Efren Paredes, Jr. Support Application for commutation of sentence.
The Issue
[This page is being updated September 7, 2026]
September 1, 2026, Efrén Paredes Jr. appeared before the Michigan Parole Board for a public hearing to consider his application for commutation of sentence. The last time he received this opportunity was nearly two decades ago on December 8, 2008. The Parole Board will convene a meeting in the coming weeks to vote on their recommendation to Governor Gretchen Whitmer regarding Efrén's application. The Governor will then issue a final decision whether to grant or deny the application before her term in office ends on December 31, 2026.
Efrén is a Latino man from Berrien County, Michigan, who has been incarcerated nearly four decades for a crime he was charged with at age 15 and sentenced to life without parole (LWOP). Three other individuals, all older than Efrén, were also charged in connection with the crime. The last of the three individuals was released from prison in 2005 -- twenty-one years ago. Efrén is now 53-years-old and has spent 70 percent of his life behind bars.
Today, Efrén is an undergraduate student in his senior year pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies through the Western Michigan University Higher Education for the Justice-Involved (HEJI) program. He is also a social justice changemaker who works to support racial justice, conflict resolution, and empower members of marginalized communities.
Evidence of Efrén's transformative change during his 37.5 years of incarceration, and why he is deserving of release, is available at https://EfrensWords.home.blog/Efrens-Accomplishments/.
You are invited to join the chorus of juvenile justice and human rights advocates across the nation supporting the campaign to free Efrén. Together, we stand in opposition to condemning individuals to die in prison for crimes they were charged with as children. By supporting this campaign, you can help champion this critical cause and promote a more equitable and humane criminal legal system.
You can support Efrén's campaign for freedom by:
1) Michigan residents can sign the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign which sends a prepared email of support to Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressing support for Efrén's commutation of sentence, which is available here: https://amnesty.quorum.us/campaign/158629/
2) Sharing the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign link with others across every network you touch (social media, email listservs, community chats, and text networks), pinning the link to the top of your social media page, and inviting others to do the same. Sharing the link with individuals through mobile messenging apps like iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat is highly effective (especially with folks who have large networks) since they will receive your message directly in the event they miss a post you make on your social media page.
3) "Liking" the Free Efrén Paredes Jr. Facebook page available at https://fb.com/Free.Efren and posting digital graphics available on the page in your network which advertise the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign.
4) Downloading, sharing, and displaying a new flyer about the Amnesty International USA digital action anywhere people gather, which can be accessed here: https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/05/08/New-2026-Free-Efren-Paredes-Jr-Flyer-Available/
5) Share the following links in your network about Efren's most recent efforts to obtain his freedom available at:
https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/08/24/the-return-value-of-efren-paredes-jr-to-society/
https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/04/02/support-mercy-and-justice-stand-with-efren-paredes-jr/
1,583
The Issue
[This page is being updated September 7, 2026]
September 1, 2026, Efrén Paredes Jr. appeared before the Michigan Parole Board for a public hearing to consider his application for commutation of sentence. The last time he received this opportunity was nearly two decades ago on December 8, 2008. The Parole Board will convene a meeting in the coming weeks to vote on their recommendation to Governor Gretchen Whitmer regarding Efrén's application. The Governor will then issue a final decision whether to grant or deny the application before her term in office ends on December 31, 2026.
Efrén is a Latino man from Berrien County, Michigan, who has been incarcerated nearly four decades for a crime he was charged with at age 15 and sentenced to life without parole (LWOP). Three other individuals, all older than Efrén, were also charged in connection with the crime. The last of the three individuals was released from prison in 2005 -- twenty-one years ago. Efrén is now 53-years-old and has spent 70 percent of his life behind bars.
Today, Efrén is an undergraduate student in his senior year pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies through the Western Michigan University Higher Education for the Justice-Involved (HEJI) program. He is also a social justice changemaker who works to support racial justice, conflict resolution, and empower members of marginalized communities.
Evidence of Efrén's transformative change during his 37.5 years of incarceration, and why he is deserving of release, is available at https://EfrensWords.home.blog/Efrens-Accomplishments/.
You are invited to join the chorus of juvenile justice and human rights advocates across the nation supporting the campaign to free Efrén. Together, we stand in opposition to condemning individuals to die in prison for crimes they were charged with as children. By supporting this campaign, you can help champion this critical cause and promote a more equitable and humane criminal legal system.
You can support Efrén's campaign for freedom by:
1) Michigan residents can sign the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign which sends a prepared email of support to Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressing support for Efrén's commutation of sentence, which is available here: https://amnesty.quorum.us/campaign/158629/
2) Sharing the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign link with others across every network you touch (social media, email listservs, community chats, and text networks), pinning the link to the top of your social media page, and inviting others to do the same. Sharing the link with individuals through mobile messenging apps like iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat is highly effective (especially with folks who have large networks) since they will receive your message directly in the event they miss a post you make on your social media page.
3) "Liking" the Free Efrén Paredes Jr. Facebook page available at https://fb.com/Free.Efren and posting digital graphics available on the page in your network which advertise the Amnesty International USA digital action campaign.
4) Downloading, sharing, and displaying a new flyer about the Amnesty International USA digital action anywhere people gather, which can be accessed here: https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/05/08/New-2026-Free-Efren-Paredes-Jr-Flyer-Available/
5) Share the following links in your network about Efren's most recent efforts to obtain his freedom available at:
https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/08/24/the-return-value-of-efren-paredes-jr-to-society/
https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/04/02/support-mercy-and-justice-stand-with-efren-paredes-jr/
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Petition created on September 28, 2016