Ronald Johnson is a loving father, grandfather, brother, friend, and valued community member. He has also been imprisoned 22 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for non-violent drug-related offenses.

Originally sentenced to a draconian 96-year sentence, Ronald poses no risk to community, has paid his debts to society, and is at great risk of COVID-19 exposure if he remains in prison. He is more than prepared to rejoin his family and community.

Watch: https://youtu.be/bUMtgiiOxxA

It's time for Ronald Johnson to come HOME.

At age 63, Ronald Johnson is pre-diabetic, suffers from asthma and high blood pressure, and regularly uses an inhaler to breathe. His age and respiratory ailments put him at great risk of serious illness and death if he contracts COVID-19. With over 800 known active COVID cases in Colorado prisons, Ronald's family fears he may not make it out alive.

In April 2020 due to his advanced age, vulnerable health status and because of the public health crisis, Ronald was recommended as an appropriate candidate for special needs parole. Ronald was hopeful that he would finally be able after 22 years to rejoin his family and community. Shockingly, Colorado's Governor Jared Polis declined to extend the gubernatorial executive order authorizing special needs parole, so instead of being compassionately released, Ronald and others who are similarly vulnerable were forced to return to prison cells on near 24-7 lock-down.

Due to necessary hygiene restrictions, no longer could Ronald experience the family visits that were so sustaining, no longer could he engage in already limited but critical socialization and exercise. The impact of COVID meant Ronald and hundreds of others were forced into a terrifying new reality, living in close quarters with no real chance to properly socially distance or to fully sanitize during a pandemic.

Ronald takes full responsibility for his actions that led to his incarceration. He took such accountability, in fact, that in December 2018 then-Governor John Hickenlooper selected Ronald to receive clemency in the form of a partial commutation. Recognizing the changes that Ronald had made in his own life as well as the contributions he'd made to his community, Gov. Hickenlooper shortened his sentence making him eligible for release in 2027.

Ronald and his family were understandably excited that Ronald was granted partial clemency, but they were simultaneously devastated that he would not be eligible for release until he is nearly 70 years old. Still, despite that setback, Ronald continues to serve his community through mentorship, tutoring, steady employment and dedicated involvement in church ministries.

After so many years being of service to others in a Colorado cage, it's time that Ronald Johnson be afforded the opportunity to serve his family at home. Once he returns home, Ronald already has the support system in place that will help him maintain his sobriety and serve others as he has done for over 15 years of exemplary living. His children, grandchildren, siblings and extended family can't wait to welcome him home.

While continued sobriety awaits Ronald on the outside, Ronald acknowledges that a sober life was not always his reality. During the late 1990s Ronald had a drug addiction that intensified to a $1,000 per day habit. In 1999 Ronald was convicted under Colorado's draconian "habitual criminal" statute, after committing acts of theft, forgery, and drug possession, all in service of his serious drug addiction. With punitive enhancers that multiplied his sentence by 4x, Ronald was imprisoned and ordered to serve a total of 96 years confinement for non-violent offenses.

Ronald takes full responsibility for his actions, still, there are factors beyond his control that further highlight the injustice of the barbaric and disproportionately harsh sentence he received. Ronald's previous attorney, hired to represent him on appeal, was ultimately disbarred after it was proven that he was collecting funds from Ronald Johnson's family without ever doing the legal work that he was hired to do on Ronald's behalf.

Ronald does not blame the disbarred attorney for what he endured; instead Ronald remained committed to sobriety and to being the best man he could, even when release seemed impossible.

But release is possible. A second chance for Ronald Johnson is possible, and Gov. Jared Polis can make that happen. By signing and sharing this petition, YOU can help us make release possible for Ronald Johnson.

In March 2020 Governor Jared Polis signed a law ending the death penalty in Colorado. And yet, thousands of Coloradans, many of them elderly, infirm, and highly vulnerable like Ronald Johnson, risk the death sentence that is COVID.

Tell Governor Polis to #FreeRonaldJohnson today.

How you can help:

1. Sign the petition and share!
2. Watch this video about Ronald and share his story: https://youtu.be/bUMtgiiOxxA
3. Go to https://bit.ly/aclutakeaction for more ways to support Ronald Johnson and all vulnerable folks in Colorado cages.