Spoon Jackson Realness Network: LEGAL

2019-20

April 10

Spoon has a pro bono legal team that's been working on a new commutation application since last year. They've been very thorough and gone through every file documented about the court case and all the years in prison. It's soon time to send it to the Governor who, as you probably know, is speeding up commutation processes at the moment due to the pandemic.

This is the second time Spoon is filing for commutation. The first time was to Governor Brown. Many of Spoon's friends sent support letters then.

If you have sent a support letter before, you can use the same letter, but it needs a new date and of course it has to be addressed to the new Governor!

Support letters will be added to the new commutation package.

Start at the top with:

Governor Gavin Newsom

Support letter for Commutation of LWOP Sentence

Stanley Jackson CDCR # B92377

Explain how you know Spoon and your first hand personal knowledge of how he has changed during incarceration, and why you believe he can safely be released. It's great if you can decribe how you can support him if he gets out BUT if you do - it should be true and specific, what kind of support you can provide. Stating “we will help in any way we can” is not useful. Write a clearly detailed letter, but not more than one page.

You need to use Spoon's given name Stanley and the CDC number B92377 at the top, but you can use his name “Spoon” in the text if you want. Remember to date the letter and sign it with your signature and address!

The letter needs to be signed with a HANDWRITTEN or ELECTRONIC signature! You do not need to send an original however -- your letter can be signed, scanned, and then emailed as a document. Spoon needs a printed copy though for his file.

If you are unable to print and are only emailing one copy, please inform Susan in the email that you haven't send Spoon a copy!

Spoon and the lawyers need your letter within one month from today!

You can find more guidelines on the web about what to include in a support letter of this kind. Here is an example

N.B. Do not send it to the Governor! Send one copy to Spoon by regular mail:

Spoon Jackson B92377

CSP Solano C 13-19-1, L.

PO Box 4000

Vacaville, CA 95696/4000

USA

and one copy by email to:

Susan Lawrence

susan.lawrence@lwopstudies.org

2018

Spoon has been in prison 41 years. The Governor of California started to grant commutation to Life Without Parole prisoners last year. Spoon is still waiting for his turn. It's Governor Brown's last term. Help telling him Spoon should be granted a second chance by signing this petition:

Sign here! Spoon Jackson - A Poet 41 years in Prison is Seeking Redemption

The petition was sent to the Governor in November 2018. Spoon was not granted a commutation by Governor Brown, but we will continue, there must be a way! Please sign until Spoon is free!

2016
After 38 years in prison Spoon Jackson has filed a Habeas Corpus petition to the courts to have ”Special Circumstances” removed from his Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) sentence. A Habeas Corpus gives a court the option to strike Special Circumstances from a sentence in the interest of justice based on a prisoner's age, in custody behaviour and good programming. If granted, it would change Spoon’s sentence from Life Without Parole to Life With Parole and this could lead to his release from prison!

Spoon was overcharged in an error-ridden, racist trial in 1977. There was no evidence of the special circumstances he was charged with. Those charges were fabricated and added to the case by the court. Without them Spoon could not have been given a LWOP sentence. But there is no way to appeal such a sentence - only in custody behaviour.

The (Habeas Corpus) petitions have been denied in California State Courts. Spoon now has an attorney who has appealed to Federal Court.

Funds raised with the help of SJRA Sentencing and Justice Reform Advocacy.

2014