Clemency for Mark Jenkins
More than sixty correctional officers have written to Governor Ivey in support of Mark Jenkins. They are the people who know Mark best, and they know the Governor’s legacy rests on who lives and who dies on her watch. They are calling on the Governor to commute Mark’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Meet Mark
Learn about Mark—what he experienced as a child, the crime he committed, the work he has done to atone for his actions, and who he is today.
The Officers
These correctional officers have known Mark for years and, in some cases, decades. They know his character and have witnessed his growth. Over sixty of them have come forward to say why they believe he should not be executed.
“I hope that my experience as a career ADOC officer counts for something, that my word counts for something.”
Retired correctional officer · 23 years of service
Over sixty letters. Nine of the writers facilitated or witnessed executions.
What Mark is requesting
Under the Alabama Constitution, the Governor has the authority, and the right, to commute a death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Mark and his legal team are not asking for any chance of future release. They are asking that the Governor allow Mark to live the rest of his natural life within prison walls instead of being executed.
This power exists because the judicial process is not perfect. When the judicial process does not lead to the right outcome, the clemency power allows the Governor to step in and show mercy.
Why Clemency
The Supreme Court has barred the execution of intellectually disabled people. A neuropsychologist has diagnosed Mark with intellectual disability, but no court has given him a chance to present that evidence.
The diagnosisA psychologist calls Mark’s childhood one of the worst cases of abuse she has seen in her career. The jury never heard a word about it.
The untold storyTwo jurors voted for a sentence of life in prison without parole. In nearly every other state, Mark would have received that sentence. Alabama is one of only two states that allow a death sentence without a unanimous jury.
The jurors who voted for lifeMark was twenty-three when he arrived at Holman Prison. He is now fifty-nine. Correctional officers describe him as peaceful, trustworthy, and good-natured, and deeply religious—a far cry from the troubled man who arrived decades earlier.
A changed manTake action
Four easy ways to help
We’re asking people to hold off on social media for now. This is an appeal to the Governor, not a public campaign. The most useful thing you can do is tell someone directly.
Mark’s storyIf you live in Alabama, write a postcard to Governor Ivey to let her know you support clemency for Mark.
How it worksSign up for updates about Mark’s case, including events and actions that we’ll spotlight in the months ahead.
Let us know if your church, house of worship, or other group is interested in hosting an event to spread awareness about Mark’s case or in sending postcards to Governor Ivey.
Get in touch