We Need Your Letter of Support

We would like to obtain your support for the commutation of my mother's life sentence.  A commutation is when an inmate's life sentence is converted to a number of years, thus making the inmate eligible for parole.  A commutation decision is made solely by the Governor of the state; in my mother's case, that is the Governor of Iowa.  Without the granting of a commutation, my mother will never be eligible for release.

Should you agree to support my mother in her application for clemency, you may want to include some of the information below in your letter.  Please use the link at the bottom of this page to email me for more information.  Letters of support should be mailed to me  Please keep in mind there is no right or wrong way to write your letter.  

The Iowa Department of Corrections has four goals that need to be met for a commutation to be considered:

1) specific deterrents have been met and the prisoners will not commit another violent crime

2) psychiatric evaluation is positive and references from the period of incarceration are good

3) the message such a commutation will give to society; i.e., will the public believe that killing is condoned if the commutation is made?

4) rehabilitation has been achieved. Governor Vilsack is particularly concerned with whether or not retribution has been met and if the prisoner has served "just" punishment.