Sign this petition to support the release of Maynard McCallister and promote a justice system that believes in second chances and rehabilitation over cruel and unusual punishment. 

It's time to shift our perspective on justice. By advocating for Maynard's release, we are supporting a justice system that values redemption and development over mere punishment.
Join us in pushing for a change in the judicial approach, one that recognizes the potential for positive contributions and growth in individuals like Maynard McCallister.

Maynard's Story

Maynard McCallister has been incarcerated for 30 years. He does not deny his past. He does not make excuses. Instead, he stands today as a man who has taken full responsibility, who lives with deep remorse, and who has worked tirelessly to become someone entirely different from the person he once was.

Maynard’s life before prison was marked by hardships few people could withstand. He was born into severe poverty and into a family with a long history of mental illnesses. Stability was something his family rarely knew. As a child, he suffered serious medical problems, nearly dying multiple times and spending much of his early life in hospitals on heavy medications. He struggled in school with undiagnosed dyslexia and learning difficulties, and by eighth grade, teachers had labeled him “stupid and difficult.” None of his siblings made it past middle school. Life meant working, moving, and getting by however they could. He grew up believing he wasn’t capable, that education wasn’t for people like him so he left school early to work and help his family survive.

As he grew older, serious mental health conditions emerged — schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Severe impulse control and anger issues when unmedicated. These conditions went undiagnosed for years, even during his time in the Army, where he received specialized training but no mental health evaluation. Without treatment, he turned to drugs and alcohol to quiet his mind. Soon he developed a history of addiction and blackouts. 

At the time of his crime, he was off of all his prescribed medications and in the middle of a prolonged drug and alcohol binge, awake for days with others in the same state where he was deeply detached from reality. This does not excuse his actions, but it does explain how the untreated illnesses and instability shaped that moment. He takes full responsibility for his actions and lives with deep regret for the harm he caused.

Since his incarceration, Maynard has endured tremendous loss. Both of his parents passed away, he also lost nieces and nephews, three brothers and close friends. His remaining sister now suffers from serious heart and kidney problems. He has carried this grief alone behind bars, with no chance to say goodbye or to be present for his family.

Prison could have hardened him but instead he chose to let it change him for the better.

Maynard got sober and on the right medications. In a place where drugs are easy to find and are offered, he repeatedly refuses every time. He chose growth over an easy escape. 

Maynard has dedicated himself to education despite his learning disabilities, teaching himself to read and write more fluently. He has studied literature, law, politics, mental health, and faith. He has completed numerous classes, earned awards and recognition for his educational achievements. He also has a powerful gift for art, winning contests and eventually teaching other incarcerated men how to express themselves through creativity.

He has worked deeply on his mental health and personal growth. He openly admits he once believed he knew everything, today he realizes how little he knows and how much he wants to keep learning. That humility alone reflects a complete 180 degree transformation in character. Maynard has also mentored fellow inmates struggling with addiction, helping them with self-reflection and showing them a new positive perspective on life without anger and drugs. Some of those men are now successfully rebuilding their lives on the outside and are continuously grateful to Maynard for taking the time to guide them towards god and the right path. 

Correctional officers have also come to trust him and vouch for his character and conduct. He has demonstrated responsibility, stability, and a sincere commitment to living differently.

Though he has made many mental improvements, his years inside have been physically devastating. He has suffered multiple assaults, serious infections due to medical neglect, and multiple injuries, including a collapsed top bunk that required shoulder surgery. He lives with scoliosis, epilepsy, and is currently battling colon cancer with delayed medical care due to the lack of medical staff. He is forced to endure freezing winters, sweltering summers, repeated COVID infections, and the loss/destruction of personal property during inspections — including family photos and art supplies that were his only emotional escape.

Despite all of this, he has not given up. He has chosen growth, faith and to help others. Maynard is not asking for freedom to run wild, he is asking for a chance and purpose. He is more than willing to accept strict supervision — even house arrest for life. To him, freedom means caring for his ill sister, reconnecting with his children and meeting his grandchildren, opening a small shop with his niece to contribute positively to his community, spending his time making amends and most of all Maynard wants to dedicate his life to helping others overcome trauma and addiction so that they can avoid making the same mistakes he made.

Maynard McCallister is not the same man who entered prison 30 years ago. He is remorseful, accountable and educated. He has already paid with time and loss and now is only asking for a chance to prove that redemption is possible.

Clemency exists for people who have proven that they are more than their worst moment. Maynard McCallister is one of those people. He is not the man he was. He is a man who has done the work to redeem himself. A man who carries regret, wisdom, and a desire to give back. Please give him the chance to come home and spend the rest of his life doing good.