Clemency for Al Kareem Shadeed!!!

Yesterday, the Pardons and Clemency Board of Washington State unanimously agreed to recommend to Governor Gregoire that she grant condition clemency to Al-Kareem Shadeed.  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009330285_threestrikes12m.html

My journey on this case began in April 2008, while I was volunteering at the Ronald A. Peterson law clinic.  At that time I was a third year law student finishing my legal education and preparing to study for the Washington State Bar Exam.  Needles to say, I had a lot of things on my mind at that time and wasn’t too eager to take on more responsibility.  However, after reviewing the facts of Shadeed’s case and speaking with him on a few occasions I knew that I had to do everything in my power to help Shadeed.

As some of you might know, Shadeed was convicted under WA State’s three strikes law and sentenced to life without parole.  His first two strikes consisted of robbery in the second degree (a class B felony) and his third strike was attempted robbery in the second degree.  Although Shadeed was sentenced to life in prison, he didn’t stop living his life once he arrived.  Immediately following his sentence, he enrolled in educational classes and earned his GED through the prison’s educational program.  His passion for learning and education continued throughout his sentence and is as strong toady as it was fifteen years ago.

In addition to education, Shadeed also became an active member in drug and alcohol rehabilitation classes.  He learned to deal with his disease and helped other prisoners overcome the same problems that had led him to prison.  Today Shadeed is clean and sober and a model prisoner.

There is no question in my mind that Shadeed is ready for life on the outside.  He has the intelligence, family support, and passion to become a contributing member of society.  Further, once he is released he will likely be working with community groups to ensure that other young men don’t make the same mistakes he did.

Its very rare that an attorney gets to experience what I have experienced working with Shadeed.  I can only hope that my readers and Governor Gregoire are as supportive of his case as I have been over the last several months.

As always, your comments are welcomed.

Ryan