More Than Two Decades Behind Bars. One Request for a Second Chance.

Should the actions of a young adult define every remaining year of his life—even after decades of growth and change?

Michael J. Simmons entered prison in his twenties. More than 20 years later, he remains incarcerated within the Nevada Department of Corrections. Much of his adult life has passed behind prison walls.

Michael committed serious crimes that caused lasting harm. That harm deserves acknowledgment, and the people affected deserve compassion and respect. Supporting Michael’s opportunity for a second chance does not require anyone to overlook those realities.

We are asking for his growth, his rehabilitation, and the life he could still build to matter, too.

A Young Adult Then. A Different Man Today.

Michael was in his twenties when his incarceration began. We believe that his age at the time, the decades he has served, and his efforts toward rehabilitation deserve meaningful weight when considering whether his sentence should be commuted.

Research shows that brain development, including areas involved in planning and decision-making, continues into the mid-to-late twenties. This does not erase responsibility. It strengthens the argument for considering young adulthood alongside the growth a person demonstrates over time. A person’s capacity to change should have a place in decisions about their future.

Michael Has Worked to Prepare for a Different Life.

These efforts matter because returning home requires more than hope. It requires responsibility, practical skills, and a continued commitment to change.

A Family Still Waiting

Outside prison, years have become decades. Children have grown into adults. Grandchildren have arrived. Family milestones have come and gone without Michael being able to share in them at home.

In 2025, Michael’s son was killed. Losing his son while incarcerated brought profound grief and another loss that can never be repaired. That tragedy is part of his story, but our request rests on his whole life: the time he has served, the work he has done, the relationships he has maintained, and the future we believe he can still build. We want him to have the opportunity to be present for the family moments that remain—to support his children, know his grandchildren, work, and contribute to his community.

Let’s Bring Michael Home

We support a commutation of Michael J. Simmons’s sentence that would give him a meaningful opportunity to return home.

We are asking for his circumstances to receive thoughtful, individual consideration: his young adulthood when these crimes occurred, the seriousness of the harm, more than two decades of incarceration, his rehabilitation, and the family support available to him.

We believe Michael has served enough time and deserves the opportunity to demonstrate his growth through a responsible life in the community.

Why Your Signature Matters - Your signature adds your voice to a public call for Michael’s sentence to be reconsidered. Sharing this petition helps his story reach people beyond our family and brings greater attention to our request for commutation.

You do not have to know Michael personally to believe that accountability, rehabilitation, and second chances can exist together. Please stand with our family. Help us make his progress visible and his request heard.

His past cannot be changed. His future deserves consideration.

Sign the petition. Share Michael’s story. Help us bring him home.