Require parole board chair elected by Rhode Island citizens
The Issue
At the age of 17, I found myself sentenced to a long period of incarceration under circumstances that seemed unjust. Despite my efforts to change, rehabilitate, and prove myself as a reformed individual, I was forced to serve the entirety of my sentence—20 years and 10 months—under a system that appeared unforgiving and rigid. I did not come home until I was 37, and like me, countless others are trapped in the same cycle of hopelessness.
The core of this problem lies with the parole board chairperson, Laura Pesatoro, who currently holds a position of immense power over the lives of incarcerated individuals in Rhode Island. Previously associated with convicting and sending individuals like myself to prison, her current role overseeing parole decisions is fraught with potential bias and conflict of interest. Her rigid views on crime and punishment continue to influence her decisions, affecting the futures of many inmates who have shown genuine reform.
This petition calls for two critical changes to address this issue: the removal of Laura Pesatoro from her current position and instituting a democratic process where the chairperson of the parole board is elected every four years by the people of Rhode Island. Such measures will ensure that the position is held by someone accountable to the public and not by individual biases or past associations.
Rhode Island has a history of championing democracy and fair justice. By allowing the citizens to have a direct say in who leads the parole board, we can restore trust in the parole system and ensure it reflects the values of rehabilitation and fairness. With the people directly involved in choosing who oversees parole decisions, we can foster a system that is transparent and reflective of societal progress.
Let us come together and demand change in the Rhode Island parole board system. By signing this petition, we urge the governor to implement these necessary changes for the benefit of all Rhode Island citizens and to restore fairness and justice in our parole system. Please add your signature and support this call for a more just and accountable parole board chairperson election process.
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The Issue
At the age of 17, I found myself sentenced to a long period of incarceration under circumstances that seemed unjust. Despite my efforts to change, rehabilitate, and prove myself as a reformed individual, I was forced to serve the entirety of my sentence—20 years and 10 months—under a system that appeared unforgiving and rigid. I did not come home until I was 37, and like me, countless others are trapped in the same cycle of hopelessness.
The core of this problem lies with the parole board chairperson, Laura Pesatoro, who currently holds a position of immense power over the lives of incarcerated individuals in Rhode Island. Previously associated with convicting and sending individuals like myself to prison, her current role overseeing parole decisions is fraught with potential bias and conflict of interest. Her rigid views on crime and punishment continue to influence her decisions, affecting the futures of many inmates who have shown genuine reform.
This petition calls for two critical changes to address this issue: the removal of Laura Pesatoro from her current position and instituting a democratic process where the chairperson of the parole board is elected every four years by the people of Rhode Island. Such measures will ensure that the position is held by someone accountable to the public and not by individual biases or past associations.
Rhode Island has a history of championing democracy and fair justice. By allowing the citizens to have a direct say in who leads the parole board, we can restore trust in the parole system and ensure it reflects the values of rehabilitation and fairness. With the people directly involved in choosing who oversees parole decisions, we can foster a system that is transparent and reflective of societal progress.
Let us come together and demand change in the Rhode Island parole board system. By signing this petition, we urge the governor to implement these necessary changes for the benefit of all Rhode Island citizens and to restore fairness and justice in our parole system. Please add your signature and support this call for a more just and accountable parole board chairperson election process.
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Petition created on August 31, 2026