Felony Murder Elimination Project asks our supporters to help us send a message to California Governor Gavin Newsom; it’s time to send Dortell Williams home. After more than 36 years behind bars, it’s time for him to be reunited with his family.
Dortell Williams is among those people who California has decided are beyond rehabilitation. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole (LWOP) for a conviction that took place before he could even grow a beard.
During his time as Governor of California, Newsom has issued hundreds of commutations and pardons for people serving excessively long sentences. According to a statement from Newsom’s office, “Many of these individuals who have received clemency actions experienced adverse childhood experiences and trauma, and mental health symptoms. Without the type of treatment or resources that are increasingly available today, these experiences had a disproportionate effect on their lives and choices.”
Williams fits that profile.
Williams is a published essayist, including an opinion titled “What It’s Like to Serve a Life Sentence Without Parole,” featured in YES Magazine, an independent and nonpartisan journalism outlet that analyzes societal problems in terms of their root causes and explores opportunities for systemic. structural change. In that opinion, Williams wrote “Those of us with LWOP aren’t allowed to go before parole boards. And because of that, we can’t be examined and have experts tell us where we stand or give us some kind of feedback on our rehabilitative efforts. Our victims don’t get to have accountability.”
Williams is also a 2022 Inside Policy Fellow with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. One of the beneficiaries of knowing Williams is James King, Director of Programs with the Ella Baker Center, who met Williams while serving a prison sentence at Lancaster. “In that prison, on that yard, Dortell was a person who was helping set a culture that allowed all of us to treat ourselves, as well as the staff, with dignity and respect,” said King, who was eventually freed. “He was the first person to encourage me to write, and to use my voice for advocacy. That encouragement has always meant the world to me, and is a big reason for how I spend my time to this day.”
Williams recently earned a graduate degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and practices trauma-informed care through the community-led nonprofit Taming Trauma. Also while incarcerated, he helped to organize an academic group at Lancaster called “Men for Honor” that addressed issues of domestic violence, parenting, and more. In addition to his graduate degree, he has earned multiple degrees in prison: 4 Associate of Arts degrees, including an AA in social and behavioral science, a Bachelor of Arts in communications, and a doctorate in Ministries.
Dortell Williams is the very definition of rehabilitation, and should be pardoned to continue his work in his community, back at home with his family.
Please visit the change.org petition sponsored by his mother, Cheryl Jo, and tell Governor Newsom that it’s time to send Dortell Williams home.
Sign the petition here —>>> Governor Newsom: Reunite Me with My Son Dortell Williams
You can also read more about Dortell Williams here —>>> Free Dortell Williams
We thank you all for your efforts to bring about a criminal justice system that serves the effort of fairness, rehabilitation, and creating safer communities and stronger families.
