Biography
Joe Smith was one of the Pontiac 17 held in Cook County Jail on charges arising from the July 1978 Pontiac prison rebellion. The Pontiac Prisoners Support Coalition reported in February 1980 that he had finished his original prison sentence but remained jailed because Judge Ben Miller refused bond on the rebellion charges. The coalition challenged the prosecution as a frame-up and criticized restrictions on the defense.
Joe Smith was one of the Pontiac 17 held in Cook County Jail on charges arising from the July 1978 Pontiac prison rebellion. The Pontiac Prisoners Support Coalition reported in February 1980 that he had finished his original prison sentence but remained jailed because Judge Ben Miller refused bond on the rebellion charges. The coalition challenged the prosecution as a frame-up and criticized restrictions on the defense.
Pontiac Prisoners Support Coalition Newsletter, No.11 (February 1980), PDF page 9; Pontiac Prisoners Support Coalition Newsletter, No.11 (February 1980), PDF page 12.
Defense counsel: Jeffrey Haas.
Source-reported institution: Cook County Jail.
