Our friend, Sean Volin, is currently serving an excessive 26-year sentence for a burglary. While we acknowledge his wrongdoing, the severity of this punishment is undeniably cruel. Sean has been in prison for eight years. This was a non-violent offense and Sean has no history of violence. 

Sean has a prior felony conviction and he was on parole at the time of the offense. The prosecutor argued this meant Sean was a habitual criminal who could never be rehabilitated. He recommended Sean remain in prison for the rest of his life. He never took Sean‘s mental illness seriously. he did not want a reasonable explanation for Sean‘s behavior. He thought Sean relapsed into criminal behavior because he was a bad person. I disagree.

At the time of the incident, Sean was grappling with the sudden onset of a severe episode of depression - a condition that significantly impaired his judgment. He had never experienced anything like it before. He was totally unprepared for the impact that happened in his life. I watched as my positive and determined friend became hopeless. He was depressed all the time and started to think that it was impossible for him to have to have a good life with his girlfriend. He started to believe that nothing he could do would ever matter. He believed there was a conspiracy against him. He became desperate and wanted to end his life.

Sean tried to get help. He went to his parole officer and was referred to the Larimer county mental health service. he went to counseling, support groups, and tried different medication’s. But the whole time this was going on he slipped further and further away from reality. Along the way Sean was involved in a crime. Sadly, the impact his condition had on his ability to make decisions was ignored by the court. 

Eight years ago it was nearly impossible to use severe depression as the foundation for a mental illness defense. Sean’s attorney wouldn’t even consider it. He was intimidated by the district attorney who was on a mission to put Sean away for good. He convinced Sean to accept a 26 year prison sentence because he said Sean would lose in court and end up spending the rest of his life behind bars.  Today,  depression has been recognized by the courts to be as likely to impair thinking as other conditions such as mania and psychosis.

Sean has been more than just a friend; he has been an inspiration and role model for many of us. Despite facing numerous challenges while on parole - maintaining employment and nurturing a serious relationship among them - he remained determined to succeed. His resilience in the face of adversity provided strength and motivation for those around him who were also struggling.

The State of Colorado reports that nearly one in five adults live with a mental illness (Colorado Health Institute). Yet our justice system often fails to adequately address these conditions during sentencing. This oversight can result in excessively harsh punishments like Sean's.

We believe it's time for change. We believe it's time for compassion and understanding towards individuals like Sean who commit offenses while battling untreated mental illnesses. We call upon you today not only as friends but as concerned citizens advocating for fairer treatment within our justice system.

By signing this petition, you are supporting clemency for Sean Volin and advocating for more compassionate sentencing practices that take into account mental health conditions. Let us give him another chance at life outside prison walls where he can receive proper treatment and continue inspiring others with his resilience.