traffic cannabis, trafficking cannabis, and possession Colby Standley was released on parole in September of this year. Last week, Maria Kinsey—who served over three years of a seventy-nine-month sentence for selling cannabis to medical patients in Florida—was released to a community release and re-entry center (CRC). She is projected to remain in custody at the CRC until September of next year.
Maria is a loving mother and wife. Maria gave birth to her second daughter, while in custody. Now three and a half years old, she has been without her parents since her birth. Maria loves dogs and had five before she was incarcerated. She currently works in the dog therapy program in her prison and hopes to work training therapy dogs upon her release.
Colby, now 40 years old, will be continuing with the job he had while in the work release center at Tallahassee CRC, and a kind coworker will now also be his landlord. He is looking forward to being a hands-on father and dreams of eventually moving back to Northern California with his family to pursue a career in the robust legal cannabis industry.
Colby characterized his incarceration thusly, “This single event has impacted our lives more than I can express with words. Our lives were completely destroyed. We were one month pregnant when we went into that awful jail, and Maria ended up giving birth behind bars. I didn't even get to meet my little girl till years later. She is three and a half years old now and barely knows us.”
He also shared his goals now that he is out of prison saying, “If I can get a safe place for her I can get custody, and someday our family can be whole. We lost everything in this nightmare, our home, cars, possessions, family, and each other… I can get her back and start building a relationship with her. Finally, get to be a father. I would have a safe place for Maria to come home to when she gets out in late 2023.”
Maria is equally excited for that day saying, “We cannot wait to get out and be the best parents we can be!”
In addition to the reentry grants given to Colby and Maria, LPP is committed to providing them with ongoing support post-release to ensure their successful transition back into society.
“We will be able to overcome this with some help. LPP has been a lifeline for us these past years and I will do my part when I get out of this mess,” said Colby, who used his grant to pay for a place to stay upon his release.
LPP would like to give special thanks to LPP pro bono attorney and Legal Committee Member Chiara Juster, of Chiara Law, for her tireless work on Colby’s and Maria’s cases.
Although Colby and Maria will still suffer the collateral consequences of their incarceration, we are very happy to see them both out of prison. We look forward to the day when they will finally be reunited with each other… fully free.
