Over 80% of women entering the criminal justice system are survivors of violent victimization, including sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, or caregiver abuse.  

One of those women is Michelle West, a mother serving a life sentence for her first and only offense.

Her daughter, who has become an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform, is calling on officials to grant clemency and bring her mother home.  

West’s clemency petition has garnered strong emotional support, especially from her daughter, Miquelle West, who has been advocating for her mother’s release. Michelle has been incarcerated for over two decades, serving a life sentence.

“My mom, Michelle West, is a survivor of violence,” her daughter explained. “She is serving a life sentence despite having no prior criminal history, no arrests, and no evidence of being a danger to society. She deserves a second chance.”  

Michelle West was convicted in the 1990s for her alleged role in a non-violent drug offense. While her co-defendants received shorter sentences through plea deals, West maintained her innocence, resulting in a severe sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In her decades behind bars, Michelle West has worked to better herself and others, mentoring younger women in prison and dedicating her time to personal growth. Her daughter says this is proof that her mother deserves a second chance.  

“Right now, only President Biden can free my mother by commuting her life sentence. I hope he will see that my mother truly has earned a second chance,” she said in a Change.org petition.

West’s daughter is now calling on the public to join her campaign, hoping that enough voices will push lawmakers to take action.  

Please visit Change.org and sign or share the petition. https://www.change.org/p/president-biden-clemency-for-michelle-west-serving-life-without-parole