Governor Huckabee Needs To Change His Clemency Policy

To: Mike Huckabee, Governor, State of Arkansas

We, the undersigned, are residents of the great state of Arkansas and are very disturbed by your recent and past considerations regarding clemency. The following people are just a few of those who have been granted clemency by you since you took office on July 15, 1996:

* Eugene Fields was convicted of 4 DWI offenses and served less than 9 months of a 72-month sentence (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0404/139473.html)

* Don Jeffers pleaded guilty to 1st degree murderand served 23 years of life in prison sentence; clemency stopped due to error in procedure (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0504/149851.html)

* Wayne Dumond was convicted of raping 17 year old girl and served 14 years of already reduced life sentence to 39.5 years; he is in prison in another state for murder
(http://www.canoe.com/CNEWSFeatures9909/27_rapist.html)

* Denver Witham was convicted of 1st degree murder and was serving life in prison sentence (http://www.kthv.com/search/results.aspx?storyid=9895)

* John Claiborne was convicted with 3 counts of burglary, one count of theft, one of kidnapping and two of aggravated robbery was serving a 375 year sentence http://www.kthv.com/search/results.aspx?storyid=9895)

* James Maxwell was convicted of murdering a Little Rock minister and served 20+ years of a life sentence; was Governors Mansion trustee (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1003/105131.html)



Recently you have stated your intentions to grant clemency to the following:

* Glen Green was convicted of killing an 18 year old pregnant woman and has served 30 years of life sentence; post prison transfer board unanimously voted to deny request
(http://www.kthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=10520)

* Dennis Lewis was convicted of murderand has served 30 years of a life sentence (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0704/157643.html)

* 33 convicted felons none are convicted murders but their crimes do include aggravated robbery and drug crimes (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0604/151249.html)


We realize granting clemency is a power vested to you by taking the oath of office, but that power must be used with responsibility. Releasing convicted murders and other felons is irresponsible. By doing this, you are saying to your constituents (us) that you do not give any regard to our safety or any credit to those who served on the juries of the convicted criminals. In addition, keeping silent on your reasons for clemency is a cowardice decision. The victims whose lives have been affected by these criminals deserve some sort of explanation.

We implore you to reconsider the way you grant clemencies and, at the very least, have the courage to give your justifications.