Commutation Denied?

Quick summary: Troy's commutation application hangs in the balance as it has been forwarded to the governor's office by the parole board without a thumbs-up. Please use the bullet points below and your own words to write a letter to Governor Rick Snyder and ask him to seriously consider Troy's application. 

Details: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is in his final year in office, which is when executives sign most commutations. Troy Chapman is not eligible to see the parole board so commutation is his only hope for release before he is 81 years old.

Troy applied for commutation in August. The parole board has forwarded the application to the governor without supporting it. Governors tend to take the parole board's lead in signing commutations.

We are at a critical moment, and can draw attention to Troy's application before the governor's office acts on the board's non-recommendation. Please help us by writing to the governor so Troy's application is not overlooked and put in the reject pile.

Here is one line of reasoning you can use:G

• Troy's commutation application has been forwarded to the governor's office without support from the parole board.
• The governor and legislature have advanced evidence-based parole and policies within the MDOC. In fact, the Michigan House has just passed an objective parole reform bill. That is good!
• Troy's application amply demonstrates remorse, atonement, insight into his crime, responsibility, rehabilitation, an excellent support system and a job waiting for him on the outside, and a long list of positive accomplishments. By the MDOC's own metrics, he is a great "risk."
• Urge the governor to commute Troy's sentence.
• If he won't commute, ask what evidence supports denial of the commutation after Troy has served 33 years of a 60-90 year sentence for second-degree murder that leaves him without access to the parole board.
• Feel free to include your own experience of Troy's good work.
• Include Troy's inmate number: 169076

Write to:
Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909

cc the governor's "Legal Division" at the same address.

Or email the governor.

Questions? You can email Maryann Gorman. Thank you for your help. And please let us know if you've written.

P.S. Troy wrote this wonderful piece on the heels of receiving this news.