About Lacie

On April 1, 2009, Lacie Nelson took residence at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF) in Colorado. On that day, she also became known as offender #145499. Lacie was convinced and she believed that because she was truly innocent of these accusations that she would be found innocent in our “justice” system.

At the time of her arrest and trial, she was a wife, mother of two sons, a daughter, sister, niece and loved family member. Many of her loved ones sat in horror wen she was sentenced to three life terms in prison for a crime she did not commit.

The system has failed Lacie. Multiple times.

Lacie believed that the Justice system would confirm her innocence, it failed her.

What you would do if you were innocent?

Would you have agreed to a trial even when offered no jail time?

Would you be willing to go to prison and refuse to admit guilt even if you were allowed to be released?

Lacie refused to take a plea deal when offered no jail time and continues to stand for her innocence since she was originally arrested in August of 2006. She could be out if she were willing to sign a document and “admit guilt” in order to be deemed “compliant” for parole.

Lacie has not given up and neither are we.

Many who are truly guilty would have accepted any deal they are offered, especially if offered no jail time or offered probation.

Would you test the system?

Would you “take the deal?”

The Justice system is not designed to find the “truth” or to find out what really happened, instead, it has turned into a competition to determine which lawyer is better at winning.

The phrase that you are innocent until proven guilty is not always true. She has had the option of “admitting guilt” to be released but she will not lie to be released.

Please help us right these wrongs. Justice for Lacie is long overdue!!!

Even through those challenges, Lacie discovered numerous ways to better herself and encourage those around her as she began serving those three life sentences on April 1, 2009.

Surprisingly, these experiences have allowed her to pursue opportunities without becoming bitter. It is remarkable that she has chosen the high road, unlike her accusers.

Through these years she has dedicated herself to learning and has accomplished a tremendous amount. Her accomplishments “on the inside” are honorable and her reputation among the staff and residents at DWCF often provide her with requests to serve or work on specific projects.

For example, Lacie has:

Completed a four year seminary level program for Christian Leadership through TUMI - The Urban Ministry Institute
Earned an Associates Degree from Trinidad State University
Acquired enough hours to receive her Cosmetology License
Obtained numerous other learning certificates and achievements.
Offered the opportunity to obtain a Recovery Coach - Peer Advocate National Certification that were offered to her by Mental Health of America. There are only two women at DWCF that have been given this opportunity so far.
Instrumental in creating a guide of resources for women who are preparing to leave prison. As a result of her efforts, during the pandemic when working ceased for the inmates and daily lock downs became the norm, additional people had to be hired from “the outside” to fill all the positions Lacie had been doing.
Invited to be a part of the Chapel Build Committee. This was a result of the years she has spent with New Beginnings Lutheran Church and the influence she had on many as she served as a member and as part of the church council. New Beginnings is the only church physically established inside the gates of DWCF and Lacie has been a cornerstone to its ability to reach the women she has been incarcerated with over the years. Lacie courageously strives to assist in providing support to the challenges her fellow inmates experience each day.
Assisted in developing a program called HOPE - Helping Others Progress Effectively. In February 2023, this program was granted permission to begin after numerous obstacles and challenges! HOPE allows peer mentors to be assigned to new inmates at DWCF.

All of these accomplishments have brought her to a place of being a role model. Her ability to influence those around her is recognized and regularly sought after. Lacie has never lost hope - in fact, “HOPE” is her favorite word.

Bottom line? Things “inside” don’t just happen, they take a huge amount of effort to work with officers and overseers to get going and to keep going. Lacie has been instrumental in making things happen and bringing honorable solutions for many, including staff.

In April of 2020, at the start of the pandemic, when an overlooked lung infection worsened and she began coughing up blood, Lacie was again denied release for her medical condition. Her health continued to fail until one year later, in March 2021, she had two lobes of her right lung removed.

It was during her month long recovery in the infirmary that Lacie began a new effort to bring hope and vision to the women at DWCF. During her recovery, Vision of Hope DOC was birthed and she began coordinating efforts to provide prescription eyeglasses to the women in need. She learned through this process that “Seeing is Freeing” for many of those who are truly able to “see clearly" for the first time since being incarcerated.

As of January 2023 and almost 22 months later, over 100 women have benefited from her efforts. This is equivalent to over 10% of the population at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility and the requests for quality prescription eyeglasses continues. You can hear more here at www.visionofhopedoc.com.

Lacie has made an impact where she has been forced to reside all these years. She has truly made lemonade out of lemons and many are benefiting from her efforts. In the last year, she networked with friends “on the outside” in an effort to provide Hope Packs - backpacks for girls that are being released. Each Hope Pack contains an outfit, socks, undergarments, hygiene, brush, etc. These are delivered to the halfway houses where the girls are assigned. It is often the only possessions they are given upon release from prison. As you can imagine, these efforts provide hope to girls who have no support from family.

We are hoping that the next season of impact in Lacie’s life is for her to finally be declared innocent and exonerated of the charges brought against her.

Join us in calling on the Governor of Colorado to grant Clemency for Lacie.

Today.

This is a pursuit in truth, justice, and freedom.

We welcome your support in seeing Lacie being placed in a position of freedom.

It is time.

Please join us in this effort and let’s do this!