Hello, my name is Eric Clark and there has not been a day from July 7, 1992 to July 7, 2017 that I haven’t faced a Death Sentence or Life Without the Possibility of Parole, or have had to serve an LWOP sentence. Being an LWOP was not a sentence to serve, but became my description and a form of identification.
September 15, 2017, I was resentenced to 25 years to life, and after already surpassing my 25-year base term, I was already overdue for my initial Board of Parole hearing date. I even was 20 years old and became immediately eligible for parole as a Youthful Offender under SB 261.
So, in the last 4 plus months my life has been a whirlwind. Being a Lifer is much different than being an LWOP. There is a sense of now as a lifer, whereas an LWOP there was always time. That’s all LWOP’s have had for decades, is time. But now things are moving in the direction for those serving LWOP sentences, towards an opportunity for consideration to be treated like a lifer. What does that look like? What does that mean?
The conversations I’ve had with those LWOP’s on Level II tells me they don’t see it. So, my advice with those who truly seek consideration and a chance for freedom, Remember Your Victims. Do not approach this as if it’s all about you. Do not come across as if you are owed something or entitled. And convey that you realize that no hardship from an excessively harsh sentence can be worse than being a murder victim or their family.
Good luck to all those serving LWOP sentences. Do not become what you have been sentenced to serve.
Sincerely,
Eric Clark J-36404
CSP Solano C13-7-3
P.O. Box 4000
Vacaville, California 95696
January 25, 2018
This is a case about Eric’s brother, but Eric was also in the court case. They wanted to have this link posted here:
https://www.leagle.com/decision/incaco20160627061 (People v. Clark (2016) 63 cal. 4th 522)
Lifers With Optimistic Progress (LWOP) 
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