Keith Russell is 48 years old. And has spent almost 30 years in a California State Prison for a crime that he didn't commit. 

In 1995, Keith was an 18 year old teenager in Los Angeles trapped in the gang culture. Caught in a stolen car by the police with another young man, the police recovered a 9 mm weapon discarded by the other man in front of the police. Ballistics proved that that gun had been used in a series of crimes, including two homicides and an attempted homicide. And although the police had seen the other man discard the weapon, they chose to pin this weapon and all crimes associated with it on Keith. There were no fingerprints on the gun nor anything else linking him to the weapon or the homicides. And yet, on the basis of that gun and shaky witness testimony that couldn't definitively identify the perpetrator, Keith now sits in prison with a sentence of 22 years and 8 months plus life plus life without parole. A slow-moving death sentence. 

Since his conviction in 1998, Keith has denounced the gang life and has been focused on being and becoming a better person during his time of incarceration. Keith has taken every opportunity to further his education and skills, he has earned his GED and is currently working towards a college degree. He has taken numerous inmate improvement courses to prepare himself mentally and emotionally for the challenges out there.  Moreover, he has taken numerous opportunities to talk to young men about the dangers and pitfalls of gangs and the street life. 

Keith's most important growth and development has come from his realization that his prior gang activities are what put him in this situation in the first place. Keith is remorseful and regretful of the people that he associated with and the things that he did as a teenager caught up in the gang life. Keith is well aware that he cannot undo the transgressions of his youth. But what he can do is to have and continue to have an effect and impact on those he sees following in his wayward direction. And be a positive force for change. 

Despite the manner in which the State characterized him, Keith Russell is a principled man, brought up with strong family values. Born to a mother and father, respectively 15 and 13 years old, Keith was raised by key family members who taught him the values and principles that he holds dearly today. Those values and principles with which he was imbued have become the bedrock to his salvation behind the Prison Walls. He accepts and takes responsibility for those crimes that he committed while a gang member. And more so now than ever, he is eternally grateful and thankful for what was instilled in him – putting others before himself, seeing both sides of an issue, peace and negotiation over violence and aggression, the value of hard work, the dire need for empathy, the importance of humility, and the beauty in loving oneself and all those around him. These values and principles have helped Keith navigate and stay on a more positive course as he moves forward in life.

While Keith has applied with the Los Angeles County for a review of his conviction, the entire file of his arrest, the subsequent investigation and evidence presented at his trial was purportedly destroyed, arguably foreclosing the opportunity for a full and fair review of all facts surrounding his conviction. Moreover, the loss of such vital information has eradicated his ability to further appeal his conviction. Without this information and with no one to account for its destruction, the success of such an Application is unknown. As such, Keith remains in prison where he has been for almost 30 years and, potentially, the rest of his natural life.

At this time, Keith Russell is applying to the Governor of the State of California for clemency to commute his sentence to time served. To give him a chance at a life from behind Prison Walls and to give back to society so he can help break the gang culture in Los Angeles and help those younger than him avoid the mistakes that he made. 

Keith's family has set up this petition to get support behind his application. Please sign this petition to help encourage the Governor of California to grant Keith Russell clemency. 

Mercy is all that he asks for.