The Campaign for Meaningful Commutation believes Avis Lee deserves to have her life sentence commuted.
The Facts of the Case
In 1980, two years after her mother died, Avis was 18. She was struggling to find her place in the world financially and emotionally. She was living in an apartment in Pittsburgh with a friend without any parental figures, to fall back on for advice or support. It was then that she made the bad decision with her brother and a friend to attempt robbery. Avis was the lookout and during the robbery, her brother became afraid and killed Mr. Walker. Avis’s brother and friend, A. Jeffries fled the scene. Avis started panicking and boarded a bus where she alerted the bus driver to where there was “an injured man in the parking lot”.
The three were caught, convicted and sentenced. Avis and her brother are both serving life sentences without parole. A. Jeffries had access to a lawyer, plea bargained and his sentence was suspended in 1981. He is no longer in prison. Avis has served 31 years for her role as a look out in this robbery. She is sincerely remorseful and never denied her involvement in the crime. Over the last 10 years Avis has been trained as a braille transcriber. Because there are no parole options for people with life sentences Commutation is her only chance to show society who she has become.
Ways you can help to support Avis's Commutation.
Write a Support Letter- Takes 30 minutes!
--Write a letter the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons telling them that you believe Avis has served her time and would benefit society if she was released form prison. Send us a photocopy. See sample letter below. Pennsylvania Board of Pardons 333 Market Street 15th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17126. Campaign for Meaningful Commutation - 3807 Melwood Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Write Avis! - A message of support goes a long way!
--Avis Lee #00-6302 SCI-Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Ave. Cambridge Springs, Pa 16403
Collect Signatures in Pennsylvania. Our goal is to collect at least 200 physical signatures.
--If you are in Pennsylvania, Print out the signatures of support pdf, sign it and get 19 other people to sign it too! Then send it to us. (coming soon)
--Sign and Foward Online Petition for Avis. Our goal is to collect 100 digital signatures for all over! (coming soon)
--Send a donation for Avis's release fund. (coming soon)
--Hang posters around your neighborhood or workplace to raise awareness about Avis, Life without Parole and Commutation. Posters HERE! Email us for free copies. Tell us how many you want. Or download and print your own. from the main page. meaningfulcommutation@gmail.com
BELOW IS A SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER:
Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Date
333 Market Street 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
333 Market Street 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
RE: Commuting the life sentence of Avis Lee # OO-6302
Dear Members of the Board of Pardons,
On Behalf of Avis Lee, I humbly request that you grant Avis’s request for commutation. Avis has served 31 years of a life sentence for her participation in a robbery in which a man named Mr. Walker, was killed. Avis was the lookout she did not pull the trigger. Avis is sincerely remorseful and has never denied her involvement in the crime. Because there are no parole options for life sentences, commutation is her only chance to show society the woman she has become.
One year after her mother died, when Avis was 16, she was struggling to find her place in the world financially and emotionally. She was living in an apartment with a friend without any parental figures in the city to fall back on for advice or support. It was then that she made the bad decision with her brother and a friend to attempt robbery. Avis was the lookout and during the robbery, her brother became afraid and killed Mr. Walker. Avis’s brother and friend, A. Jeffries fled the scene. Avis started panicking and boarded a bus where she alerted the bus driver to where there was “an injured man in the parking lot”.
As previously stated, Avis is sincerely remorseful. Please give her an opportunity to give back to society.
Avis is a certified Braille Transcriber and has worked at this job with praise for over 10 years. If granted commutation she would pursue this as a career. Avis also has a license as an upholstery technician and graduated from Pa’s Business Institute. Avis has an excellent prison record. She has had zero misconducts for 20 years and zero infractions. She has honor status housing in the progressive unit a Cambridge Springs a security level 2 institution.
Avis has completed many programs: Impact on Crime, Civic Responsibility, Citizenship Discourse, House of Hope Domestic Violence Support Group, Survivors of Sexual Assault, Stress Management, Bereavement Group, Anger Management and Drug and Alcohol programs (Therapy, women’s issues, education, 12 step study, aftercare, relapse prevention, codependency, a1-anon, AA and NA) From farming to sewing, to admissions and tutoring, Avis has worked in many positions over the last 30 years with no unexcused absences. Her most exciting trade is Braille Transcription. For over 10 years, Avis has transcribed written material into braille for school children ages k – 12.
Avis is hoping to stay with God’s Treasure House – is a Christian home for women coming out of prison. All residents are expected to live and work as a family and if granted commutation Avis is accepted to live there. Because Avis has so much work experience she is willing to do anything to get a job however she is really trying to continue her career as a braille transcriber.
This year Avis turned 51 in prison. Studies have shown that criminal behavior decreases with age and also the cost of houses elderly inmates rises. As stated above, Avis is sincerely remorseful and she has had over 30 years to think about what she has done. If Avis lives for another 31 years it will cost over 1 million dollars to incarcerate her. The recidivism rate for women who complete the God’s Treasure House program are zero. Avis has the personal support of Gina the director of the house. I will also be thrilled to support Avis in anyway upon her release, helping her adjust back into society.
Granting Avis Lee commutation is the right, just, and fiscally responsible thing to do. I respectfully ask you to grant commutation.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my views.
Sincerely,
