We’re writing with a heavy heart to share that Michael Jerome Orr has once again been denied compassionate release — despite meeting every legal and moral standard for relief.

Michael was sentenced at age 17 under outdated mandatory minimum laws that prevented the judge from considering his youth, background, or potential for rehabilitation. He has now served 28 years — more than 60% of a 46-year sentence — and by every measure, he has grown into a man of integrity, remorse, and service. He has shown deep accountability for the things he did as a teenager. And according to the law, he should have been released in2021. Now more than ever he is deserving due to the new implementation of youthfulness being a mitigating factor in reduction reviews. They also failed to acknowledge amendment 821 from November 2024, which prohibits the use of acquitted conduct to determine a guideline range. The rationale underlying this amendment — that unproven allegations are too unreliable to drive sentencing — applies with even greater force to counts dismissed before trial.

But the court denied him again — citing the “nature and circumstances” of crimes he was never convicted of. In fact, for one of those alleged offenses, jail records prove Michael was in custody when it occurred. Yet the court continues to ignore amendment 821 and rely on these disproven allegations to justify keeping him behind bars.

Even more troubling: the court acknowledged that Michael’s sentence is “extraordinary and compelling” due to its harsh length of 552 months — and then, in the same order, called that sentence “fair.” Both cannot be true.

This time, the court even added a new extraordinary and compelling circumstance: Michael’s father is terminally ill, and Michael is the only available caregiver. Still, the court denied him — again using the same outdated reasoning, and again refusing to conduct the individualized § 3553(a) review that the law requires.

Michael never received that review when he was sentenced as a teenager. Mandatory minimums tied the judge’s hands and the  § 3553(a) factors were never even considered. Compassionate release is supposed to be the first real opportunity to weigh his humanity, his growth, and his circumstances. That opportunity was denied.

This is not just about one man. It’s about whether our justice system can recognize when enough is enough. It’s about whether we allow factual errors and outdated laws to override fairness, compassion, and truth.

I am greatly disturbed by our justice system. We need your voice more than ever. Please continue to share this petition. Contact your representatives. Help us demand a fair review — and a second chance for someone who has earned it.

 I myself have been writing letters to all of North Carolina representatives and I intend to send another round of emails out. Please share anywhere you can. This is not justice and this is the fate of many people trapped in our prison system.

Thank you for standing with Michael. And thank you for helping others in his same position.

— Heather