This is the letter we would ask you to sign and send in to the legislature. There is power in numbers! If enough people act, we can make a difference!
You can copy this one or email me and I will be more than happy to send one to you. Thank You.
TO: ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE
RE: EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this to ask the Legislative Body to remove the final decision for executive clemency form the Governors hands
and allow the Parole Board to have the final say in executive clemency matters.
I am a taxpaying citizen and a family member and /or friend of a loved one incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of
Corrections serving a sentence without the possibility of release except by executive clemency. Like my loved one, there
are many more prisoners in the same situation – e.g. Life without Parole; Life with parole; a number of years under Act 93
whereby parole is prohibited; or those with a long sentence under the 70% law.
Many of these inmates have asked for executive clemency and been denied. Records will show the some of these inmates
are recommended for clemency – some multiple times – by the Board of Parole, only to be denied by the Governor. The
Governor’s decision is non-appealable.
Where is the wisdom in having a qualified seven-member executively-appointed Parole Board make a majority decision for
clemency only to have the Governor repeatedly veto their recommendation? Is there logic in appointing highly-qualified,
handsomely paid people to perform an advisory service, and, in most cases, ignore their professional advice?
The only logical reason for the Governor to take this stand is politics. It is believed that it can be political disaster to release
prisoners via clemency; especially those convicted of violent crimes. Consequently, a Governors decision on clemency
matters is often made, not on the merits, but on the possible damage it can do to their political career.
I humbly pray that the legislative body remove this cumbersome burden from the Governor’s Office and place it exclusively
under the jurisdiction of the Board of Parole, who, both individually and collectively, are aptly qualified and their decisions
regarding clemency should be final.
Respectfully,
NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE #:
These letters can be mailed to :ARKANSAS STATE LEGISLATURE
172 State Capitol Building
Little Rock, AR 72201