Hi, my name is Deonte Snowden (M06209) and my cry/roar for help is this: I’ve been incarcerated since I was 15 years of age and now am 34. I was charged and convicted of 1st degree murder on a theory of accountability. For those who do not know exactly what that means, I am NOT A KILLER nor did I harm ANYONE. This legal term means the authorities claimed that I either knew about, planned out or participated in a crime and did not report it. Basically, I didn’t tell on someone that they believed committed the crime. Because of my choice to remain silent, I was given a term of 27 years in prison and am paying the price for someone else’s crime. I was a boy at the age of 15 and was sentenced to serve a term of 27 years in IDOC (Illinois Department of Corrections). To make matters worse, I am the only person that was ever tried and convicted of this crime. I’m being punished for someone else’s actions and I am serving more time than the person who actually committed the crime. Where is the sense or justice in that? Back in 2020, the governor of Illinois, Mr. JB Pritzker, came to the conclusion that it was unfair, cruel and unusual punishment for those who are convicted of crimes under circumstances similar to mine. He made a statement saying that he wants to work with the director of IDOC to have men released from prison who have been convicted of crimes that they necessarily didn’t commit, were sentenced to more time than the person who actually committed the crime, or those who have been incarcerated since they were very young. That statement spoke to me in a profound way is it describes my situation exactly as I was convicted at 15 years old for a crime I didn’t commit on the theory of accountability. It seems everyone who heard that statement from the Governor felt that he was speaking to me as well. Someone suggested that I file a Clemency Petition which describes facts about the crime you are arrested for, family history, release plans, disciplinary history and accomplishments achieved while in prison. I found the perfect attorney by the name of Nikki Donnelley who believed in me more than I even did at the time. She felt that I was over sentenced and that I deserve a second chance. I ended up hiring her and we put together a pretty good clemency petition if you ask me. This was then presented to a parole board where I had a public hearing. My family was allowed to speak at the hearing on my behalf (shout out to my sister, Darnisha Snowden, who spoke like a sister missing her brother and a mother wanting and needing her son home. I am forever grateful to her for doing that. Speaking in front of a room full of people that you dont know and that don’t know you, who are looking for any reason to judge, for someone else’s FREEDOM can be incredibly intimidating. But, she held it down for all the sisters, so thank you sister. The state’s attorney did NOT oppose my plea for release, meaning they are not against me coming home. That is a big deal and says a lot about my circumstances and subsequent petition for clemency. The victim’s family has a right to speak out regarding my plea for release, though we are NOT sure what exactly they feel or had to say. .But, I do know that they sat through my trial and know without a doubt that I did NOT take the life of their loved one. With that being said, my case / petition was heard and judged by the board who ultimatum feel that I should be given a second chance at freedom. However, our governor, Mr. JB Pritzker, has the final say. This means my freedom is hanging in the balance, waiting for the governor’s signature of approval. It has now been one year and four months that I have been awaiting a decision. He could decide to allow me immediate release, or to be released when I’ve reached a total of 20 years served, which will be in July of 2025. Of course we are hoping for immediate release, but for some reason or another the governor has been avoiding signing off on clemency petitions. I have given the system 18 years and 9 months of my life which is more than half of what I was sentenced to serve. Being locked up at the age of 15 means I have been incarcerated longer than I have ever been free. I was given a sentence that someone would receive who has committed and been convicted of murder. I was also sentenced as if I was a grown man, not to mention that I was convicted with tactics, misleading information, abuse of discretion by my judge, lack of information from the police regarding my involvement in the case and evidence being withheld from the courts by the state’s attorney. With all of the laws that have been passed over the years, I may have been able to be pushed out the door or potentially be resentenced and judged by a juvenile judge. With all of this being said, I am asking and begging the people for a bit of help, support and passion to help me regain my long overdue freedom. What inspired me to do this is is that I am currently on lockdown, stuck in my cell. I am thinking about how I have just allowed this institution to take the fight out of me and I am just rotting in this cell. This prison is supposed to be a place that provides opportunity for those incarcerated here to show rehabilitation. I have been at this facility for 5 months now and l have never felt so isolated, singled out, abused, misunderstood or discriminated against in the entire time I have been incarcerated. I have NOT been able to attend any programs, any sort of schooling or even allowed to work. I have allowed that to affect me mentally and physically, I have untimely been losing myself to the point where I've essentially given up hope. I have stopped my Bible courses through mail and stopped pursuing certificates through outside vendors. This is because I am being ignored and locked in this cell. By the grace of God, I just happed to read about someone else who was released in a different state under the clemency petition. His petition was pushed by his friends, family and everyone in between signing petitions for his release. This led to their governor signing his clemency petition and allowing his release. I am asking you all to please, from the bottom of my heart and soul, sign this petition and share my story with your family, friends, co-workers, kids, church family, and anyone else with a set of ears to listen and eyes to see. If you want or need any additional information, please reach me via email at connectnetwork.com or by writing to me here:
Deonte Snowden-M06209
Lawrence C.C.
10930 Lawrence Rd.
Sumner, IL 62466
Thank you all…