The Honorable Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
Dear Governor Perry:
I am writing on behalf of Mr. James Allridge to urge you to commute his sentence from death to life. Mr. Aldridge is not the person he was when he committed the crime. He has genuinely remorseful for what he has done and has taken terrific strides to improve himself while incarcerated. He realizes the tremendous pain and tragedy his actions created for the Clendennen family. This is a burden that weighs on his conscience every day.
Mr. Allridge poses no danger to the prison community.
Mr. S.O. Woods, former Chairman of the Classification Committee for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a thirty-year veteran of the Texas prison system, has thoroughly reviewed James' records from his 19 years of incarceration and concluded that James poses no threat to prison staff or other prisoners and would adapt well to general population.
Former Prison Guards and jurors support clemency for Mr. Allridge.
Two former death row prison guards support Mr. Allridge's request for clemency. Both believe that he would adept well to life in general population and would be a good role model for other prisoners. One guard believes that Mr. Allridge has probably saved the lives of prison guards because of his mature and calming presence. Four of the jurors who sat on his jury believe Mr. Allridge's sentence should be commuted based on his rehabilitation and good conduct in prison.
Even in prison, Mr. Allridge remains a valued family member and friend to many.
On death row, James has been a calming influence on other prisoners and a productive member of the prison community. James is an asset to the prison community because he helps the younger inmates adjust to prison encouraging them to be productive and non-violent. Also, Mr. Allridge is a talented artist and has used his time in prison to develop his artistic skills.
If allowed to live, Mr. Allridge can continue to be a productive member of the prison community and the larger society. Executing him now will do nothing to protect the public and will discourage other inmates from making similar efforts at rehabilitation.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Very truly yours,
Rachel King, Esq. Will Harrell
ACLU Capital Punishment Project ACLU of Texas
Cc:
Members of Board of Pardons and Parole
Governor Rick Perry