This petition is in regard to Richard L. Kinney. He is currently an inmate at Southeastern Correctional Complex, in Lancaster, Ohio. 

My uncle Richard was what some may call a “functioning alcoholic”. He usually had an alcoholic beverage in his hand, but he always held a job and took care of his children, wife, and their family farm. Richard has a great sense of humor and a kind heart. He would give a stranger the shirt off of his back, even if it was the only thing he owned. 

On March 30, 2016, Richard was involved in an accident. He was pulling a trailer that had a skidded on it. He was impaired by alcohol and hit another vehicle. The other vehicle was occupied by an 85 year old woman, who succumbed the next morning to internal injuries sustained in the accident. This affected Richard severely. He did not eat, Sis not sleep, and did not leave his house. The last drink of alcohol that my Uncle Richard took was the night of the accident, even before he was taken into custody on April 25, 2016. He was placed on house arrest in May 2017, and on June 25, 2017, Richard was sent to prison. 

He was charged with 2 counts of OVI and 1 count of aggregated vehicular homicide. The maximum sentence for these charges is 8 years. The family of the deceased asked that Richard receive a 5 year prison term. Richard’s family asked that he receive a 3 year prison term. Judge Julie Selmon, of Monroe County Common Pleas Court, sentenced Richard to 7 years. Prior to these charges, Richard Kinney had a clean record; not a speeding ticket or a parking ticket in the 30+ years he had been driving. 

Richard shows remorse for his actions that evening. He has stated several times that he wishes he could take back what happened. Unfortunately, that is not possible. Therefore, we are asking that Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, let Richard out. A 7-year prison term for a person that had never broken the law in their life is a long time. Richard has missed the birth of 2 of his grandchildren (with another due in November 2021) as well as the marriage of one of his children. Richard’s step-son, Ryan, has been taking care of the family farm since he has been incarcerated. This is putting a financial and emotional burden on Ryan. Ryan would like to move on with his life and start a family of his own, however, he feels that it is his duty to take care of his mother and the farm until Richard is home. Ryan has not been able to work a full-time job due to the responsibilities of the farm. 

We ask for the immediate release of Richard L. Kinney. This is not asking for temporary release, but to use this moment to turn to methods of transformative justice and restorative action rather than to a punitive system of imprisonment.