On April 10, 1997, a life was irrevocably changed. Cleodious Schoffner Jr., fondly known as J.R., a young man from Southern Illinois, was accompanying his cousin when an ill-conceived decision was made. His cousin chose to rob a convenience store, and J.R., merely a witness to this act was misconstrued as an accomplice. Owing to the laws of accountability, J.R. was incarcerated in the IDOC, where he remains even after 25 years.

Justice takes multiple forms and operates on the principles of fairness and equity. However, in J.R.'s case, it seems to be missing. This young man's entire life was dismantled, not because he committed a crime, but because he was at the wrong place, at the wrong time. A bystander to an unfortunate incident, J.R. lost his freedom and was thrust into a reality that was not of his own making.

As signers of this petition, we call upon Governor JB Pritzker to take cognizance of the Executive Clemency petition for Cleodious Schoffner Jr. Every individual's life holds value, and taking away years of a young man's life for a mistake he did not commit goes against the principles of justice and fairness. Clemency would allow J.R., now a middle-aged man, to regain some semblance of the life that was so cruelly taken from him.

Help J.R. rewrite his narrative from convicted felon to a free man, to make the most of his life once again. We humbly implore you, Governor Pritzker, for your intervention. Sign this petition to support the clemency plea for Cleodious Schoffner Jr. and give him an opportunity to reclaim his life.

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